The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-06-16
Miss Rives' Methods.
New York Press.

Pretty and talented Amelie Rives is having hard time with the crit ics. Her recent story, "The Quick or the Dead" i" has brought an avalanche of letters upon her. Over i've hun- dred missives of all kinds from men and women, and particularly from young girls, have reached her at her home at Castle Hill, Albemarle county, Va. All.of these letters Miss Rives has read carefully. Some of them were queer specimens of chi rography and syntax. With the ex- ception of three, all bore the names and addresses of the writers. All sorts of questions were propounded. Nearly all of the writers pay tribute to the clever young Virginia woman's genius, and all the letters were writ ten with the idea that this coming great novelist of the new south needed instruction and advice. It may be interesting to the writers of these letters to know that Miss Rives is not at all upset or disconcerted by the crisis in her life brought about by what she is pleased to tell me "was my somewhat crude and hastily written study" Nor is she to be frightened or bullied out of her con- victions. A halt- dozen of the letters received merited replies, because they were written by authors and editors of promise, who have met the young authoress and have deep interest in her welfare. It might also interest some of the letter writers to read the preface of Charles Kingsley's "The Saints Tragedy" The view there taken of human passion is that held by Miss Rives.
 "Well-meant books, strongly writ ten and from clean heart, resemble mirrors wherein all who read behold their own reflection. The pure- minded will see purity, the foul- minded foulness," said the authoress to a recent visitor.
 People who have taken SO much in terest in Miss Rives may like to know that she is in the most radiant health, and in spirits as brimful of life as any girl in all Virgina. She is hard at work at new story, and she has more orders from publishers for nov els than she can supply. A recent paragraph has made it appears that she is to be paid $30,0O0 for her next novel. There has been no contradic- tion of this from the publisher. If the figures given be correct, it is the largest sum ever paid by an American mn h1ic chor f0l. O cf0rv
 In appearance Miss Rives is we'll built, well-rounded young woman of twenty-five. She has 8 perfect pro- file. Her eyes are soft and poetic. Her mouth is small and firm. She wears her abundant brown-gold hair in fluffy disorder about her forehead and neck. She is graceful eques- trienne. She delights in long ram- bles. She is an excellent tennis player, and handles an oar with ease and grace. She loves outdoor life, and knows how to take care of her health as we'll as she knows how to write stories. Her companions in most of her rambles are pair of magnificent greyhounds.
 In the matter of work Miss Rives is very punctilious. The room in which she does her writing is a bower-iike study, fitted up with odds and ends of bric-a-brac and articles of virtu. Here and there on the walls are en- cravings, water colors, and oil paint ings. There is a we'll stocked library in one corner of the room, and there is writing table with letters, news papers, and magazines.
 In and around her home Miss Rives is loved and respected. She has charmingly frank way of making strangers feel comfortable. To those who know her we'll she is delight tul companion and sincere friend. She is not at all spoiled by her success. She takes her wonderful good luck in a sensible way.