THE WAY OF THE WRITER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14156, 7 March 1908, Page 7

THE WAY OF THE WRITER.

Mr 11. A. Vachell lias found a title for his new novel. It is to be called "The Waters of Jordan." Is this a good title? We have heard it called very happy, but is there not n suggestion of death in

Mr Edmund Gosse's new volume on "Ibsen" in the Literary Lives Series is being exceedingly well received. It is the subject of a long and favourable criticism ill the Tribune from that highly competent authority, Mr William Archer.

The clever London correspondent of the New York- Times, who is, we understand,

a lady, tells us that the authorised biography of the late Francis Thompson is to be by Mr Everartl Meynell. Mr Wilfrid Meynell and his accomplished wife were Thompson's* best friends.

Mr \Y. J. Locke is now spending some months iu Algiers, where he is finishing a new boo!;. The principal! character is a creature with a beautiful spirit, who can do nothing practical, not even pack his trunk when he goes abroad. He has to leave half his clothes behind in hotels

because he cannot get them into his bag, which, say 6 he, makes travelling so expensive. But ho is a creature with a beautiful spirit, and other people find their happiness due to this apparently ineffectual being.

Mr Winston Churchill—the American, not the English writer-has ready for publication another novel which wii-1 be of the same typo as his "Collision." Mr Churchill has spent two years in writing the book, which is called "Mr Crewe's Cancer." It will be published by Messrs Macmillan in April next. Mr Charles D. Roberts, the well-known American Nature writer, has been staying in Jxmdon recently. He attended and spoke at the last dinner of the Omar Club. Mr Roberts is a typical American, thin, pals, and full of nervous force. His plan was to write a slorv of London and Londoners; but after fair'lrial lie has gone back to his old love, and has decided that the subject of his next winter's book shall be the "Beaver."

Mr Ceorge Meredith attained the a«e of SO years on February 12. Many wellknown writers were present at a'special meeting of the Society of Authors held in January, at which it ,vas decided to honour their president, Mr George Meredith, on the occasion. The cnair was taken by Mr Anthony Hope Hawkins. Included in the gathering were Mr G. Bernard Shaw,.Mr Israel ; Mr

Sidney Webb, Sir Robert Anderson, Mr J'ram .StoKer, and Mr Sidney Lee. The proposal to honour Mr Meredith was contained in a resolution moved by Mr Zatxryjdl, m (he following terms:'"That the •■'OClety 0 f Anthori take steps in honour 0 the president's eightieth birthday, and •that a deputation convey the eong'ralulahTm- I- 6 iety t0 Mr Meredith at Box U"\- Mr Zangwill remarked that Hm-- '™« was tho only country that paid no •j en .on to lts literary men. Mr Mereltd being the president of the society, it MS right U lal they should in some "way "'gnalwo his eightieth birthday. The dopuafon to Box Hill, he said, was lerely a suggestion, and he recommended 1 at steps should be taken to ascertain uuethcr it would be convenient to Mr I Meredith to receive the homage of the society in that, manner. The resolution was to have heeh sliC ondcd by Mr Alfred Z vi i '", hls nbsence Mr ]]mn Stoker •Seconded, and the motion was carried with great heartiness.

Amusing specimens are given of the way In which Mr Henry .lames, in the new edition of his novels, has changer! early waitings. The alterations have fmtaled the critics, but there is a mimorous side to the business. Thus in he new ed.tion of "Tim American" we IV <,- vhen Trislrem nsks Newman whether this ,s his first visit to Paris, lie replies, "Quite immensely the first." nthe original book he said, "Very much so. Jn the original hook Newman's, comment on Tristram's announcement that no had a> wife and two boys was, "I envy you.' Now he is represented as saying, lon affect me with a queer "ding that I suppose to be envv." And compare these two phrases : "Oh, I came lov my pleasure," said Newman; "though it is foo ish, it is true." This has been garbled by the reviser into ' Oh, call it tor my pleasure," said Newman; though it represents me as trying to reclaim a hopeless absentee which describes more fully the logic of my con- \'• xr foll °wing new speecli is put in Newman's mouth: "Deep within me the eagle shrieks, and I have known my hair at times to bristle with more feathers, than my head." From this it will be seen that Mr James has gone much further than Mr Meredith '