San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-03-17

European literature, OUT nau no fIe- >.
story writing for money. Two or three
stories of mine found their way into papers
before left Georgia"
when was 'Abrah Billingslea' writ
ten" inquired Mr. ley
On, that Is receut-only three years age
went to Baltimore in 1867 had been a
professor of English literature in Georgis,
eut durins; his war took a achool of forty
boys to Baltimore. There was at Bani-
more in 1870 periodical called The South
ern Magazine The first nine of my 'Du ke-
borough Tales were contributed to that
magazine. These fell into the hands of
the editor of HHrper's, who asked me what
got for them. | said, Not q cent and
he wanted to know why had not sent
them to him. 'Neelus Peeler's Conditieus'
was the first story for which got paw. IL
was published in The Century over the
signature OF Philemon Perch
"Dr. Holland told Mr.. Glider to tell that
man TO write under his own name, adding
that he himself had made a mistake IN
writing under pseudonym. Sidney Lanier
urged noe TO write, and said that if would
do so he would get the matter in print for
me. So he took 'Neeius Peeler's Condi-
tions,' and it brought me $50. l think he
was more greatly rejoiced over the money
than l was, ahd Pm not man to turn my
back on $50 was at first really surprised
that my stories were considered of any
value, either in a literary or pecuniary
way. am little surprised yet. with
drew from teaching about six years ago,
and since that time have devoted myself to
authorship.
81 have never put a word in my books"
continued Col. Johnston, that l have not
heard the people use, and very few that l
have not used myself. Powelton, Ga., is
my Dukeborough. l was born fourteen
miles from there, and the road leading
down to that place was a rough one. The
first of the 'Dukeborough Tales was the
'Goosetown School, OF the female char
acters that have created, Miss Doolana
Lanes is my fayofite, while Mr.. Bill VIII
Jams is my fayorite among the male char
acters. ! started Doolana to make her
mean and syinSy like her father, but
hadn't written page before she wrenched
herself ouC of my hands. She said to me,
Il am a woman, and you shall not make
ME mean and then she just made herself,
and she was like her mother.
"These stories are all of Georgia as it
was before the war. In the hill country
the institution of slavery was very differ
ent from what it was in the rice region or
near the coast Do you know the Georgia
negro has five times the sense of the South
Carolina negro? Why? Because he has
always been near his master; their rela-
tions are closer. My fathers negroes loved
him and he loved them, and if a negro
child died upon the place my mother wept
for IL.
Some time ago went TO the old place.
and an old negro came eight miles-wdked
all the way-to see me. He got to the
house before o'clock in the morning, and
opened the shutters while | was asleep.
With a cry he rushed into the room, oh,
Massa Dickn We cried in each other's
arms. We had been boys together. One
Of my slaves is now a bishop-Eishop La
cius Holsey. Heisone OF the most eloquent
men in Georgia and lives in Augusta, ~
INDIANAPOLIS News.