The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-04-10
A CHAT WITH HoWELLs.
Washington Hatchet.l


 When novelist Howells was in Wash ington the other day he was asked by a correspondent of the Chicago Ne,es how he liked New York. He said he didn't like it particle He denies that he is to take up his residence in that city He thinks Boston is the most beautiful residence city in America It is expected when he formed his present engagement with Harper's .nagaEine that he would make New York his home but he finds he can discharge the duties of his position quite as well in Boston, and for that reason he will continue to reside there In appearance, Mir, How els is rather short in stature. but owell proportioned that he looks taller than he really is. He has grown gray within the last ten years but his face is as fair and rosy as that of many men half his age He talks well, but shows modest disinclination to speak too freely of himself or his works. asked him what he thought of Miss Murfrec whose sketches over the nom de plume of Charles Egbert Graddock have attracted such widespread attention of late years He replied that the girl was a genius, and her future a very promising one.
 remember said he, her first con tribution to the .iHdntic The manu- script was sent to me for examination read it with great pleasure. am greatly mistaken l said to myself, if here is not Il new star in the literary fir mament glanced at the signature NJ. N Murirec The chirography was bold and masculine. Some clever hurriutnc SnlilAn,,;. T trying to eke out scanty income by devoting his leisure hours to magazine work Whercupon l wrote NJ N Mur- free, telling him it was an injustice to himself to print a production of so high an order anonymously, and that while Charles Egbert Craddock, as a pseudo nym, was very pretty and all that it would be better to make known his identity from the same. The answer, which came few days later said there were family reasons why it was not ad visablc to disclose the authors identity then, but that this would probably be done at some future time.
 My first meeting with Miss Muriree was very droll, continued Mr Howells, with hearty laugh. "She had been writing for the .lHantic a couple of years One day Osgood dropped in at my li- brary 'Craddock's in town said he, he will dine with me tonight. Cant you join us at dinner? told Osgood had an engagement for that night but would surely put in an appearance, if only for a few minutes. You see, it had never occurred to any of Us that Crad- dock was not n man, and had often given free reign to my fancy to imagine how he would look and act. After Os- good had left me he hunted up Aldrich and told him about it, and Aldrich said nothing but death would prevent him being present, for if there was one man in the world he wanted to sec it was Craddock, Then Osgood told Lawrence Barrett about it, and Barrett promised to be there, too. It so happened that l was the first of the men to arrive lsaw two strange ladies in the lrawing-room, but no Craddock. Osgood enjoyed my disappoint,ncnt moment, and then he said: Mir. Ilowells, let me present you ] to Miss M N Murfree, whom we all know as Charles Egbert Craddock 1 The other lady was Miss Murfrees sis 1 ter. or course was greatly surprised, and they all laughed heartily at my 1 fonllSloll. ncfe Was more laughter when Aldrich came in, and then we waited to see how Barrett would take it. T think he was the most nonplussed man 1 ever saw. He could do nothing for few moments but grin-yes, actually grin Think of it! That model of clt- gance and dignity grinning; but he did it, and he stammered and hestated so when he attempted to speak that the entire party roared until their sides ached."
 Are magazine writers we'll paid for their work?"
 As rule, yes. A few years ago $5 a page was considered fair remunera- ton. it has gradually increased, until now $l5 and quite frequently $20 page is paid
 Every literary man who has written a number of works" 1 said, |" is sup posed to regard some particular one with more affection than the others Dickens, for example, speaks of David Copperteld as the one of all his novels he liked the best Have you any prefer ence among those you have written?'
 cant say that I'm in love with any of my books; but on the whole, l like A Foregone Conclusion best, and after that An Undiscovered Country