The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-12
JUDGE ALBION W. T0URGEE.
A Reporters Talk with the Distinguished
Author Of "a Fools Errand."


afternoon from Logansport, where he lectured
on wednesday evening, and is stopping at the
Bates House. In his personal appearance and
manners he strikingly impresses one as
being man of extraordinary force of
character-one in whom the elements
of iron predominant. A stranger would instinct
lively suppose that he was man more accus>
toned to using the sword than the pen. He
talks as vigorously as he looks, and che spark
ling huency of his language is quite as cha rmln
as the force of his thought is convincing. A
Journal reporter who called on him at
the Bates House last evening asked him
his views Of the present condition
OF the South politically 81 do not care to talk
about the South he said, because the people
of the North do not view any condition of
affairs there as / do; and as they do not look
upon it as do they cannot understand me.
We view the situation in the South from on
tirely different stand points. A question asked
on any condition of affairs there as you look upon
1t would probably answer from an altogether
different understanding of the situation. It's
necessary to relate so much OF antecedent his
tory leading up to my point of view that find it
best to refrain from saying anything in an inter
view on any question relating to the South"
The idea had in mind in asking the ques-
ton about the South was, whether not there
had been any change there in the political meth
DDS and prejudices of the people in the last five
or Six years. as you view the situation" replied
the reporter
at is hardly possible that there could be any
specific change in the condition. The people are
not the kind who can change radically, Has
there been change in Indianapolis In the last
nve or SIX years that you have notcedl Nos
Well, when there is no change in the North,
where new people are admitted at the
.sa door and turned ss,aon out tnna at
without any change in political sentiment or
prejudices occurring. it cannot be expected that
there would be any change in section of coun-
try which is closed against all currents of new
thought There can be no radical change in less
than twenty or thirty years."
Would the passage of the Blair educational
bill have the effect to cause any improvement in
the condition of the Southl"
1.-The Blair bill is combination of Yankee
sentiment and Southern shrewdness. / regard
it as dangerous measure because it proposes
method of distributing the appropriation which
is so unfair that, when put into practical opera
ton, it would arouse such vigorous opposition
from the people of the country that the cause of
quarter OF century. There is
no objection to the measure. if
the appropriation-it should really be larger
but the bill is dangerous one because it pro-
poses d IneInOu WHICH cannot sLanO ne eOu-
cation of the ignorant is the thing have been
urging for twenty years, and it doubtless seems
strange that should oppose measure which
proposes to do what have advocated. The edu-
catonal feature of the bill! is all right but
the method of distributing the appropriation
makes the measure dangerous one." In
further conversation Judge Tourgee stated that
he would soon issue a volume setting forth his
views on the proper method of educating the
illiterate, and doubtless it will be devoted direct
ly to the discussion of the question now receiv-
ing the consideration of Congress.
Are you doing any other literary work nowF
was asked.
II believe have written nothing for about
week. have a manuscript which was put into
my grip by my wife, with an order to complete
it before reached Kansas City. The writing of
q novel is very laborious work for me. 1t may
oe very easy for others. A character some
times gets very obstinate and troublesome.
When a story is completed, have no further
interest in it. heartily dislike it The only
pleasure get from own stories is in the writ
ing" Incidentally IN the course of the CONVEX
sation the Judge mentioned story he had in
mind. ut is my intention to make skeleton of
1t soon, and then write it out"
do You develop your stories by Balzac's
method of writing-that is. by adding to the
skeleton here and there, from time to time, until
you are ready for it to go TO the public?"
THAT is usually my method of working. After
get story pretty we'll started write the last
chapter. and then proceed to develop the idea.
However, before begin work, have the entire
story in mind. even to many of the minute de-
tails"
His lecture entitled IA Story-teller's Story
which he will deliver at Plymouth Church to-
night, is devoted to relating the incidents and
experiences of an authors life. The Judge will
probably remain in the city until next Monday,
and from here he will go to Terre Haute.