LIEBER'S NOTE BOOK

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2272, 5 October 1914, Page 3

LIEBER'S NOTE BOOK

Some Stevenson Relics. i With tho necessity for economy which must have come in England as a result of the war, there may not improbably be a mild slump in the values of old and rare books, manuscripts, and literary curios generally. , Just previous to the outbreak of war, to he precise, on July 24, some astonishingly high prices were brought, at an auction sale at Messrs. Sotheby's famous rooms, of certain Stevenson manuscripts' and relics, the property of tho novelist's stepson and collaborateur, Mr. Lloyd Osborne. One letter, mentioning the originals of some characters in Irisbooks, realised £36. ' The autograpb M.S.—only about 83 pages in all — of various draftß and notes for Stevenson's last and uncompleted novel, "Weir of Hermiston," brought the sum of £282. An autograph noto on his probable future career, dated 1873, realised £101. The relics included books which Stovenson had used for reference purposes.' Thus, a Rogot's "Thesaurus," which had originally cost 6omo five or 6ix shillings, brought £29, it having the novelist's autograph and some amusing manuscript annotations. An interesting rolic was the map of "Treasure Island," from which' tho published map was reproduced. This brought no loss than £42.

"Master Humphrey's Clock." At the same sale, 60 I notice w tho dock which suggested to Dickens the title "Master, Hunmh.rej.'a .Olosk."

brought tho_ big sum of £120. In the older editions of "Master Humphrey's Clock" there is an engraving on wood, after Cattermole's original drawing of the old grandfather's clock which plays so prominent a part in the introductory chapters of "The Old Curiosity Shop," as it originally appeared m its serial form. The story of how Dickens _ came to utilise this clock idea is curious, and may bo new to some of my readers. In 1837 Dickens, accompanied by Hablot K. Browne ("Phiz"), who illustrated* so many of his novels, went down to Yorkshire to inquire into the Yorkshire, schools; one of which, under the name, of Dotheboy's Hallj he was to made famous, or infamous m "Nicholas Nickloby." The pair put up at the King's Head, Barnard Castle, and spent some weeks, it is said, in collecting information upon which the Squeers chapter, in "Nickleby" were to be founded. In a niche at the right-hand side of the door of a 'fatohmaker's shop at Barnard' Castle, the owner of which was nwied William Humphreys, stood a hsautifully carved grandfather clock, the case of which had originally been made in Holland in the seventeenth century. Mr. Humphrey, or "Maister". Humphrey." as the Tykes' would say, used to pride himself upon the aoauracy of the timepiece he had placed in the old Dutch case, and it was from "Master Humphrey's Clock" that Barnard Castle took its official time. The clockmaker was a character in his way, and Dickens, always keen'to appreciate an oddity, was in the habit of dropping in to get the correct time, and to have a. chat with its gossip-loving owner. As a matter of fact, it was through Mr. Humphreys that "Boz" obtained 1 an introduction <to the Mr. William Shaw, tho schoolmaster, whose establishment, it is now generally accepted, was the original, in some respects at least, of Dotheboy's Hall, where poor Smike was so foully illtreated, and,where Nicholas Niokleby gave the tyrant Squeers sucli a well-merited thrashing. The clock was not mentioned in "Nicholas Nickleby," which appeared in 1839, but when Dickens started weekly periodical in which first "The CM Cnriosity Shop," and afterwards "Barnaby Rudge," appeared, he took as his title "Master Humphrey's Clock." On his return from America, Dickens learnt from his publishers of the. splendid sales of "The Old Curiosity Shop," and acknowledged his indebtedness to tho old clockmaker at Barnard's Castle by sending him an author's copy of the novel. The clock, which was sold in London in July, was, I believe, offered for sale by a 'Loudon curiosity dealer some four or five years ago, at which time an article describing its .connection with Dickens's story, appeared in the monthly magazine, "The Connoisseur." It has now, in all 1 probability, been bought by some of the numerous American collectors of Dickens relics. s

Booksellers tell • me that so far the war has not made a very great difference in their sales, but already there is a tendency, especially, on the part of novel readers, to patronise: the handy and cheap little reprint series which are now so numerous, and from amongst which, if you choose wisely and well, you can pick up so many excellent stories. A desire for ..economy . will certainly make many readers prefer tlio sevenpenuy and r shilling editions .to tho usual three and sixpenny "Colonial Library" volumes. There must be thousands of novel readers of.the present day-who have-never.read Marion Crawford's earlier hovels, and yet there aro few novelists of to-day who could givn us better stories than, say, those in tho "Sarra.ciuosca" series," or "A_ Roman Singer" or "Corleone," or, again, the now ■ half-forgotten "Mr. Isaacs." Then, again, nearly all Henry Seton Merriman's novels arc available in shilling editions, and dozens of other ontcr.taming writers are also represented in Uhe reprints. As Steerforth put it, in "David. Copperfield," "a man can do liimself very well" in those reprinted fiction. ' " ' . '

Of course, a certain number of new books, especially of fiction and light literature generally, there are Bound to bo. I sincerely hopo that Mr. B. V. Lucas's new story "Landmarks," which, was to be published early this month, will duly appear. The same writer, I notice, is adding to bis delightful "Wanderer" series, his latest production in this genre, "A Wanderer in Venice" being announced for publication on October 1. • Those who know "The Wanderer" books on London, Paris, Holland, and Florence will need no reminder from me that "A Wand orcr in Venice" is a book to bo bought, even if several contemplated purchases have to be abandoned.

Jack London's latest novel, "John Barleycorn" (Mills and Boon), is, I read, a strongly-worded'plea for temperance. The story, which is said to bo largely autobiographical, deals with the fight put up against the "Drink Fiend" by a young American workman. I hope to give a review of this book later on.