National Republican., 1886-03-27
w. ID. nowELLs, NOVELIST.

who and what He Is, How, Whom,
and Where He Works, and what He
Is Not Writing.
Mrs. and Mrs. w. n. Howclls, of Boston,
are spending a short season m Washington,
much to the delight Of their many friends
here and greatly to their own surprise aud
enjoyment. Mr.. Howels is well known:
began life In the remarkable state Of Ohio,
at Martnsville, and learned The art of Jour
nalism with his father, who was editor and
proprietor Of several newspapers in Day.
ton, Hamilton, and Columbus. Mr.. How
ellis learned the business thoroughly, aud
when he wrote his first contribution for the
press, a deep and philosophic essay, with
the imposing full head, The
Transitory Character OF Human Idfe,n
he put the article into type and manipulated
the press that printed IL rs we'll. The liter
ary effort was, indeed, q little thing Of his
very own, Mr.. Howells had reached the
felicity Of position at the state capital as
writer Of legislative letters for the Cincln-
natl Gazette and the Cleveland Herald, and
had began to cultivate q mustache and the
dignities Of his high calling, when his work
attracted the attention of Col. John Hay,
who was President Lncoln's private secre-
tary, and Col. Nicolay, also OF this city.
Every one knows that he went TO Venice
as consul general during Lincoln's admin
istratlon, how he married Miss Mead, sister
OF the sculptor, LarRln G.. Mead, OF Yer
mont; began his marvellous series OF stories
that have increased in excellence with each
forthcoming volume; how he lived In Boston
and wrote his "Life OF Lincoln" lone of the
most sympathetic studies Of the martyred
President that has yet appeared), edits a
| department in Hdrpcr'S Mdgdginc, aud has
earned the title Of the "propheto Of realism"
Mr.. Howells's habit is to write In the
morning between the hours OF o and 12,
| a little later than the matutlnal hours in
| which Sir Walter Scott wrote his heroic
stories. But when the lamps are lighted
and the fire aglow In the evening, with the
| quiet. the old newspaper habit OF night
| work returns with resistess force, and he
writes until midnight, There is an eager
and a burning expectancy cxtnnt among us
that the novel of Washington life is soon to
| be written, and that the greatest Of Amer
| lean novelists, now with us, Is to write It,
Mr.. Howells is not reassuring orat all COM
| forting In his assertions when questioned
| upon the subject, as he is q score of times
upon an average each day Of his existence
| here. He says we are 'society of promi-
nences,n and that the characters Of any
story purpolting to be Of Washing
ton life would Immediately be tlcketed with
the names of well known pcrsouages.
|
| would have to be so constantly on guard
| against using impressions received here
that the story would be of life anywhere
and everywhere else but the national
capital Hence Mr.. Howells AYERS he
will not write story Of Washington life.
Mr.. and Mrs. Howells think our society
most charming, fascinating, and agreeable.
They, have, been dined by Lieut.. and Mrs
| Greedy, the Spanish minister, Col. Hay,
| Mr. nul Mrs Ernna CpltOn- and MANY
others, and have had to decline many invi-
tations on account Of Mrs. IIowells's
inability to take up round Of social
dissipations, being an invalid. Mr.. Howellt
spent delightful evening at the white
house discussing literature with Mis-;
Cleveland. There the novelist met Secre
tary Lamar, and, naturally enough, the two
are fervid admirers Of each other. The
reception given Mr.. and Mrs. Howell'
on Saturday afternoon by Senator Morril
drew out large numbers OF distinguished
people, Judges Of the Supreme Court, not
able congressman, society's bonniest belle,
and matrons, men of literature-in short, {
company worthy to honor the guests Of the
evening. All the social honors of which til,
capital is capable have beenpaid the illus
trious couple.
A man with sympathies broad as oui
broad continent, culture unobtruslve ant
| genuine, gentle OF manner, as Sir Galahad
stainless, and with infinite tenderness o.
heart, is one for whom to be thankful. Ant
such one is W. d. Howells. The mos
welcome word Of hope to Washington foil
is that after Mr.. and Mrs. Howells's return
from Europe, whittier they gosoon to plac,
their Oldest son at school In the "Ecole d
Boise" in Paris, they may return to thii
city to live.
Mr.. and Mrs. Howells left the city 70
Rio Vaeta, West Hampton, Henrico county
Va, where Mr.. Howels's father now re
sides, on Tuesday. Mr.. Howells, sr., hi
been Ill, and was the occasion Of his som
visit to Washington. Finding his fathe
much improved when he first came soutl
he moved on TO the capital to make visi
he had long wished to accomplish.
L III .r,.II a,.l ..nn.,. FAN IL, nnnI,.. LiNr.,