New-York tribune., 1885-08-16
ASUCOESsFUL NOVELIST
TIE AUTHOR OF "a COUNTRY TOWN"
CAREER OF X. W. HOWE AS A WESTERN EDITOR
AND AS A BooX-wRITER.

There recently sailed from this city for Europe
gentleman who. after editing with success newspaper
In Kansas town for number OF years, suddenly came
before the publc the writer Of suocessfu
novel, which was widely sold and the recipient OF
many highly Gatteng notices in magazines and papers
without number Presently another novel from his pom
appeared. and now he Is at work upon third The
OF this gentleman Is Edgar W. Howe and the book
which brought him into public notice Is The Story OF
Country Town" Mr.. Howe Is Western born and bred
and is good typo Of successful Western man. He Is
trine above medium height. with dark hair and eyes,
smoothly shaveu face finely cut features an high,
prominent forehead. His voice is grud and hearty, and
t Is evident In conversation with him that he shows
himself exactly he Is There Is pretenson or aec-
taon about him. The story Of his caresris interesting
one and many OF the incidents described In his first book
actual occurrences Being interested in Mr. Howes
book TRIBUNE representative who met him uptown
the other day asked him why aud how he came to wrte
novel. In answer to question or two Mr. Howe who
expressed decided aversion to any thug that would
SAVIOR OF thrustng himself before the public. began to
tell something about his experience tho editor and
publisher Of The Atckison Daily GLOBE
"when went to Atchisou eight years ago." said Mr..
Howe there was some to believe that It would
outrun Kansas City In the race for commercial suprem
acy, but Kansas City is far ahead OF that
have hope OF overtakinZ II. though Atchison Is
xcellent town of 10000 population and has trade
which can never bo taken away from it. originally
.
Gordon Job press and my brother and myself not only
wrote all that contained bat set tho type and worked
he The paper was very small OF course but the
peopls liked IT, and 1t has prospersd we'll that 1t
buildny OF its own and more prosperous than
either OF its, contemporaries. Even now frequently
make up tho forms wheR there Is rush. and day
passes that do not assist In the mechanical work
OF tho paper for Issue in the evening and always
late For number OF years did all the editing, solicit
ing, reporting. managing, ETC.. but now have young
man assisting me- and am quite oafer The Globe isn't
much OF paper you will imagine, but we manage to
sell 1900 every day, though often wonder what tho
people want with them have been In printing ofce
steadily since eleven years old, and have worked
at the In Salt Lake City. Denver Cheyenne, Yank-
ton and all over tho West and North"
What started the Idea OF your writing novel 7"
"Tnree or four years ago began writing The Story
OF Country Town at night II the story has any
foundation In fact, the country town Is Bethany
Harrison County, NO., whore learned the printers
trade in my fathers Office. 'Farview' Is actual
name, and about such place the story makes out
learned recently that the church blown down last
ws mad a 11s S 5c
but their histories are not in any way alike for my nncs
no, At all sentmsna The character Of The Meek IN
really George Meek who haa tremendous
smy Faew s1S the about
as remember Il at Bethany though have 39t been cen
% te
was the paper my father really published he
arestc nuder Missouri statute relating to slaves and
threatened with the penitentaryi but the Iowa men
CpsS eSss ni the SSsf % % S The
printer Martin, who character u the book still
oSn 10 name snS eG S S's
good many years ago he wrote short stories for The
real fe though matter OF fact he never acknow'-
edged that he but believes TO this day that he
Big Adam Little Biggs Damon Barker etc; were
entirely fictitious as were the incidents IN which they
When the story was finally completed offered + 70
osgood 4 Co, AID Roberts Brothers OF Boston, also
refused IT, ! kept the nanuscrip. for time and was
sSpsn o 70 %yo fA on be
which formerly printed Iss GLOBE and as we could
eops, es reGireS great deal Of work set some Of the
type myself and read nswsraEer proofs IN connection
we're very kind when the story nay appeared but the
first notice It received which ATTRACTED attention
column and half in length and was SO complimentary
that tho book business was very brisk with me for
| into Tho World office, having picked it pp on his
western tour He found the book In local book store
and was attracted by Its odd appearance IL was printed
in type aud looked different from ordinary books
He thrust into ms bag AND AND Tsa6 on s + way M E %a 9rsn anyds
Interested and when he reached New, York handed
came into notice in the East This not,rIety attracted
tho attention OF publishers ana received propositions
Funk K Wagnails ami one or two others osgood & Co.
were first In the Held and grsedily closed with them
and they Issued tho story In September last During tho
following February tho firm Issued The Mystery or
the Locks but IL did not please the critics 80 well;
indeed, the general verdict unavorable do not
| like A The Mystery very well myself. L am now
engaged another story but do not like book writing
and It may appear Tor time My experience IL
| Globe pays reasonably well II l give t attention.
Although tho Country Town has had an unusual sale,
| the profits have not been large and / am not as
| ambitious In tho matter OF book making rs WAS.
Imagined that book receiving the newspaper attention
which tho Country Town did would net she author
twenty thirty thousand doars but nd that twenty
! or thirty hundred is much nearer the mark"
"Your first book received much attention from the
| reviewers believe T.
~Oh yes Nearly every paper In the country gave it
handsome notice. TIE TRIBUNE printed column ana
quarter about It. The other New York papers spoke
avOrably did also all the leading papers OF Boston,
highly ilaterng notice OF four columns signed w. ID.
Howells The Atlantic, The London Spectator, The Sd-
day Review and other leading journals spoke IN the same
way, only saw unfayorable criticism am very
much indebted TO the newspapers OF the country FOR All
OF them have given me much moro space than
deserve" -
illustration OF the popularity or his first book In
his own neighborhood, Mr. Howe mentioned the fact
that Kansas City bookseller has sold 300 copies OF
@The story OF Country Town." and the demand for 10
Is contlnuOnsI tho greatest sale OF single book
that this dealer has mado 100 copies or b. Marion
Crawfords Roman Singer"
Mr.. Howe. accompanied by three friends from
Atchson. sailed for Europe for two months vacation,
intending TO visit ireland, Scotland England, France
Switzerland and the Rhine.