Morning journal and courier., 1889-12-17
TILT BErwEkN rOvELIsrs.
How Major Calhoun Finished . Story
 Ned Bunsline Had Begun.

How Msjor Calhoun Finished . Story Ned Bunsline Had Begun.
 From the Kansas City Journal.)
 Major Calhoun one of the most prolific of modern blood and thunder story writers, and Louis Neuman, who is the author of three composite novels, adopted from the German, Spanish and Italian, and averaging 6 million words apiece, were comparing experiences Q few days ago.
 'T once had Q rather exciting passage with the late Ned Buntline," said the Major. "He was writing story for a weekly paper on which we were both frequently engaged, when he took sudden vacation. It was . way he had and nobody thought anything about It, but in this case the publishers were in dilemma, as they had but single Install mont ahead. was sent for and told to read the chapter already printed and then ret to work and finish up the story In one or two in- stallments.
 ''wsll, read the part that had appeared, and it was a job. soon discovered that there was an enormous number of characters In the story-more than could very well han dle; for Judson was man who could keep track of large number of names ct once. This multiplicity of characters puzzled me. Finally resolved to get rid of some of them, and adopted very original method. I put . number of them on board an excursion steamer and then exploded her boilers, send ing them to kingdom come. With the rest worked out plot to . climax and wound up the story in fairly good shape.
 "You may imagine Judson's wrath when, on returning to the office two weeks later, he had learned what had been done. I Iexplained n AI .k~5 ~,,5A Nv1orc rf hvrk he couldn't he paci6ed, and was very mad man, indeed. He cared nothing, he said, about the finishing off the story; it was the brutal way of killing of his characters that he objected to-the wholesale annihilation, which he declared to be inartistic. By and by he saw the thing in its proper light, and we had many good joke over 1t"
 "That reminds mo-" said Neumann, s'of somewhat similar incident that occurred in Paris. A highly sensational story was run ming in one of the daily papers, snd the chief had few instalmsnts on hand when the brilliant young author took 1t into his head to go of and get married. Then he get out on wedding tour which was to last . week, The installments were aoon used up, and another member of the staE was direct ed to wind up tho story. He sent tho hero- inc to watery grave in the river Seine; he poisoned the hero, slew the abbey who was the sole witness of the marriage, and closed the tale in most tragic and interesting man- usr. It was dark and weird success, you may believe. At the end of the week the author showed up. He had with him seve- raj installmsnts, which he handed to his chief.
 "Your story is finished, N. -, said the editor.
 "sPardon me- returned the undauntsd novelist, "it is not finished. have here the continuation and there is more to come. Indeed, the best part of it is here
 "sTchut,n exclaimed the chief; why in- sist9 say 1t is finished. N. - had to do 1t in your absence.
 ters." said the unblushing romancer; 6but if you will kindly read this manuscript I an sure you will agree with me that I am right tho chiefs surprise, 1t was . dramatic sequel