The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-12
WHY SHE WROTE QUICK OF THE
DEAD"
Miss Amelie Rives Laughs at the Charges
Against Her.


Against Her.
CASTLE HILL, Albemarle County,
Va, June 30. The lovely young au-
thoress of 1.-THE Quick or the Dead"
and manyother notable brilliant stories,
now Mrs. .imelic Rives-Chandlcr, was
called upon at her beautiful home,
Castle Hill, by Herald correspondent
to-day. She was found walking across
the lawn wearing a feecy gown of
white material, a wide brimmed hat
and swinging a parasol in her hand.
Accompanying her were several of her
pets, including huge combination Of
nlastiff and bull, called "Turk," the
terror of tramps; q noble looking and
intelligent collie, Il pug with Il double
coiled tail and exceedingly puggy face,
and "little teeney bit' of black
and tan which could be put in ones
pocket. The dogs were racing and jump
ing around their young mistress in the
highest state of animal glee. The cool
mountain brcezes, laden with the fra
GRANGE Of flowers, rustled the leaves Of
the trees, the birds carolled delightful
melody in their branches, and the
dainty prominent figure in the scene
was gayly chatting and laughing mer-
rily with somebody not visible at the
instant, but who Immediately turned
out to be Mr.. Chandler.
They are spending the honeymoon
here, and let it be said to the brides
credit that she has sensibly and intelli-
gently selected her own charming
home, where, surrounded by every
condition of happiness, she is thorough
ly and quietly enjoying that honey
moon after her quiet and unostcntatious
marriage.
With All apology for the intrusion,
the Herald correspondent broke III on
the morning ramble of this young
couple. Beginning with few more
apologies, the visitor called the atten-
ton of the authoress to two-column
contribution in an alleged New York
newspaper, charging her with pla-
giarism in the production of ''rhe
Quick or the Dead.n the article was a
windy attempt to prove that Miss
Amelie Rives' work was Il plagiarism
of the novel entitled Mrs. Lorimcr,"
written some years ago by Lucas Malet.
The lady was asked what she had to
say to this new charge.
She glanced quickly over the intro
duction to the long argument in the so
called journal, and laughingly said:
"You know I have decided not to re-
ply 10 any charges whatever. This one
appears to me even more absurd than
usual"
"Then, as might be supposed, there
is no shadow Of Il foundation for the
charge?" said the correspondent.
"No. No thought Of Lucas Maiet's
most clever sketch in Black and White
ever crossed my mind in writing The
Quick Or the Dead According to this
charge, l have plagiarized from the
lives of at least hundred men and
women who have written to me con-
cerning this story"
"Is it possible::" said the Herald cor
respondent in some surprise.
"Yes, quite true. All love stories
must be as old as love itself. 1t is only
the different garb in which they are
dressed that makes them interesting to
u.s.
"May I ask, Mrs. Chandler, if not
impertinent, your object in THE Quick
or the Dead?"
my object" said the authoress, in
quitea serious tone and manner, "in
THE Quick or the Dead does not seem
to have been quite recognized, even ny
my kindest reviewers. 1t is to show
that q woman loves her husbands soul,
his ego, rather than his body. If this
We're not so, Barbara would have given
herself unquestionablyt0 to Deerins, who
was physically the exact reproduction
of her dead husband.n
Having received her denial of the
charge contained in the New York al
legged newspaper, and the only explana-
ton she has ever condescendcd to give
of "The Quick or the Dead" the Her
aid correspondent thanked Mrs. Chand-
ler, bid adieu to herself and husband
and made for the next train.