Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1889-08-18

have orders nos % give such addresses
g. any person The reason for this Is
obvious, "a were authors here or else
where - grant audiences 70 every per-
son who desire 70 see them. thoy would
very soon % Ia such an unenviable con
tltlon that they could heartily re echo
the sentiment conveyed by Job, when
be wished in his agony that his adj
versary had written book.
Fortunately. however, I had no such
difficulty In securing William Black.
the distinguished noyslist's address.
and letter sent 20 him received the
following prompt reply:
DEAR Sla.-The truth ~. 7 have been
interviewed 70 death and | don't think
! have = single thing 20 say about my
self OF my books that would DC OF the
slightest interest 10 any human being.
However, II you are OF 4 contrary opin-
ion. / shall be glad 70 see you hero
reform Club any tima tomorrow even
ing; or perhaps could make an appoint
ment for next week. II that wouldn't
suit you. The following week l leave
for Scotland. and do not return till
October. Yours very faithfully.
WILLIAM BLACK.
Having made an appointment with
Mr.. Black at the later period, spent
an exceptionally pleasant afternoon
With him a few days ago, at the Reform
Club. Pail Mall. which is his headquart-
ers while in London
He shook hands with me heartily and
In an extremely friendly manner said,
Il an glad % meet you. ! think have
more friends in America than l have
here, and am just after dining with
Thomas r. Aldrich and another Amerr
can gentleman. The former a. least well
known in the United States. The ma
iority OF those who display any curiosity
es 70 my personality are from your
country, where I have also larger
circle OF readers than anywhere else"
Mr.. Black speaks with a decidedly
Scotch accent, but the Doric is not
sufficiently pronounced to mar his
speech, and merely results in softened
infection which Affects the listener
pleasantly. His complexion is not as
dark as had been led TO expect from
his photographs and published descrip-
tons OF him. Ia fact he is not dark at
A.
70 wind and weather. As an intense
admirer Of nature be has passed much
OF his time out OF doors, which is
scarcely more evident in the rich glow
o. his features than in his appearance
OF robust health He wore dark cut
away coat which. though the day was
extremely warm, was buttoned almost
% tho chin. His hair and mOustache
are black. with few struggling hairs
OF gray. and though considerably beyond
middle age. having been born in ls41,
looks much younger than his years.
His replies 90 the following interroga-
tions we're cli5erate and 70 the point:
Am right in coniecturing that you
are % Highland descent and possess at
least a slight knowledge Gaelic?'
The traditions Of my family are that
such Is my origin. but ny knowledge 81
Gaelic = limited 20 = few words and /
always submit any phrase in that Ian
guaze. which appear in my works, to
competent authority"
"Will you have the kindness, Mr..
Black. % inform me regarding yo-r
habits 81 writing"
After breakfast write steadily for
s7ro hours. and one hour airor dinner.
which Is all ,he Sine give 20 literary
work During the ress q me day /
walk Or read or attend 20 correspon-
sen-e DO not experience any din
Guilty in composing. ard write rapidly,
and require - make fsw ensures ~
you perhaps know. I began my active
lie "a a iourns' 81. and vas for seven
years assistants 81 cor % tbe London
Evening News Two years after quit
journalistic work. ! attempted - Srffe
a leader. and shough before bad great
facility in thst species ~ com position
&c sook IL day and hat - wife 10. .
L studied IN the Glasgow school x
A.. ard In sh- fields. When eighteen
vea-s o. a4a I prepared series q
sze-chaz fer Paradise Losr. after ne
r,snn@~ ~ Fiaxunan. Which fortuuste'1
were never pphiished
7 have asst completed story. h
Vsw Prince Fcr-unstls, Vhien Fili
ar1ea- simnIsaneopsiy. IN Hs-ro- a
~ .exfr. snd In ,he london Crap
TNe f-st install u,ent - 80 novei Fili
be published IN about -w0 weess an
ror Engaged on = ssorT wai-h sill 'lso
.rraar "A se~ial on seth saSes 80 -0e
Atler-ss. hrt -snac- sar Thich arer'
i+ ~tr- Ia "a, 1flsre5 "a IS "a Gus ~1r
Sands. ard sha tea'e-s VII sr~arE 81
tsas The 5rst nsr, oers. however 7ill
cone o.t III IsuaarT 1rvt ari e
Whole work wu r-tard - about = Z
months
T rs-@iT sste-'p. snsi~sss s-d an
-e-rr 3dsc+3e wrlte ~ rle7se ret -
tns-rrcr. ard -hcnCh ( he eve ttss
+ sha rorrs7-5r 81 incident ard - iiss W /
siva~s -rssees T-ess tksr-7 49, 81 p
T human heart. s0is s1st there A. ,e--
49, hraies he7,ni ~nich she Wri-e~s -
/ scEicn Should ncr rsss n a1' = ger -
err eve a. tEe narTaAo1s. Tees