The New York herald., 1922-02-19
A Year of ''The BOokman"

ing fashion for long hair they are be /.
coming two rooms and bath. where
sincere workmen struggle along witt
the art which means more than L
surety of bacon and eggs for break
fast. Not too often, however. does
one encounter the man who is def
nitely contented with coffee only:
New York. too. with its literary mag.
azines, one keeping itself determined
iy virgin in It's critical life. another
struggling for formula which. while
preserving 1t from senescence, will
not at the same time drive away \
comfortably respectable clientels
How many rings there are! But no
editor can afford to forget that all
across the country there are othe~
circles just as insulsr. just as fon.
OF pet lions of their own. Chicago,
with its cult of Sandburg and Ander
son. New Orleans with its "Doubie
Dealer" Missouri with Its Governor
issuing 4 proclamation for the frs
Statewide book week" in the coun-
try. Richmond with its Reviewer
San Francisco. Selma in Alabama.
New Mexico. Salt Lake City in Utah
circles here. societies there, the
Penwomen and the Midland Authors,
even Europe with it's American ex-
patriates. Broom edited from Italy.
international. say its editors. but
American in its financial aspect At
least. What of all this? Who shall
say that the giants OF this literary
period shall not arise from some out
lying cult? Log rolling is practiced
as strenuously on the banks of Salt
Lake as at the famous round table in
the Hotel Algonquin or across the
desks of the Chicago Daily Neins.
Is there critical colossus so sure
of his faculty that he dare claim in
fallibility of judgment as he watches
this fascinating show? Personally.
we prefer 10 let them all in. In this
magazine about books and authors
you shall have your place. Just
what place that is? oh, well, that
is different matter,
Apart from their significance in
a broad sense. how delightful these
personalities are. To hear Henry
Holt tell of early publishing days or
Major George Haven Putnam re-
count a meeting with Thackeray is
an experience not soon forgotten. An
explanation by Zane Grey of the in
tegrity of his literary effort is a val
uable adventure in the psychology OF
the popular novelist. one ot our
most delightful correspondents here
is Mrs Gene Porter. whose
accounts of nature pilgrimages in
California remind Us of early days in
the woods along Lake Champla.n,
when the discovery of a rams head
orchid was far more important than
the publication of literary MASTER
piece. When Mary Roberts Rinehart
pays a call on her son, who sits at
the 6esk next ours. we give up work
for the afternoon TO listen 70 stories
of "a recent trip or m explanation OF
how novel is prepared and written.
Sinclair Lewis. on his way to Europe.
dIshcs in. captures us and takes us
out for a mad drive in a taxi. while
he says farewell 10 all the book
sellers in town and tells us what he
really thinks of the middle West
The latest novelist Of the small town
arrives with his manuscript, which
he claims to be an answer 10 Main
Street" and on his heels comes
Pascal dAngelo. the day laborer
poet. 20 exhibit the torn pages of his
first dictionary. from which he
claims to have developed his unusual
command OF the English tongue. We
are allowed to go quietly to tea at
Villa Gathers. where we listen Ia
James T.. Ford tell Of other days in
the literary roar and scramble. or 10
Mary Austins. where we discuss
rhythm and the development OF
American poetry. In Chicago We see
tina famous Marshall Field boola store
and it's creator. Nucella Burns Hah-
ner. as energetic a merchandiser Of
books as We have ever known. OF at
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