The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-07-08


M-EE~~
Mr.. Howel1s is in the neighbour hood OF
fifty years of age. In talking with him
you give him the benefit of being on
the right side of fifty, no matter what
his biography may say. He is OF medi
UNI height, and is quite stout, round
and contented looking. His face is
round. Nearly all the lines of his fig
ure are curved. His hands are fat and
dimpled. His round face has the look
of refinement, experience of the world,
the good natured Indifference and the
cynically happy disbelief of a diplomat
of experience and high position. His
eyes are dark gray and deeply set.
His forehead is broad and high, covered
nearly to his eye brows with iron gray
hair, combed down in what might be
called bang, if there were not SEM
blance of party to destroy the charac-
ter of such definition. An iron gray
mustache shades his frm-lined mouth.
The nose is straight and not large. His
chin is SIN Doth shaver and forceful. His
voice is very agreeable. There are GER
Tain notes of contentment in the tones
of his voice which argue that Mr.. How
ellis is satisfied with his career and with
the success he has made in life.
When at his new post as joi Mt editor
of the Cosmopolitan Magazine" he &C.
cupies small den in the Madison
Square Bank Building, New York city,
where there is room for a huge desk,
stuffed leather chair for Mr.. Howells,
and for three or four chairs for the
literary aspirants who come in trem-
bling to submit to his Judgment the
samples of spring poetry, essays and
stories which come in endless process
sion to every recognized publication.
Sketches of proposed illustrations
standing about relieve the plainness of
the office, which is rigidly business
looking, much like the corner of the av-
Grace managing editor Of daily news
paper
1t has been my pleasure and good for
tune to interview many men prominent
in politics., financial circles and the
"OClu VI SClcuCc, oIb duu il0cEdUuIo II
has been my expe rience that the most
contented men are those outside of the
world of politics and finance. A success
in professional career seems to bring
greater happiness than in any other.
Mr.. Howells is one of the best evidences
cess
The interview with Mr.. Howells was
not confined to one visit. The questions
were asked during two visits. There
were many left to be asked but
it would have been unreasonable to
much more frank than politician. He
refused to answer no questions put to
him. These questions covered a number
of widely varying topics. He was first
asked what led to adopt literature as
profession. He said he could not an
a; specific reason. He could not re-
member a time when he was not
in literature. He could not recall
the day when he began to read.
So far back as his memory goes
he has always known how to read. His
father was a man of books, and in the
printing office of the elder Howells his
literary tastes were stimulated. He
said that his first writing was an essay
upon the subject of life. This was not
written, but w as composed at the case.
He does not know what has become OF
this contribution to American literature.
His next step in the direct ion of liter
airy study was when he discovered the
laws of prosody. That opened up to
him the possibility of writing poetry,
and lot of previous rubbish he said it
was that he composed at that tire.
In speaking of his career in literary
development, Mr.. Howells dwelt upon
Europe as his university. He thought
nothing that could have happened
could have done him more good than
the four years of tranquility in a world
stepped in tradition, a world OF art, sub
ject to the powerful influence of the old
civilizations which make such deep and
lasting impressions upon the minds of
those who come from the newer world
to study. Here he had four years of
perfect freedom, freedom from all fnan-
cial care, and with perfect surroun dings
for the development of a writer. He
had sufficient leisure during his oceu-
pancy of the post to travel all over Italy,
and TO visit some of the other countries
of Europe. 1t is Italy, however, which
he knows best. Upon his second visit
to Europe, he made g tour of Great
Britain, and spent much time in London,
where he found his books circuls ting
nearly as widely as at home.
l asked Mr.. Howells which one of his
books he liked best. then asked him,
not waiting for ar answer, which one of
his books had the best popular success,
feeling instinctively that the authors
pet was never the one that was the most
popular. He said he considered his
strongest book was The Modern In
stance" OF his novels, THE Haasrd
OF New Fortunes" had had the largest
sale
asked him then, considering his sue
cess in literature, what were the induce
ments OF a financial character 10 hold
ou5 TO youthful sspirsut Mr. HoweIls
said thai he did not think that anyone
ever should 60 into literature on account
Of any great profits to be realized tharaia-