The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-26
A VISIT TO HOWELLS.
How the Founder of a School
of Fiction Works.
HE is NOT A COLLEGE MAN
Europe His University-A Literary Ca.
reer Not So Profitable as Other
Walks in Life.


viable position in American literature.
His place is at the head of the first rank
of our romance writers. He is very in
dustrious, and his contributions to various
branches of literature are very numerous.
His essays, studies of life and crisp criti-
cisms would have made his name thor
oughly well known without the aid of his
romances. In some ways his career has
been an unusual one. He has the culture
and the wide knowledge of the best uni
versity education, while he himself has
never passed through college.
Recently | have had two interviews with
Mr.. Howells and have obtained from him
some things which will interest his friends
and admirers, as well as those who are
curious about literary matters.
Mr.. Howells found his university in Eu-
rope. The influence of Europe came to
him at the formative stage of life. He
came back before he was denatonalized,
and has visited Europe only once since.
In tn he differs essentially from many of
our literary people who make Europe their
home and use this country only as a mar
ket for their wares. The best outline of
Mr.. Howellss early life will be found in
his book entitled "A Boys Town" Those
who are curious for details will find addi-
tional information concerning the child
hood period of this distinguished writer in
an article contributed by him recently to
the Youths Companion.
Chance or good fortune has its influence
in determining careers. The bit of chance
or good fortune which turned Mr.. Howells
into the pathway of European leisure and
study came through the friendship of
Messrs. Nicolay and Hay, who were the
private secretaries TO President Lin
coin when Mr.. Howells was first
stirred with an ambition to go
to Europe. The latter applied for the
consulate of Munich. He was then a we'll
informed country youth. His father was
the editor of country newspaper in Ohio.
Mr.. Howells learned the trade of a printer
in his fathers office. Some of his first ar
ticles were set at the case. His father
gave him good common school educa-
ton. The young man had a great love
for books. and a tendency in the direction
of the study OF languages. He first ac-
CURED a good knowledge of the Latin, and
then learned the rudiments of Greek
From these he went to French and Ger
man, and picked up good reading
knowledge of Spanish. 1t was his
knowledge of German which turned his
mind in the direction of the consulate at
Munich. If he had succeeded in obtain
ing that appointment the German life
would undoubtedly have had great inf
ence upon his career. He certainly would
have made different writer if he had
been finished off in the German school in
stead of the Italian, where the fortune of
politics sent him.
When he arrived in Washington to push
his application for Munich he had the
sympathetic support of the two secretaries
OF Lincoln. They knew of him and his
newspaper work. They were anxious to
help him. The president, however. gave
the Munich appointment to some one else,
and told his secretaries that their friend
Mr.. Howells could have the consulate at
Rome. This was early in the history of
the war of the rebellion. In looking up
this consulate, Mr.. Howells found that its
fees were only $500 year. He was then
unmarried, with very modest ideas and
great ambition to go to Europe to study,
but he did not think he could live on that
amount of money. so he appealed again to
his friends in the White House. They
secured for him the consulate at Venice,
which was then worth $3.50 a.year, and as
Southern privateers were at that time
becoming objects of interest in foreign
ports, Messrs. Nicolay and Hay were
able TO obtain the increase of the
pay of this post TO 81. 500 a year. This
magnificent sum more than satisfied Mr..
Howells. He accepted the post with joy,
and the following year his wife met him
IN Paris, where they were married. He
remained at his post for four years. and
during that time acquired an accurate
knowledge of the Italian language. His
book, Venetian Days" written as the re-
suit of his life in Venice, is today the
gWde-book of every American tourist who
visits this city. and has had a larger sale
than any other work by Mr.. Howells. 1t
has steady sale, and will probably con-
tinue to sell as long as Venice stands and
tourists are to be found to visit the city by
the sea-
saw Mr.. Howells some four years ago
In Washington City for the first time. He
was the object there of great deal of at
tention. Ii was said that he came there
Tor the purpose of studying the political
neid and then to write political novel.
tie was then the recipient of as much at
tentlon in the cynical world OF politics
and society as would have been accorded
10 diplomatic envoy. | saw him at a re-
ceptlon given in his honor by one of the
most amable of the diplomatic world in
Washington City. and the people who
thronged TO meet him certainly regarded
II as both pleasure and an honor to be
presented 10 SO distinguished 81 writer.
Mr.. Howells made many notes on W ASH
lngton City life. These may appear IN
some subsequent work. recall one even
ing when he came To my newspaper office
ami spent nearly two hours interview ing
me upon my experience as correspond
ent
The other day turned the tables upon
Mr.. Howells by addressing him III note
asking To set a time for an interview. To
TINS he returned prompt and courteous
reply. saying that what there was left OF
HIM To interview would be found every
afternoon between certain hours at the
Office OF the Cosmopolitan Magazine. The
following fac Smile of his note Will inter-
est the students of graphology:
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