The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-28
PASSION IN TATTERS.
FAIR YOUNG NovELIsTs TALK IN
THEIR OWN DEFENSE.
They Are Not Immoral = Interviews
with Gertrude Franklin Atherton,
Laura Daintrey and Laura Jean Lib
bey-A Glimpse Into Their Homes.

Gertrude Franklin Atncrton, Laura
Daintrey and Laura Jane Libbey are novel
writers Of the school OF hysterical passion,
pretty, accomplished and successful at
least to the extent OF piling up big bank
account They have been roundly abused
for their books, and have been accused OF
sensationalism and OF pandering to the
unhealthy lovers OF the French school OF
romancers.
Mrs. Atherton is a widow, and lives in a
fat in West Fiity-ninth street with her
maid. She is about thirty years OF age,
and Is woman OF fascinating manners and
appearance. She is tall and graceful, her
hair is Of a golden hue, her eyes are dark
blue and capable Of a variety OF express
sions When called she was dressed in a
black velvet tea gown trimmed with white
lace down the front, and she wore par
ticularly handsome opal pin. She does
not 20 out much she told me. She hates
society, studiously avoids literary recep-
tons and is never happier than when en-
gagged in literary work. She is Califor-
MAN by birth and training, aud has only
lived in this city for twelve months, during
five OF which she has been prominently
before the public. Her first book was
published under the nom dc plume OF
Frank lin. Her grandfather was Benja-
min franklin. and she simply halved the
latter word, making II read Frank Lin"
"Where do you get your characters
FROM" she was asked Are they from
life or the creations Of your own iancy?"
81 do not draw my characters direct
from liie," she replied, "but still they are
all types Of men and women that are TO be
met constantly"
HERNIA SUDAN
Hernia Suydam, for instance2"
asked.
"Ycs, she is a type OF n very large class
Of young women In this country. | have
known At least one hundred llermias my
self, and have often wondered previous
10 writing this book why women hndncycr
been written about just rs they were, and
no in writing thin story my aim was TO give
as true picture OF a certain typo OF wo.
men ~ possible. All the women say she
il natural, aud all the men say she is not,
which proves that they know nothing
about II, doesn't Il? The book was writ
ten with the exact idea Of showing the de.
velopmoni OF her nature from n child. II
was a study In sequence. made her the
carefully studied product OF hcrediiy and
condition. She had in her veins New
England as well as New York blood, and
she therefore inherited rare nature
Then she was ugly, aud was morbidly con-
scious OF the fact and her monotonous
life with her sister made her what she was,
aud everything she did was the carefully
studded result Of her early life"
"what books do you like TO read?'
inquired, by way Of learning the spring OF
her inspiration.
"Well, should like frst TO say that |
do not read French novels. say this be-.
cause prominent reviewer las recently
made the assertion that ! read aud copy
them as much "a possible. This II alto.
gcthcr untrue. lhnvc not read dozen
fvnch novels In my life. My reading h
chiefly confined 10 essays history aud
poetry. lam extremely fond Of poetry.
never cared lor novel reading very much,
but siill | have taken a sort OF pride in
keeping up with the novels OF today. My
two iayortc American authors are llaw-
thorne and Bret llarlc, but | much prefer
the English novels. ! consider the most
AfNAAlhANlA NNNAl VI Aif ItHA AtM NtNfA N
The Story Of an African Farm by Olive
Schrcincr, young English girl. am also
great admircr OF Herbert Spencer and
his philosophy. ! consider that ho has
proved a. conclusiycly "a any ono vet that
ihero Is no such thing rs Tree will.H
rENALE FicTioN.
"no you consider taat men or women
write the strongest sioricsf'
IL think men most decidedly. Their,
are some exceptions 10 this, but they ar
very rare aud They stand out most prom
incntly. There Is fidelity 10 detail and
power OF expression In a mans move
which il very rare In a woman's work"
"llow did you begin your lilenr!
work."
81 have had the creative faculty from
child. II u a natural gift. ! read Store
from the timc | was rour years OF age, an,
as grew older | wrote stories. When
girl at school some Of the other girls woul,
bring blank books la me aud would writ
stories ior them. ! continued TO write aitc
left srhool, and at that time had grca
desire TO become an author. but through
combination oi reasons did not publish.
wuic for the san Francisco lrgoHsui Mr.
Summers was at that time editor. lie N,
style than any othcr person, though
/ have never studied any other ~
style. wrote Randolph OF Red
wood In California, which madc jus
no grcat sensation thcrc ~ 'llcfmi
suydam' has made here, and people tall
OF u 10 this dav. ! also wrote Tor th
Oruldnd Monthly at that time. lived ii
We midst Of wood, and In looking bac
20 that period oi my lie now u seem
mthef romantic, though | never though
anything about 10 then l wroie NO,
DREAMS May Come In California, but
rc.wfoto Il herr, for find / can writ
much better In the East than ! could 4
California, though could not explain ih
reason 81 this. tried to get a publishc
for this book ior i've years, and nj last
suoccodcd, and u proved great aucccs.
Pour thousand copies were sold Ia twclv
days THIS shows how short.sigh,c
some publishers are"
DO YOU receive many letters from you
Tcadeng"
"No, do not, aud don't believe N
authors Who say they do. 1 think the
cay u merely Tor elect 1 have receive
hut one request, aud that was for nm aulC
graph"
"Wha, DO YOU think Of the future Of M
realistic school Of tictiong'
81 don't know anything about currci
literature, but cannot understand Mi
the word sensational IA ~ often used
an epilhot OF opprobum Why, amo
all tho great writer's have been sens
uonal.' Shakespeare was scnsaiiona
Take Macbeth ~ AN cxnmplo-that IA
a I.