The evening world., 1889-01-26

"tth' W III 'Ttdt ttHh ~ W
Oflccs of the Leading Monthlies-Notnblc
characteristics of His Work-"Tbe Lady
or the Tiger" aud Other Popular Pro-
ductions of Ills Pen-His Personal Traits.
Frank X. Stockton. whose remarkable
story, THE Great War Syndicate" is per-
haps his masterpiece. has rapidly advanced
to the foremost rank among American novel
lists. No one would nowadays attempt a
review of American fiction without giving
Stockton very conspicuous attention. He is
to-day recognized as n big card by all literary
periodicals. He stands, perhaps, first among
the American contributors to that brilliant
sheet, once n Week, and his matter is in
equally great demand at the Offices of the
monthly magazines.
The publication Of 1.-The Great War Syndi-
cate" is now generally recognized as a red
letter event in American literature. 1t is in
many respects n story unparalleled.
Jules Veine, familinrized tho reading
public of America, as well as Europe, with
the advantage to which the writer of fiction
may put his knowledge of the natural
sciences. Capt. Nemo's wonderful craft,
which made such marvellous journeyings
under the sen, is presented TO the reader with
such verisimilltude that Twenty Thousand
Leagues Under the Sea, although %astonnd-
Ing, seems almost TO fall within the credible.
Frank Stockton's work is remarkable for this
same ingenious ipyentiveness. this delusive
application of existing forces and possibili-
ties to objects and uses III imaginative yet
prophetic spirit.
Underlying "The Great War Syndicate" will
be found much of a serious purpose in the
suggested thoughts on the navy of the United
States. The plot III one that admits. or even
involves, some structures on our inadequate
supply of war vessels.
Throughout the whole story, as our readers
must appreciate, Stockton is strikingly origi-
nal in his conceptions and discusses the fan
tastic actions. of which he is the veracious
narrator. with the greatest gravity. He does
not let his countenance lose its seriousness at
all, but through it all wear that air of grave
calm which often accompanies the expression
of the richest humor. He Is full OF a kindly
interest in his own history. but lie does not
lose his head in the exciting details.
The delicious quiet with which those adj
venturous New England women. Mrs.
Aleshine and Mrs. Lecks were, IN n previous
story. presented floating contentedly about
in the water and eventually making a little
island, whore they find n house Just suited to
their needs, is present with Stockton through
this story.
lie would not be Stockton if he had not
this strong underlying humor, so sweet and
free from snlcasm, yet so pervading. But
the ingenuity and the semi-prophecy of his
Nl'I lNib NV p'i'IlE l'ih'' INV ~ 'NluhHilu
humor is the seasoning which makes it still
more palatahle and significant.
Frank Il. stockton is now tiftyrfour years
old, or will be at . O'Clock in the evening of
next April. He was born in Philadelphia,
and his father, William $. Stockton. was the
ytrongest kind of n Methodist. Under the
circumstances it IL very credItable to Mr..
Frank stockton to have any humor Mt all.
His mother, Miss Emily Dreau, of Loudoun
County, Va, was his fathers second wife.
He began writing when he first left school,
and the long time he has taken to achieve his
present comfortable position is an encour-
nGemcnt to other battlers in that hard field
for victory-hterature, HIS remunsration
tor n story in "Once A Week" is said to be
not far from \ 10000.
He married. in 1860, Miss Marion E. futile,
of Philadelphia. In 1870 he went on the
Morning Post in that city. In 1874 he made a
hit with 'Rudder Grange" " n delicious story
OF young couple who essay housekeeping in a
canal boat, aided in their touching ignorance
by II recreatiye hand-maid whose classical
name is Pomona.
One of the best things Mr.. Stockton has yet
dom is Tn Lady or the Tiger" This is
an inimitable short. story in which the lover
of a girl is put before two doors, either of
which he may open. In one is n famished
tiger, in the other n rav,shing maiden. The
girl he loves and who loves him knows in
which cell the other girl" is, and as he
towards one of the doors. He promptly opens
i and ~sees-which? The Lady5 or the
Tiger?
That is as far rs Mr.. stockton goes. but the
renders of the story went further, and he was
inundated with letters pleading for the an
swer TO the conundrum. He simply replied
that he did not know himself which came out.
Any one to guess the right answer must he
able to say whether a girl can love a man so
much as TO cast him forever into a rivals
arms rather than see him die.
Stockton's meh.tr has generally been the
short story, and he has written several de-
lightful ones. The Wreck of the Thomas
Hvke," A Tale of Negative Gravity, y
My Wife's Deceased Sister" " My Bull
Calf" aud ono. an encore for - The Lady or
the Tiger :" called The Discourager of
Hcstancv." are among his best productions
in this difficult class OF writing.
He has written three novels, " The Late
Mrs. Null " 4" The Casting Away Of Mrs.
Lecks and Mrs. Aleshine.' and n sequel.
The Durantes." These have been very
successful. His contribution TO Once a Web
has been the most noteworthy of the many
bright features of that periodical.
Stockton has a grave, serious face, with a
good broad forehead and an expression which
botrays very little of the quiet humor lurking
in his fancy, or, since 1t il humor, not wit,