LIBER'S NOTEBOOK.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2132, 25 April 1914, Page 9

LIBER'S NOTEBOOK.

There is nowadays a distinct "Borrow boom," to the strengthening of which Clement Storter's biography/ recently reviewed in these columns, has no doubt materially contributed. Twd,'n:ew.. stories; exemplificative of tho great Georgia's brusqueners, have recently, found .currency. To Thackeray he' administered the snub direct; " ''Have' you read my Snob Papers in Punch?" Thackeray was indiscreet enough to ask. "In Punch?" said Borrow. "It is a periodical I never loot at." Miss Agnes Strickland asked him if sho Slight send him her "Queens of England." "For God's sake, don't, Madame," rudely replied tho author of "Laveugro," "for I shouldn't know where to put them or what to do with them." Then there is the story of the woman who, desirous, of pleasing him, said: "Oh, Mr. Borrow, I have head your books with so much pleasure!" On which he replied: "Pray, what books do you mean, Madame. Do you mean my account books?" A brusquo, somewhat uncouth genius, but still a genius, was Borrow. "

It is curious to learn, from Lady Richmond Ritchie's (Thackeray's surviving daughter), recently published volume of reminiscences, "Under the Porch," that both Thackeray and Dickens found pleasure in reading Miss Braddon's novels. Thackeray, Lady Ritchie-tells us, liked "Lady Audley's Secret," whilst Dick.favourite was "Tho Doctor's Wife."

George Eliot has often been described as a .phenomenally ugly woman, but ■kady Ritchie, who, when a girl, often mot tho author of "Adam Bede," says _ she was very quiet and noble looking, with two steady'little eyes, and a low sweet voice."

Tho sickly sentimentality of Mrs. Florence Barclay's stories evidently ap?in?L t? a k'S public- Tho author of Iha Rosary" and "Little Boy Blue," has, I read, been offered £3000 down and handsome'royalties for tho English rights_ alono of her next story. Well. TV€JI it takes sorts of people' l to tuako up the reading world.

• Children of tho Dead End; the Autobiography of a Navvy," Mr. Patrick M bill, whose dramatic poetical studio* of the world of manual labour, have )yon their author widespread popularity, is to be published shortly by Herbert Jenkins.

Gertrude Pago's latest storv, "The Pathway which ran last year as a serial in the Windsor Magazine, is now published in book form by Ward, Lock una to. Review later on.

In her took "The Footsteps cl the Brontes" (Pitman's), Mrs. Chadwick alS, a St s r> -' " Mar y Lawson," Rhich appeared in ;tho "London Journal of 1847 as being a translation of a work by Eugene Suo. This story contained an inner tale, "Kitty Bell, An ? * t',<T 5? res <;mbles the early part of Jane Eyre" in so many points as to suggest the theory that it was m reality, an early draft of Charlotte Biontcs' novel. "Kitty Bell" is to be reissuod by Messrs. Pitman in volume rorm, with an introduction discussing tho evidence m support of this theory! Ihe book should appeal to all who are interested in the Brontes.

. Personally, I find Max Gorky's storles of the lower depths of Russian life sordid in subject and morbid in tone, but Gorky has, I know, his admirers who may bo interested to know that an entirely new collection of- stories of Russion and Italian peasant life by this author wiJl shortly be published (in an English translation) by Messrs. Gio-ge Bell and Sons.

■ Ihe third volume of,the "Clayhanger" trilogy, the second of which was "Hilda Lessivays," has yet to come, but Mr. Arnold Bennett has been busy in otiier directions. He has a novel, "The Price of Love," running as a serial in Harper's Magazine." Tho story will be published in book form towards the end of tho year. Mr. Bennett has also written a now play, tlio scene of which is laid in Spain of the sixteenth century.

The third volume, of the biography of Lord Boaconsfield, which was begun by the lato Mr. Monypeuny, and is now being completed by Mr." 6. E. Buckle,

is expected very soon from tbo houso of Murray. Tho material turns out to bo so great that there will certainly bo five volumes, probably six.

Nothing liko looking ahead is tho motto of that highly pushful gentleman Sir Ernest Shackleton. Already, so I read, ho has arranged for tho publication of a book descriptive of his forthcoming Antarctic venture. Tho record of poor Scott's expedition has run into several editions, and is still selling well. As a rule, howevor, these books on Polar exploration rarely reach a second edition. To me there always seems to be a terrible samonoss about thom.

San Francisco has a Stevenson Fellowship, tho members of which hold an annual dinner. Its initial meetings were held in the Bush Street restaurant. of which Stevenson gives such an amusing description in his Letters. Tho building, however, was destroyed by'the great firo in 190 G. In one of the city squares there is a fountain erected- t-o the memory of R. L. S. This is decorated every year by bay wreaths.