The morning call., 1891-03-24
MR.. HALE'S FICTION.
''The Man Without a Country" In.
spires Other Realistic Work.

In 1868 at critical time in the his tory of
the war, there appeared anonymously in the
Atlantic Monthly short story with the
above title. 1t produced a profound i'm
preston and aroused strong patriotic feel
ing 1t was so strikingly natural and real
istic in style that 1t was supposed by most
people to narrate actual facts and constant
efforts were made to verify the truth and
learn more particulars concerning the tragic
story Of Philip Nolan.
1t was finally learned that it was piece
of pure fiction from the pen of Edward
Everett Hale, the distinguished Unitarian
minister of Boston, who wrote il for the
purpose of quickening the patriotic i'm
pulses of his countrymen by showing the
terrible condition of a man without coun-
try.
Two widely separated events suggested
the plot of the story. When boy Mr.. Hale
had read of the theatrical surrender of his
sword by Napoleon Bonaparte; how he had
yielded it TO the commander of the ship
that transported him to his place OF Danish
ment, and it occurred to him then that it
would have been a piece OF poetic justice
had the English kept him Oh ship, trans
ferriDg him as convenience or necessity Sug-
gested until he died.
In 1868 Vallandngham, the Ohio Copper
head. had been taken prisoner by General
Burnside. He claimed TO By not citizen of
the Southern COnfederacy, and he certainly
was not loyal citizen of the United States,
so the Government sent him across the line
into Canada.
Mr.. Hale combined these hints and wrote
the story which has taken its place among
the classic short stories of The century. In
casting about for hero he remembered
dimly of an adventurous spirit in the South
whO nprnaDs rpaIIV Texas
and whose name he remembered to be No
Ian. His recollection was that bis Christian
name was Stephen, and desiring to vary 1t
somewhat lie named mis- hero "Philip"
After the story had become famous he
found out that the yeritable Nolan was
Philip and not Stephen. He received a let
ter from lady in Baltimore stating that
the two sisters Of Philip Nolan were still
alive and were profoundly interested in
the narrative, as they had never known
what had been the end OF their brothers
lie. They implored Mr.. Hale to give them
any more particulars in his possession. Some
years after when in New Orleans, Mr.. Hale
was invited TO visit plantation where there
still lived a black man who had been ser
want of Philip Nolan. He aid so, aud spent
three profitable days in gathering material,
which aided him in his later story of Philip
Nolan'S Friends" Mr.. Hale can certainly
look With satisfaction upon what he has ac-
complshed as story-wrlter This one GER
IalnIy stimulated love Oh country when IL
was much needed, and must be of permanent
value, for our country needs saving peren-
niaily. Two other Of his short stories have
had a wonderful influence in promoting or
ganization for charitable and religious work.
"Ten Times One" and "In His Name"
were the fruitful seed plats of the many
organizations i'll churches and Sunday
schools of almost every denomination. Over
fifty Il lfferent orders of both adults and chill
dren have adopted this motto and wear the
little silver Maltese cross with |. III. n. in
scribed upon it. There are more than $50, 900
members of there various organizations, and
their numbers are rapidly increasing. Since
Mr.. Hale arrived in this city he received II
letter from the head of the Protestant
churches among the Waldensians, where the
scene of "In His Name" was laid, acknowl-
edging how helpful and stimulating the
story had been TO them. and especially
speaking with gratitude of the recent offer
of the Kings Daughters in Pennsylvania TO
establish and sustain a school among them.
On Wednesday evening. at Irving Hall,
Mr.. Hale will make brief address and tell
his famous story of man without coun-
try,