New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-06

availability no critic discourse upon lis short
confines no general reader be afforded an Oppor-
tunity either TO condemn or admire. 1t should be
a work by Owen Capellc for Owen Capelic.
His enjoyment was TO he double first, that of
the free. untranmelled writer, and later, that of
the apprcciative reader.
He sprang up out of the casychair thrilled with
the thought of the pleasure which this chance
idea had mapped out before him. Up went the
window and the warm spring air-thc carths
clixcr Of youth-cntered deep into his lungs as
he breathed hard with the physical JOY of an
enthusiasm. For moment, Capelle stood looking
out; he listened to the song of the birds mingled
with the soft rustling of treebranches me scented
the odors of the flowers; every faculty and every
sense seemed suddenly drawn TO a quivering ten
sion in the ecstasy of freedom.
In that brief space of time the Thing which he
was to write rose out of dim Ihthngness and
| gathered into definite form before his mental
vision There was first an idea, then plot. then
| people and a place. The people rapidly donned
characteristics and grouped themselves into situa-
| along to a climax that lowered into cloudy heights
| Ii was like nothing that he had ever written or
thought 'before-it seemed indeed, like nothing
| that any human mind had ever OWNED
At first he felt an almost frantic haste to get to
| seemed to be of such stuff dreams are made
! on, insubstantal pageant which might fade
and leave not rack behind. Yet. though the
to depart, but fingered and soldiicd TO an almost
| tangible reality before his eyes. That 1t might
not escape, he reviewed and analysed each feature
| separately until they were all his own mental
property to be used as he wished.
AS he turned away from the window toward
the desk. two thoughts struck INN almost stimuli
One was S. This will never do for the public"
And the other was But it is only for myself"
During the month that followed. Owen Capelc
perfect and with the kcenest of pleasure.
1t was rest and vacation intensified by
complete diversion.
Thus, by an accident, Capclle had stumbled
upon the mislaid happiness Of lifetime.
As for the book which he created, il would not
I l., If.I,
il could be said TO belong. Ii was very hike what
naturalists are accustomed 10 call sport -
an organism that comes not from regular develop
| ment. but that arises Unexpectedly out of mix
tuTe of chance conditions. II was not a novel,
nor fairy story. nor play. nor poem. yet II
partooll Of the nature of each and all. lis style
peculiar as its plan, tccming with quaint
figures and mystic illusions. the force ana mean
Ing of which coqld he felt perhaps by none save
the writer himself Yet the work was strangely
natural, for like nature, it was sugges,lvc-and
and incomprehensiblc.
1t bore the name of The Earth Bubble" from
the uttcrance of Banquo on the vanishing witches:
"The earth hath bubbles :he water has,
these OF thorn"
This title had come to him with the first thought
! of the plan, ana il seemed 10 have Wrc2thed
| its weird influence through every part o1 the
| work.
| At the cnd of the month thc book was flushed
| "a bulky pile of finely written sheets of paper
| Departing from his usual custom. C2pcle had
| not reviewed he wrote, and by the time he
reached the end, much of the book bad become
| half stranLe to Kim he poW ARRANGED the leaves
! i'm Their proper order, and bound them 'oGethcr
| !" The Earth Bubble is puhlishcd.' said he
| and il will straightway be eagerly dcvoured by
| limited circle of readers, consisting oil one
Thereupon Owen Capclle settled himself costly
| in his large chair, and bcgan to read over the
He had scarcely scanned the first page; when
| The bouse-servant raped at the door. He took
| the card which she brought him, And, as ne fea'
the name, dcprecating frown settled upon HIS
the The card said Mr. j. Cecil Hicks. ~
Il feel little guilty at disturbing you, , mr.
! brother-in-hw. Mr. Tucker with whom am
| quite well acquainted, told me that YOU were very
much wrapped up in some new BOOK thal you
| had recently undertaken; but as THIS is haucr
of business. which may prove Of some pr'"' To
| YOU, | vcntulcd 10 call
Il was not at all busy" said Mr.. CaPelle, in
| that peculiar tone OF voice Whch clearly Pi'
! claims the fasehood. 49,, ~,
Perhaps you do not remember me, said Mr.
Hicks your brotherin-law has INTRODUCED me
| 10 YOU quite a number OF times.
| Quite a number Of times is good, thought
the writer He said aloud: D" ! remember you
very we'll" ........
| In the first place, must ask You 70 REGARD ms
conversation as strictly confidential. for II u
| should get out IT would make a NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
VI II shall be as you WISH" returned Cap"ile
! He was beginning 10 feel much wonder as 10 VIVA,
Curiosity was in a fair way TO overthrow as
position 10 he bored He waited in silence, with
To Earth Bubble still open upon his knee,
while Mr. Hicks stretched his gloves and merry
ously thrust his enormous cane about, evidently
preparing himself to unfold tolc.
81 last the visitor spoke
d" | want You 81 write book for mc-fhat IS,
TO be published in my name. VIII pay yon
more for it-than any publisher will flve-yon can
novel, no2f S sSd oT pds s in ' rcr different style
from that in which YOU usually WRITE 50 that
there would DE less chance Of its being rcog-
| nizcd
Here he stopped and looked at Capelle's face,
which wore astonished smile.
dertaken a Job of that kind"
Never answered the writer: " am not sun
either that ! ever heard
oh, | know il must often he done" cried the
other why not, pray Nou can sell manu-,
script 10 me Just as well 10 publisher.
would nave some good publishing house bring II
out over my name. | know that you are a. man
Of honor, and # you gave me solemn promise
that you would never LET any one know about
the transaction, should be perfectly safe. !
have been talking with your broihcr-in-laW ahont
your books He SAYS they VIII bring YOU in
about Thousand or fifteen hundred apiece. Sup
pose, IN outside figure. we pnt the value Of the
manuscr pr al TWO thousand dollars. PIT the
fame aud reputation al similar sum-that makes
four thousand dollars. Very well | will give
you that for story under the conditions that !
name. Is il 90"
Capcllc was attracted hy the novelty Of the idea
of market quotations on fame. and was bury
wondering whether the reputation from mod
cratcy successful story could be rated at $4,000
Come" said the visitor will make it a
round sum &, 900 what do you say
Capcllc burst out into laugh. Not 50 fast.
be said " | am rather curious to know for what
reason you make this extraordinary proposition.
d" II is simple enough, ! should think, answered
Mr.. Hicks: d" ! want the honor and credit of hay
ing written the book have the money to pay
for it, and propose to get it -
" But why d. YOU not write the book yourself .
| should think man Of yOu-cT-o originate
would find il easy and since yon have money tt
pay for its publication that difficulty would he
| surrnOunted
Hicks shook his head.
" | cannot do it,, he said lei me tell Won how
I am fixed. Ny father is rich man-0f the irn
| Of Hicks x Calkins, wholesale groccrS. He got
il into his head that would De a literary man, ano
sent me - COLLEGE. and gave me money to traYr
l llirfs. mn