Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-08
THE REALM OF BOOKS AND AUTHORS

A trend of F. Marion Crawford
throws some light on the working
methods of this veteran novelist. This
is story as sent out by his publish
ers. His latest book, THE Diva's Ru-
BY happens to open with descrip-
ton of an almost inaccessible ruby
mine somewhere in Central Asia, the
secret of which is known only to one
family. A European adventurer who
was exploring the country learns the
secret from a girl who has fallen in
love with him, and under her guidance
he robs the mine, barely escaping with
his lite. 1t is not surprising to learn
that this incident is a souvenir of one
of Mr. era Words visits to the Orient,
during. which he stumbled on a place
very like the description in the novel.
What is interesting, however, is that
this episode was written long before
the book of which it now forms a part
had been planned. Mr.. Crawford wrote
ii out and then laid it away because he
had no immediate use for it. When he
was planning the "Diva's Ruby the
last OF the three stories about the opera
singer, Margaret Dome, he suddenly
remembered this episode of the ruby
mine and was struck with the effective
use he could make of it in connection
with the great love affair of the prima
donna. The ruby plays SO important
a part in the story, and the opening
chapters form so effective an intro
duction, that it is hard to believe they
were actually written in the first in
stance without Il thought of Margaret
Dome.
A story of theatrical life in New
York told in the form of extracts from
"the diary of a pretty, piquant dane
ing girl will be published next month
under the title of 1.-THE Diary Of a
Show Girl The book will contain IS
drawings by Wallace Morgan, the Gre
ator Of Fluffy Ruffles." The author is
Grace Luce Irwin (Mrs. Wallace IT.
win)
The marriage Of Miss Constance
Smedey, the writer, to Max Arnfeldt,
the artist, is an interesting bit of lit
erary news. Miss Smedley is we'll
known as an ardent champion for the
emancipation of her sex and an ear
nest advocate for their recognition and
advancement in the economic world.
She is the founder of the Lyceum
clubs in London, Paris and Berlin
which owns a house on the Thames,
where writer's and artists can live
quietly and pursue their avocations. 1t
was at this country home that Miss
Smedley wrote much of her latest
book, 1.-The Daughter" Miss Smedley
has also written "The Conflict a
strong plea for the economic indepen-
dence of woman; several plays one of
which was produced by Mrs. Patrick
Campbell, and some novels, which in
ciude, besides those already mentioned,
"An April Princess and For Heart
O. Gold.'
William Dana circuit says that the
idea of his new novel, "The Spell"
came to him while he was absorbed
at his work over old manuscripts IN
the Laurenthian Library in Florence.
OF his hero, the scholarly man who
marries a society girl Mr.. circuit says:
"He is type familiar to every col
lege man-ambitious, energetic, force
full. broad in every way but one linn
tied by that academic arrogance. that
snobbery of brains which stands be-
tween the university and it's fullest
usefulness"
One of the most interesting books
for older boys is "Under the Great
Bear" by Kirk Monroe. 1t tells of the
adventures of Cabot Grant, graduate
of technical school as a mechanical
engineer He starts to Labrador on a
snip that is wrecked on the way: gets
picked up by another ship, and is car
ried to another part of Newfoundland
On these shores the French and Eng
lsh have an exciting rivalry in the
lobster canning business; there are
several risky smuggling enterprises,
and a few fights among the sailors.
on board the Sea Bee young Cabot
sails north, and spends some months
marooned by an iceberg that jams the
passage In the wilds he meets a
"man-wolf," whose sad story results
in his finding a valuable mine At
last he gets back home, with fortune
and a successful career in his grasp.
The Lothrop Lee & Shepard Co. has
lust received q letter from J. II. TroW-
bridge, concerning whose safety so
much Solicitude was felt, as he had
sailed for southern italy in December
The veteran was or is at Hotel Belle
Nue, Naples. where he expects to stay
for some weeks to come. Mr.. TroW-
bridge is in excellent health at 81 and
looking forward to the publication of
his latest book, "a Pair of Madcaps."
which is to come out April 1st. He
writes that the only regret connected
with his trip is that it occurred at
the time Of the great disaster, toge-
Their with the fear that some of his
friends in America may have been
alarmed
"AVunculuS' is the title Of a story
by Dorothy Garfield in the February
Everybody's.
Eight novels are announced by the
Macmillan company for spring publl-
cation BY a curious coincidence this
list is evenly divided between men and
women writer's and also between
American and English authors. There
is novel with an operate singer for
"a "a