OF

LETTERS

Arthur Stringer

Mr. Arthur Stringer, the author of "The Silver Poppy," one of the most promising of recent works of American fiction, was born in London, Ontario, in 1874. He was educated at the University of Toronto, and at Oxford, England. His first volume of verse, "Watchers of Twilight," appeared when he was eighteen years of age, for which poetic indiscretion. the young author was dispatched westward, to a saner atmosphere. Nothing daunted, he issued "Pauline and Other Poems" a short time afterward, and this was presently followed by "The Loom of Destiny," a collection of short stories. "Hephaestus" was published in England, and secured a number of very flattering notices there; while "The Silver Poppy," brought out about two years ago, met with the most encouraging treatment at the hands of discerning critics.

At the present time, Mr. Stringer is working upon a novel based on certain. new phases of international marriage, and has gone to Southern Italy to devote the winter to its completion.

Mr. Stringer lives most of the time in Canada, where he owns and operates a fruit farm. His Pitmaston Duchess pears recently won three first prizes, while he grows excellent black grapes, apricots and nectarines. At Cedar Springs, Canada, where he has his summer home, he is known as a successful fruit-grower who dabbles in literature, a somewhat unique view for the contemplation of those who think of him as a poet and novelist of superior powers.

There will be no more Nancy a la Eleanor Hoyt. Miss Hoyt has expressed

United States. As a result of his visit the sales of his books have reached unusually high figures, while his reputation, already established when he came here, has resolved itself into a general popularity.

Before Pastor Wagner left America a number of his friends combined in the plan of raising subscriptions for the erection

"The Divine Fire" concerns itself with a modern poet, and the opinion generally has been that the book exhibits a creditable degree of strength and originality.

General Wallace IlI.

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The thousands of readers to whom "Ben Hur" has become the familiar and cherished novel will regret to hear that its well-loved author, General Lew Wallace, is slowly starving to death, the victim of an incurable disease, the fatal course of which has failed to be retarded by the most skilful treatment that the best specialists are capable of. General Wallace has been ill now for some months; and an operation which, in a younger man would have perhaps been successful, was in his case impossible.

here the Civil War broke out, and he enlisted. His army service gave him a commendable record and he combined the roles of soldier and journalist throughout the

war.

When the war was over, he spent two years preparing for college, and in 1867 matriculated at the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated with a Ph. B. degree in 1871. At the end of his junior year he married Miss Catharine Tilden. During his senior year he became a member of the editorial staff of the Detroit "Tribune."

In August, 1871, Mr. Avery became superintendent of public schools in East Cleveland, Ohio. When the village was annexed by the city, he was appointed principal of the High School. He wrote numerous scientific text-books that soon came into general use, and in 1880 entered the scientific lecture field on "Electric Light" and organized many electric lighting companies, continuing still to prepare text-books.

For the last twenty years Mr. Avery has been engaged in writing his "History of the United States and Its People," a work to be issued in ten volumes, the first of which promises a significant piece of writing.

Mr. Avery is at present sixty years of age, though looking younger. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic; a Knight Templar; a thirty-second degree Mason; and a member and officer of many societies. From 1894 to 1898, he sat in the Ohio Senate and his political colleagues pronounced him a man of dignity, patriotism and learning.