The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-10
CHARLES EGBERT CRADDoCK.
A Young ST. Louis Authoress Who Caused a
Sensation in Literary Boston.

Sensation in Literary Boston.
Boston Herald.
One of the best-veiled literary Identities since
the time when George Eliot was supposed to be
a man has been that of Charles Egbert Craddock,
the writer of the beautiful and powerful stories
of Tennessee mountain life that have appeared
in the Atlantic" for several years past. 1t has
been known, though not generally, that Charles
Eghert Craddock was a pseudonym, but no one
can have suspected that the master of a style so
strikingly masculine as that in these mountain
tales was not a man. The secret has, until now,
been well guarded, and publishers and editors
have, in their dealings, addressed the author as
Mr.. NJ. N. Murfree, or nj. n. Murfree, ESQ.,, the
observing editor choosing the latter form, taking
1T for granted that one who had so accurate a
knowledge of legal methods as is shown in the
stories must be a lawyer.
Charles Egbert Craddock has been q favorite
contributor to the Atlantic" for several years.
Mr.. Howells, when editor, was quick to perceive
the striking quality of the stories. The first one
printed was THE Dancin' Party at Harrison's
Cove" When Mr.. Aldrich became editor, he
remembered this story, and his first act was to
write to the author, asking for further con-
tributions, meanwhile printing, as soon as pos
sible, two stories which had been on hand some
little time, unused in consequence of a press Of
other matter. Mr.. Aldrich used to muse con-
siderably over the personality of the author.
and he once wrote asking how the latter could
have become SO intimate with the strange,
quaint life of the mountaineers. He received a
pleasant reply of several pages, which, however,
did not throw much light upon the authors per-
sonallty. The manuscript OF Mr." Craddock
certainly had nothing feminine about it. 1t was
almost startlingly vigorous, with large, bold
characters, every letter as plain as print, and
strikingly thick, black lines. Mr.. Aldrich told
Miss Murfree that he used to suppose that she
wrote with one of those dip" brushes, which
the mountaineers use in their habit of dipping
snuff" So liberal was the author in the use Of
ink, that last fall, when Mr.. Aldrich was about
to write to ask for the powerful novel, 1.-THE
Prophet of the Great Smoky Mountains now
running in the Atlantic, he remarked: II
wonder if Craddock has laid in his winters ink
yet, so that / can get a serial out of him?' 1t
was owing to Mr.. Aldrichs urgent representation
that the collection of stories. in the Tennessee
Mountains" was published, the publishers hes
itating, under the impression that there was no
market for short stories collected in book form.
His judgment was justified, for the book is now
in it's ninth thousand.
Last Monday morning, as Mr.. Aldrich was in
the editorial room of the Atlantic word was
| Brought that q lady below wished to see him.
He went down and met a pleasant young lady,
who remarked that she was Charles Eebert
Craddock. Mr.. Aldrieh could hardly have been
more astounded had the roof fallen in, and he
turned and ran several steps, under the pressure
of the shock, before he recovered his usually
imperturbable presence of mind. He would
have been better prepared to find under that
name a strapping six-foot Tennesseean than the
delicate looking lady before him. He now says
| that he is inclined to doubt the sex of all the
other Atlantic contributors whom he has not
met; there are certain things in George Eliot's
writings which, now that one knows, one can
clearly see could have been written only by a
woman; but in the writings of Charles Egbert
Craddock there is not the slightest trace of femi-
nine influence.
DR.. Holmes and Mr.. Howells were equally
astonished at meeting Mr.. Craddock in Miss
Murfree. Mr.. Howells had written that he
could not come, owing to another engagement,
dock" but he was persuaded to come at the
urgent request of Mr.. Aldrieh. On his way he
called at a prominent publishers who said:
Tell Craddock to drop round to see u.s.
Elt will hardly be a violation of privacy to say
that the evening was a delightful one to all; that
the chief guest was add. essed as ''they" by the
host in recognition of the duality of Miss Muir
free and Charles Egbert Craddock, while the
hostess could not lose the latter name from
mind, and compromised with miss Craddock. {"
Miss Murfree was born at Murfreesboro,
Tenn, and is the daughter of a prominent law
yer, who has written works regarded as author
ity in the courts. Murfreesboro is the location
of the novel, Where the Battle was Fought"
lived up to two years ago overlook the battle
ground. Two years ago Mr.. Murfree moved
with his family to St. Louis, where they now
live. For a number of years, from childhood up,
Miss Murfree was unable to use her feet, but her
health is now much better and she can get
around with slight assistance. It seems little
short of marvellous that under such circum-
stances the author should have been able to gain
so intimate a knowledge of the life of the mount
ain folk, and their almost inaccessible homes
and environment.