The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-08-04
A GREAT NOVELIST.
Why the "Undoubted Genius 81
Never Became Famous.

A~OSN~AeA> S~>~SSSs
To a friend of mine who is well ac-
auainted with several noted authors,
and who is literary man himself, I
once expressed a desire to know the
methods of work adopted by men who
had made themselves famous. In the
course of the conversation that ensued
lie said:
Il will, if you like, take you to see a
friend of mine, who is one of the most
remarkable of English novelists.
"Who is hep
"There would be no use in my tell
inc YOU his name. You never heard of
him.
"a coming celebrity, eh?'
"You can judge better of that when
you know him. have just received a
note from him, saying he has COM
menced new book, and he wants me
to call so that he can read me the first
chapters.
Il see. You want to shove the hearing
of them off on me, do you?"
mo. will sit it through. 1t is sure
to be good"
We went up st Martins lane and
turned down one of those streets that
might have led into Soho square, and
then again might not. You can never
tell Just where those streets will land
you. Coming to one of those old brick
houses built in II something, we rang
the bell, and a rather untidY girl open
ed the door and expressed no surprise
as we passed her and went up the stairs.
At the very top my friend knocked, and
some one shouted in hearty voice
'scome,' from the inside. When the
door was showed open l saw man
of about forty seated at rough pine
table, with cup of coffee at his elbow
and some broken biscuits beside it. On
the floor and upon the table were white
leaves of manuscript paper that had
been written and carelessly flung aside.
There were hundreds of pages, and it
looked as if the table had boiled over,
letting the white paperpour over each
end on the floor. There was absolutely
no more furniture in the room besides
that table and the chair he sat in, ex-
cept single wooden bench. on which
lay the coat and vest of the man in his
shirt sleeves.
One window, high, deep, narrow,
dusty and partly set in the roof, gave
what light there was in the room.
Through its semi-obscure panes could be
seen the chimney-potted roofs and the
spires of part of London.
The author sprang to his feet when
he recognized my conductor and ex-
tended his hand in hearty, unreserved
manner that made me like him from the
first.
Arthur, my boy, I'm awfully glad
to see you. Any man except bill
collector who will climb those stairs is
a friend indeed"
II have brought with me an apprecia-
tive fellow whom l would like you to
know. Mr.. Luke Sharp, whose fame
all over the world makes the mere
mention of his anne sufficient introduc.
ton. Sharp, Mr., Boning."
Mr. Boning shook hands with a trifle
OF embarrassment.
"You don't mean to say you've never
heard of him, Boning!"
well, you know, Arthur, / very sell
dom read anything, and, in fact"
Never mind, Mr.. Bon;ng," 1 said
''Itat is his one and only joke-at
least he thinks it's joke. He intro.
duces me as if l were n celebrity, and
hopes to enjoy my chagrin and the other
fellows perplexity at having never
heard of me. I'm getting used to it.
but some day I'll drop him out of 8
window for it."
"Noble resolution" said Boning,
you couldn't have better chance thar
right here, only have never succeeded
IN getting this window open. Hasn't
been opened during the present century.
But sit down, sit down, and he swept
coat and vest off the bench to the floor
and waved his hand toward the seat.
We sat down.
swell, Boning, how's the novel get
ting along"
"spiendidly, Arthur, splendidly. Do
ing two chapters day easily"
HAS John Dudgeon solved the mys
terry vet?''
''Oh, that one," cried the novelist in
q tone of disgust. Hang that story.
I've chucked it up weeks ago.
,'Chucked it up! Why? You had 8
splendid plot in it. Couldn't better il
hYou tried ten years"
The plot was reasonably good, bu
there's more than plot wanted nova.
days. The truth is I got heartily tiret
OF John Dudgeon and couldn't work ou
inc character of man had tired Of
don want to tire my readers when
get them. But I've got scheme nov
'aas Is a real Mackeye. I came across
very intelligent young Coster who
An intelligent Coster! Oh, I say
nonlng, isn't that coming it rather to-
stonge'
l know your ideas about what 20,
sse pleased to call the lower classes. B,