THE WRITER'S WAY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15892, 11 October 1913, Page 14

THE WRITER'S WAY.

H..U. Wells is spending his summer at his home m Dunmoiv, Kssex. , He and Arnold . . Bennett, are comparatively near neighbours. . *

In a, note just to hand acknowledging the review of " Steila Maris,"- which recently appeared on this page, Mr W. J. Locke . writes ; —" It is a pleasure for any writer t) 'receive kind . ma-sages from unknown friends, but the pleasure is more than doubled when they come, from what to us, in the Old Country, seem the uttermost ends of the earth. It's a good and a stimulating thing for a man to have a British Empire to write in."

Gilbert Cannan, author of " Round the Corner," is described as "a man of varied gifts." . Mr George Bernard Shaw presented him to the theatre-going public in his character, of " Gunn," one of the four dramatic critics in "Fanny's First Play." Mr Cantian at that time was writing the dramatic criticisms for the London Star. In "Fanny's First, Play'' he is represented .-as "the vivid, enthusiastic zealot of the theatre, full of theories and theorising, ready to make critical warfare in support of his new ideas." When. "Round the Corner " first appeared in London it was banned by the literary consor, but the restrictions were withdrawn in view of the storm of protest aroused., and the book was hailed' as a work of nmusual merit.

Maxim Gorky is back at his villa at Capri, Better in health after his three weeks' sojourn in Switzerland, though in his far from robust condition he found the actual journey very trying. He hais resumed his customary mode of life. Early each morning he descends to the harbour and makes a boat trip round the island, and returns alone to his villa for an 11 o'clock meal. He re6ts for about an hour, then studies and writes, and receives his intimate friends in the fresh sunset hours. Later he betakes himself to his ueual tabln in the cafe to converse with a familiar group of his artist friends, mostly of his own nationality. At present (says. the Daily Citizen Naples correspondent) Gorky has only need of rest and quiet, and has no intention, as has been affirmed, of

leaving his beloved island, but "will betako himself to work with renewed vigour. He has already, in fact, the outline of a, great work ;fo'r the theatre, but for the time being , will publish nothing, not even his studies on polities and Socialism which axe now rrcdy, "They will be," he has said smilingly, "the inheritance that 1 shall leave to my dear son. He will publish them after my death, and while I still live ■ I shall try to increase this inheritance,,but shall give nothing otherwise to the press."

The. report from London that John Lane, has been enjoined by Robert Ross, the literary executor of Oscar Wilde's estate, from publishing a new book on that , tiresome personage by Lord Alfred Douglas need not annoy anybody who really wants to read more about Wilde (says the New York Times Review of Books). A" fine literary artist he certainly was, ■ and perhaps a much misunderstood man, but it seems that enough has been written about, his unsavoury. history, hte punishment, his friendships, and his' literary ideals. A few of his books, well worth reading, remain. There is nothing more of Wilde. Yet, if there is a demand for : this book by one of his associates, it will find a ■ publisher sooner or later. Tho idea that Wilde was persecuted, and deserved better treatment while he lived, pea-Gists, and is fostered b|y many persons of good literary judgment who may, nevertheless, be pretty' poor judges of human nature. But wfiiat of it? His best work is read, he has his small place in English literature, and nothing can be done no\£ to make his earthly existence happier. It seems, also, that a' greal deal of the' current Wilde comment and reminiscence is not prompted merely by a desire to secure recognition to him as a writer, but is part of the now too general revolt against decent reticence and the old-fashioned proprieties.