The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-11-09
ATALK WITH A NOVELIST.
w. ID. Howelis' Mode OF Work and
His Views of Fiction.

Howells the other day found him busily
engaged in his literary workshop. I'm
like some celebrated scribblers, Mr..
Howells does not apparently consider a
barren garrett essential to literary
achievement, for his 'sw%orkshop" APP
peared by no means destitute of the
comforts and luxuries of civilized eS-
%istence. AS the novelist came hospit-
ably forward to the portierre-hangings of
the apartment to receive his caller, it
was observed that he had grown just q
tri1e stouter III his European wander
inss. and that his heavy mus,ache had
Il rather more pronounced tinge of gray.
a little pile Of %note-paper copy lay on
his desk, he had ceased writing in the
middle of u paragraph.
"fonr new novel, | suppose, Mr..
Howell'so9" was asked, after an apology
for the untimely interruption.
Yes, Ii is the opening of it," was the
reply. at will deal with American
characters, but is somewhat premature
to say ANYTHING more aboutit at present.
! GU see l have only reached the sixty
seventh page.'
The reporter glanced at the half
written "take'' ofcopy. The chirosraphy
was Of a moderately fine, free, running
variety, with plenty of space between
the lines.
"My working hours" continued Mr..
Howells, in response to inquiries, ''are
from . q. IN. to l pm. / dine at 2. p. m.
aud am a man of leisure for the rest of
the day. On an average / cover about
twelve of those half sheets in course OF a
morning; there are times when | do
more work, rs in supplying the conclud-
ing chapters of "Modern Instance" |
turned out some twenty-five pages per
dey; but that is exceptional. One of the
| pages, l should say. might make q stick
| (twenty lines) of nonpireil. You see l
do a great deal of revising, changing
S; MAKING customs Insertions, elc,
oni Il hn, ie"i,.e q Waoie cnuF,er
"n Aa nt vi ocsaslohs c1luehsea a
1922 "a a. paiasiapli. ane manu-.
nIiipo ~ n noLesple Conclusion was
TtILin.s 1850, ~, \ s9nle lespec.s
hhntn !. Aiiai.slli2 ID oee.eF tnah
'haI oi NY otner DOORS. -.
- should thlnk.' AIR. Howelts." sad
me reporter, That after the completion
Oh a long v you would II IT very
necessary TO take mucn more time Tor
recreatlon than you are wont TO grant
SourSeii!
!, Wen, l nave always pee a Deilevar
III ene sosPel OF work LOT myself, as wen
as iof otllef people. ! 1all 70 see maj
iohs setns 81 lntelecluai l1actlvlly are
neneneiai: !. seems 70 me mat t.ley are
inJuflous ilsleaa. mere IS always a re-
lueial,ce ABOUT turning 70 work again,
ailo lie uay appointed iof lhe resn'hp.-
tloIl Oh u pen IS app 70 De postponed
WIN more ireeaoni thah pront. AFTER
lolg Vacatioh writer leeis very much
irhe .ile man VINO saia una ne meyer
Mal.Gu = iolluay 80 nhuch rs the DAY
al.er ne naa ohe.,l prefer properly TO
appoIt'on my Worh ano recreation ana
IiS tose'her as 1af as practHa-
oie'
81 suppose, Mr.. Howells, that while
abroad you heard something of the hub
bnb of criticism occasioned in both Eng
land ard America by your references ia
a c itique of Mr.. Henry james to the
fneness of the art of novel writing at
the present day as compared with the
works of Dickens and Thackeray?"
II heard some echoes Of the CRITICISMS
you refer to. There is a fashion in nov
els, as in everything else, and l simply
called attention to the fact that in some
respects he fashion had changed. In
good time, when opportunity occurs, |
shall probably express myself on the
subject a little more fully and explicitly"
rs not Ihakary a tavorite with your
certainly. 1t IS absurd to suppose
that should attempt to decry him,
Why, l first met a novel Of his when l