Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-05-14
Wholesale Slaughter

wholesale Slaughter.
Maj. Calhoun, one of the most pro-
life of modern blood-and-thunder
story writers, and Louis Neumann,
who is the author of three composite
novels, adapted from the German,
Spanish, and Italian, and averaging
million words apiece, were compar-
ing experiences a few days ago.
81 once had a rather exciting pass
age with the late Ned Buntline," said
the major. "He was writing story
for weekly paper on which we both
frequently engaged, when he took a
sudden vacation. 1t was a way he
had and nobody thought anything
about it, but in this case the publish
ers were in dilemma, as they had
but single installment ahead. Twas
sent for and told to read the chapters
already printed, and then to set to
work and finish up the story in one
or two installments.
swell, 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 handle
for Judson was man who could keep
track of a large number of persons all
at once. This multiplicity of charac-
ters puzzled me. Finally I resolved
to get rid Of some Of them, and ]
adopted a very original method.
put number of them on board au
excursion steamer and then exploded
her boilers, sending 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. ! explained that / had
acted under orders, of course but he
couldn't be pacified, and was very
mad man, indeed. He cared nothing
he said, about the finishing of the story
it was the brutal way of killing offhis
characters that he objected-the
wholesale annibilation, which he de-
clared to be inartistic. By-and-by
he saw the thing in its proper light
and we had many good Joke over
it,"
"That reminds me" said Neumann
"of somewhat similar incident that
occurred in Paris. A highly sensation.
al story was running in one of the
daily papers, and the chief had few
installments on hand when the brilliant
young author took it into his head to
go off and get married. Then he sci
out on a wedding tour, which was to
last week. The installments were
soon used up, and another member of
the staff was directed to wind up the
story. He sent the heroine to q
watery grave in the river Seine I; he
poisoned the hero; slew the able who
was the sole witness of the marriage
and closed the tale in a most tragic
narrowing manner. 1t was dark
and weird success, you may believe
At the end of the week the author
showed up. He had with him severa
installments which he rendered to hi,
chief.
"'Your story is finished, M" sale
the editor.
Pardon me, returned the undaunt
ed nov elist." it is not finished. / hav,
here the continuation, and there il
more to come. Indeed, the best par
oft is here"
"'Tehut,' exclaimed the chief
why insisti / say it is finished. NJ
had to do it in your absence
al am aware that he wrote severa
chapters said the unblushing romano
err; but if you will kindly read tbi,
manuscript ! am sure that you will
agree with me that am right
"The manuscript was passed over,
and to the chiefs surprise it was re-
markably dramatic sequel to the story.
The heroine, instead Of being drowned
was rescued by some fisherman on the
river below Paris the hero was saved
by medical friend, who applied the
stomach pump in time, and the abbe
recovered from his wounds and was
on hand to bless the nuptials Of the
happy pair.
MY friend, said the composite
novelist, as he turned to the contem.
plation Of Portuguese book on short
horn cattle, which he was translatine
for Mexican rsnchero. there is nc
obstacle that true genius cannot over.