Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-06-28

somehow appear to be quite independ-
ent OF my will.
Still it is not all smooth sailing;
sometimes cross currents OF incidents
which are necessary, yet will not blend
themselves naturally or tremendously
with the stream Of the story, fret and
puzzle ones inventive powers. Then
toward that most trying stage, the
middle OF the second volume, l often
find it Is too soon for one event, and
perhaps too late for another, and for
awhile the narrative Is at stanlstill.
From these difficulties meditation dis
covers ultimately means OF deliverance,
and as the end draws near, the rocks
and eddies and stagnant backwaters
get fewer and smaller. the warp and
wool work into each o,her moro read
ily, and when at last write "fnis" on
my last page, lam more than half sor-
~ to part with my companions. who
have brought me many a pleasant
hour OF oblivion, shutting out with
their engrossing presence the carking
crowd outside my study door.
This is. however, by no means her.
medically sealed! As sit in my corner
and fill my pages with the number OF
words habit has prescribed. my girls
come in with many question-many
request for counsel and cooperation.
Formerly their dolls and toys occupied
a prominent place in my special den,
then they disturbed me less. Messen-
gers came in from friends who "know
they ought not TO intrude, but will not
keep me five minutes" Nor can
refuse them! And though the five
minutes often stretch to fifteen and
even fifty, | do not know that | suffer
very great loss ultimately, for always
try TO limit my working time TO the
morning, so | can steal an occasional
hour from the night TO make up for
those filched from me before noon.
Without being by any means method
ical, certain habits form themselves,
such as the time which l allow for
accomplishing Il page, chapter,
volume; and though unavoidable in
terruptions come to interfere with my
reckoning, on the whole, the average
is tolerably even.
am not rapid writer. unless, in
deed, under some special pressure, for
l like to live with my characters, to
get thoroughly acquainted with them,
and / rarely finish novel OF ordinary
length in less than nine months. pre-
fer TO spend year upon the work. but
the process may be prolonged too much.
Over study and much elaboration are
apt to destroy freshness OF coloring
and distinctness Of outline.
Finally. | do not find the country or
secluded places favorable to the flow
of my ideas. love the face OF nature,
and | enjoy laying up n store of mental
pictures cullel from her inexhaustible
beauty, but | fud in contact with my
fellowmen the best inspiration, and am
re dy to echo DR.. Johnson's "Sir! let
us take a walk down Fleet street"
Friendly readers sometimes say l
give them pleasure and while away
what might be heavy hour by my
lucubrations. They probably do not
know how amply they repay me by
their appreciation. TO be in touch
with my fellows, and feel that there is
sprinkling Of sympat izers even far
though unknown, is an infinite reward
for diligcnt work. | shall never for
get the delighted surprise with which
: listened to the question, What! did
you write The Wooing O't"" from
charming American -the first OF her
nation with whom | made acquaintan ce.
Then we know you well in the
States" she added. And though l
had satisfactory money proof that
my books were bought in America,
never re LIKED till that joyful
moment that was read and
liked. To the young giant across
the Atlantic, the American public /
am warmly grateful for its full re-
cogniton OF whatever merit 1 may
possess, and more, / am proud to be
read by people VINO already possess
native literature marvelously rich.
considering how short the time which
has suificed for its creation. / some
times muse on the magnificent future
which lies before my American
cousins, on the wealth, intellectual
scientific material. which awaits them
in the coming time. II only reason
and consciences stand the strain OF
enormous prosperity, If they are
strengthened to show u noble example
to the world, they may prove the
greatest benefactors the human race
has yet known. and none can wish
them God speed more heartily than
l do, in their progress toward this
splendid contamination. Mrs. Alex an
der, In Cincinnati Times.