Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-06

daily journeys from the extreme west end of
Georgetown to the extreme east end of Wash
lngton to see my sister. That may have done
something toward forming my writing habits.
generally write from noon till midnight A
GERMAN metaphysician has argued that our
physical force Is greatest between midnight
and noon, while our mental vigor and clearness
are most pronounced between noon and mid
night. That theory I have found correct so
Tar as my experience goes.
"a spell of serious illness has interfered con-
sideraoiy with my work and temporarily
changed my practice. Ordinarily l labor four
days In each week; constantly. devotedly-
scarcely taking time to eat-from noon to mid
night. 1t has always been a real Joy to me to
look forward to the two days holiday-Satur-
day and Sunday-and expect to enjoy the in
terrupted pleasure for some time. NY health
is better now than it has been for ten years
past"
PLACES FOR WRITING.
"Have you any particular room or spot in
which you prefer to writer" was asked
'ies, was Mrs. Southworth's reply I'm sum-
mer time like to write in the open air; here on
inns piazza. Here can get up and walk; there
Is ample room for all the exercise need while
am at work. The outlook is beautiful; that's
why love this old hut When the weather is
cool write in the sitting room; from that can
also see the river and the college building"
You have tavorite desE?' was suggested
ICES. On this wrote my first novel, 'Retri-
BUTTON"
This" was plain stand-a top but about
eighteen inches square supported by four
legs. Immediately beneath the top was single
drawer
"All my subsequent work with pen." Mrs.
Southworth resumed. pointing to an old-fash-
Toned portable folding desk. has been done
on this. 1t was my fathers" and the authoress
smoothed its antique surface very tenderly; it
had been her life companion.
III -
SAID Mrs. Southworth in response to an inquiry.
>, ;! nave avoided it entirely by increasing the
diameter OF my pen-holder each succeeding
year. You see how large it is now.
WITH A TYPEWRITER.
10 limited extent in my case the pen has
been superseded by the typewriter. which
have operated for three years past 1t has been
arelief toy. 1t is as though a man has his
child out walking with him. The child be-
comes tired and the father gives him his cane
TO bestrlde. The child Frances along gaily and
Is no more tired. Such a relief has the type
writer been to me. On FridaA nights, when
my task for the week has been completed.
have frequently sat down at the instrument to
make few notes on which to work during the
following week. The change from the pen
would be grateful that on more than one
occasion l have roughly written so much
OF the story would ordinarily have oc-
| cupied days. Some have regarded such a
combination of mental and physical activity as
remarkable, but it is not really SO. Woman
| has a more active cerebellum than man. That
can be seen when you watch girl of no ex-
traordinary capacity play piece of intricate
music on the piano, at the same time keeping
| up closely connected conversation. Writing
never was arduous; it is not SO now"
viii you give us any more novels?" was
| asked.
"Oh, yes" was the reply, with ring Of sur
| PRISE In the tones. Il have two of them on
| hand. Ono is complete, the other is nebulous;
requires to be crysta,ized. The two are to be
companion novels, although you would hardly
think SO from the titles The one have writ
ten is An Incarnate Fiend;' the one am writ
ing Is An Angel Unawares' The first is a freer
| novel than any have ever written. Most of
| the previous ones have been so constructed as
to please the taste of readers of the Ledger but
this is without any embarrassment of style. 1t
paints as true picture of the two phases of
slavery as l could make. l was familiar with
the awful Institution from my earliest DAYS.
and have a large fund of experience from
which to draw my material. One phase is the
truly patriarchal. where a master would no
more sell a slave than he would child; the
other is that in which the black man and
woman were no more than cattle-less cared
for, in fact. In neither book will there be
found an apology for slavery. I was an origi-
nal abolitionist
DRAMATIzED NOVELS.
Diu L o'ci HaNo any TASTE IOr uramatlc
authorship? No; never tried to write play
Many of my books have been successfully
dramatized however, and The Hidden Hand
was played in three London theaters at the
same time with profitable results.
"Of what may yet write now know moth
ing. For thirty years 1 wrote for Robert
Bonner's Ledger and each year provided that
paper with a new novel. What is in the future
is mystery. lam very happy here; happy in
devoted son, who is like a second SELF whose
heart Is in all my projects and dear daugh-
ter-in-aw. who is as loving though l was
her own mother. My own daughter is living
In Yonkers. NY; she is coming to spend the
winter with me, as she always has done. She
is happily married and prosperous What
more could desire than now have?'
The sunlight had gone the river was lost in
gloom; the bridge was nothing but two rows of
lamps. The snort and puff and whistle of the
little steamer were the only sounds in the night
air.