The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-09

In n lists have died within a
month: Myra Kelly, o.
Henry and Mark Twain,
which leaves US poor indeed
in this department of htera-
ture, where the demand always ex-
ceeds the supply. 1t is therefore
source of congratulation that new
humorist has appeared in the field in
Mr.. Owen Johnson, whose 1.-THE Var
mint" (The Baker & Taylor Coz rings
true with genuine humor.
o. Henry's laconic way of putting
things is well illustrated in the advice
he once gave to a young author. II
will give you the sole secret of short
story writing he said, land here 1T
is: Rule 1, write stories that please
yourself. There is no rule 2 The
technical points you can get from Bliss
pleases yourself. you will never please
the public. But in writing the story
forget the public" Bliss Perry to whom
he pays this tribute was for many
years the editor Of The Atlantic
Monthly and is the author of 1.-THE
Study of Prose Fiction
Miss Katharine Holland Brown, the
author of the girls college story
''Philippa at Halcyon," just published
by Charles Scribner's Sons-was her
self college girl. She was born in
Alton, Ill, went to school in Washing
ton, D. c.. and was graduated with the
literary class of 1898 from the Univer-
sity of Michigan. She quickly estab-
lished herself as a writer of short stor-
les for the magazines. Her last work
before "Philippa" was THE Messen-
ger" published this spring by the Srib-
ners in the little 80 cent edition of the
form of THE Perfect Tribute" Aside
from its value as a story pure and sim
pie, "Philippa at Halcyon" throws e
good deal of light upon the present con-
troVerSy as to the comparative wisdom
of rooming in small houses or large
dormitories. Miss Brown now lives at
Quincy, Ill.
Stoughton Cooley, whose book ',rhe
Captain Of the AmarylIis' is promised
for early fall publication by the c. NJ.
Clark Publishing company. is admira-
ply htted to write of the Mississippi
His boyhood was passed on his fathers
Coat plying from Savanna, ILL.,, to New
Orleans and on the tributaries Reeu-
larly in the spring he started north
with load of sugar and molasses and
spent the summer in Savanna. After
the annual repairs were Completed the
southern trip began with a cargo of
Z potatoes, onions and apples The hook
itself is particularly timely now that
the agitation for deep waterway from
the Great Lakes to the Gulf is turn
ing peoples attention to the river. The
Captain of the Amaryliis' is the onlv
book since Mark Twains "Old Times
on the Mississippi" to show the river
Ire from the boatman's standpoint.
stephen French Whitman, the author
of Predestined." that remarka BILE
story of New York life published this
spring by Charles Scribner's Sons
which has been described by prominent
reviewers as the best thing of the kind
from the pen of an American in many
years, sailed on June 16 aboard the
Bremen" of the North German Lloy,I
Steamship line from New York. n
spend some months in Europe. His
only companion was his mother and
though his plans are more or less in
definite, he intends first to visit Paris
for a time and then to go to Switzer-
land, and finally for an indefinite period
TO the italian lakes. Mr.. Whitman said
before going that he thought it likely
that he would spend a year abroad.
mostly in Italy. and that he had plenty