Books And Authors

Airs. 1-Iumphrey "Ward is hard al work upon a small play, to which she is said to be devoting somo of her best energios. It has been proposed by citizens ol Portland, Ore., to build a bicycle path from that city to tfca base of Mount Hood, a dwtr.ee of fifty-four miles. '. writer in an English llterary publication declares that Jules Verne never made more than $4,000 in any oiip year. Zola's annual incomo is bellevefl to be about $60,000. The great linguists have never been great, save In their specialty. No grcat linguïst was also great arf an author. Thn ability (o learn laiïguagea does not seem to coexist with talent in other lines. Another novelist wlio bas taken to play wrlting is Sir Walter Besant. He has just lrought out a book of drawing-room piecea writtea in rollaboration willi V'. H. Pollook, and depending for inwrosi on Uie eourso ot !h n;ot pathei than on sparUlnR opisriira.