The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-04-09
w. ID. HowELLs.



novelist. ut Washington. lie says:
Mr. Howells Is rather short in stature.
hut so well proportional that he looks
grown very gray within the last ten
years, but his face is rs fair and rosy rs
many men scarcely half his age. He
talks well, but shows modest disincli-
nation to speak too freely of himself and
his works. | asked him how he liked
New York. He replied that he had not
gone there, nor did he intend to. He
thinks Boston is the most delightful resi-
dence city in America. 1t was expected
when he formed his present engagement
with Hafper'S Magazine that he would
make New York his home, but he finds
he can discharge the duties of his posi-
ton quite rs well in Boston, and for
that reason he will continue to reside
there. l asked him what hc thought of
Miss Murfree, whose sketches over the
nom dc plume of Charles Egbert Grad
dock have attracted such widespread at
tention of late years. He replied that
the girl was genius, and her future II
very promising one.
II remember" said he. cher first con-
tribution to the atlantic. The manu-
script was sent to me for examination.
i read it with great pleasure. am
greatly mistaken, l said to myself, if here
is not new star in the literary tirma-
mcnt. glanced at the signature, M.
n. Murfree. The chirography was bold
and masculine. Some clever young bar
ristcr, again soliloquizcd, trying to exc
out q scanty income by devoting his
leisure hours to magazine work. Where
upon wrote M. N. Murfree, telling him
it was an injustice to himself to print
production of so high an order anony-
mously, and that while Charles Egbert
pretty and all that, it would be better to
make known his identity from the start.
The answer. which came back few
days later. said there were family real
sons why it was not advisable to disclose
the authors identity then, but that this
would probably be done ut some future
time.
My first meeting with Miss Murfree
was very droll," continued Mr.. Howells,
with hearty laugh. ''Shc had been
writing for the atlantic q couple of
years. One day Osgood dropped in at
my library. 'Craddock's in town. said
he. He will dine with me tonight.
Can't you join us ut dinner?' told Os-
good / had an engagement for that
night, but would surely put in an APP
pearance if only for few minutes. You
see, it had never occurred to any of us
that 'Craddock' was not u man, and l
had often given free rein TO my fancy in
imagining how he would look and act.
After Osgood left me he hunted up Aid
rich and told him all about it, and Aid
rich said nothing but death would pre-
vent him being present, for if there was
one man in the world he wanted to see
it was Craddock. Then Osgood told
Lawrence Barrett about it, and Barrett
promised to be there, too. 1t so hap
pened that / was the first of the men to
arrive. | saw two strange ladies in the
drawing-room, but no Craddock. Os-
good enjoyed my disappointment a mo-
mcnt and then said: Mr. Howells, let
me present you to Miss M. N. Murfree,
whom we all know rs Charles Egbert
Craddock.' The other lady was Miss
ly surprised, and they all laughed heart
lily ut my confusion. There was more
laughter when Aldrich came in, and
then we waited to see how Barrett would
take it. think he was the most nom
plused man ever saw. He could do
nothing for few moments but grin
yes, actually grin. Think of it! That
model of elegance and dignity grinning;
but he did it, and he stammered and
hesitated SO when he attempted to speak
that the entire party roarcd until their
sides ached."
'Then it appears, Mr. Howells," said
/, 'that Miss Murfrcc's first essay in the
literary field did not share the usual
fate of articles contributed by unknown,
persons, for the general impression is
that no matter now clever these may be
they are usually tossed into the waste
basket without undergoing the formality
of reading"
Il know that impression exists" said
Mr.. Howclls, "but it is not correct
one. The sub-editOrs, rs they arc called,
of all our leading magazines are on the
lookout constantly for new talent. What
SO unreasonable then rs to suppose that
skilled men cannot recognize such talent
ulliCSo accompanied Wy thO haihO VI
some writer of prominence. OF course
every magazine has n great mass of rub
bish sent to it, but it is all carefully ex-
amined in the hope that something of
merit may be found among it,"
"Then there is no truth in the stories
one occasionally hears that you OF Bret
Harte, or L. b. Aldrich, or some other
distinguished man of letters has written
something anonymously and sent it to
one of the magazines only to have it re-
jocted on account of its alleged inferior
typ"
There is absolutely no truth in it
whatever. believe Bayard Taylor did
il once, but it is the only authenticated
case know OF"
"Are magazine writer's well paid for
their workp"
Gas rule, yes. A few years ago So
page was considered fair renumera-
ton. Ii has gradually increased, until
now $l5, and quite frequently $40,
page is paid"
"Do our magazines meet with as much
favor from. the Enplish public now az