LITERARY NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 146, 21 June 1924, Page 17

LITERARY NOTES

..J^ e,-I. ato Mr" Walter-Page, in «is Publishers Confessions"—written long before he became- United States Minister in London—makes interesting allusion to the chances of now novels when launched on the market:—"All publishers make many more mistakes in accepting books than in declining them. They accept many books from new writers that they hope may possibly succeed, but in which they have not very strong faith.: It is the book manuscripts of this class that cause the most work and the greatest ■ trouble—the class that may possibly succeed- .. . Nobody has discovered a role— to say nothing of a principle—whereby the popularity of a novel hv a. rmw mfty fcg -dgtST-

! mined; If it be a really great, strong | book,_ of course, it is easy to understand 1 that it will sell; but whether it will sell

10,000 copies or 100,000 nobody knows. If it be a slapdash dime-novel, .full of action, it is easy to guess that it will sell; U»t whether 5000 or 500,000 nobody Iwows. The whole question is a subtle social one. Who could have foretold popularity for 'pigs in clover' rather than for =orae other silly puzzle; or for ping-pong; or for women's hats of a certain grotesque construction? The popular, whim about novels is like the whims for these things. And a popular novel passes as quickly as any other fashion."

The wonders and miracles of Lourdes have been widely acclaimed by Roman Catholic writers; but less has been heard upon the subject from the standpoint of an independent witness, who owes no fealty to the Papal See. That record Mr. John Oxenham supplies in a little volume, published by Messrs. Longmans, Green, and Co. "The Wonder of Loui-des: What it is and what it Means," describes the effect of a prolonged sojourn in the place upon a non-Catholic judgment. Mr. Oxenham enjoyed exceptional opportunities for investigating the "miracles," and gives a clear account of the conclusions to which he was forced.

"Is it not true," Mr. Walter de 'a Mare said at a recent meeting at the Royal Institution, "that without. imagination the statesman is but a politician, the man of science a mere collector of data, the wayfaring man a tramp, the child half-witted, the schoolmaster a Mr. Squeers ? Is beauty. anything but a deceit, pity other than an insult, religion other than bigotry, loye more than mere animal instinct, and life anything but a blind alley? "Is it not our experience that the deadliest -mistakes we make in life, asindividuals, as classes, and humanity, are due not to the use, not even to the abuse, but to the sheer neglect of the imagination?"

The large prices obtained for copies of the first editions of some of Mr. Rudyard Kipling's earlier works at a recent sale by Sotheby's were further indications that fame in the auction room is by no means confined to old books of admitted, rarity, says the-"Yorkshire Post." A brisk and prosperous trade is often done in first editions of modern writers. A copy of Conrad's "Chance" was recently sold for £26 10s, John Masefield's "Salt Water Ballads" has realised £22, and even an impression of so recent publication as John Drinkwater's "Abraham Lincoln" has been known to fetch £16 ICa. Among modern works, however, the purchase by Messrs. Bickers of a copy of the Lahore privately-printed editioo of Mr. "Kipling's "Schoolboy Lyrics" for £300 is an extraordinary record. .

A special Empire number of "The Teachers' World" has just been published, which should be of inestimable value to teachers and scholars in this country. Acknowledgment is made to the High _ Commissioners of each of the Dominions for valuable assistance in the compilation of this number, and for the loan of photographs. Especially interesting are the "Empire at a Glance" series of diagrams. No. 1 makes a comparison of the areas, the heights of mountains, length of riveis, temperatures, and amount of rainfall in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and India. A second graphically shows the comparative numbers of sheep and cattle, the quantities of crops, eg^s and coal. Population, railway, and trade in each of the Dominions are also incenlously compared.

That the Bible was not only, a guide book to the British troops in Palatine but a book of military tactics as well is one of the points made by Major Vivian Gilbert in his book, "The Romance of the Last Crusade." Major Gilbert has in this volume written his personal narrative of Allenby's campaign in Palestine, and niled it from cover to cover with the exciting romance of the days when the British general and his men used the very same tactics as did Saul against the Philistines in defeating the -Turks upon the same battle ground. In linking up every step of the way of the Last Crusade with the Bible stories, Major Gilbert has given his book a flavour and an imaginative quality that are as unique as they are fascinating. In days when romance seems far off and strange the dash and abounding vigour and humour of Major Gilbert's treatment of the adventures he himself participated in are singularly attractive. Owen Wister, the novelist, has written a preface for "The Romance of the Last Crusade."

Rudyard Kipling has a new poem in the May number of the "Strand Magazine." It is "A Song of French Roads," and is strongly reminiscent of the Bar-rack-room Ballads, and will appeal to all who admire the breezy way in which those poems are written.' Fiction is well represented, and- among the contributors are P. G. Wodehouse, Mrs. Belloc Lowndes, F. Britten Austin, and Stacy Aumonier. Sir A. Conan Doyle's "Memories and Adventures" deal with Sir James Barrie, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Grant Allen, and the first instalment of his "Recollections of Sport." These bid fair to prove that they will be among the most interesting features of bis reminiscences. Theatre-goers will be specially interested in the descriptions of how they build up their parts given by George Graves, Ralph Lynn, Billy Leonard, Peggy O'Neil, Stanley Lupino, Huntley Wright, Binnie Hale, and Leslie HensoQ. "Strongheart," the dog cf film fame, is the subject of a well-illus-trated article, .~«d there is a collection of amusing pictures in the "Humours of Dancing."