The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-09-18

hairdressers' laws. Her hair and her talka-
tive eyes md her indescyibable grace were
all l saw and all ! needed to see. for was
there simply to learn somewhat OF her
literary methods.
Her "dsn'' is a pretty little back ",om on
the main floor, away +, ON the noise OF the
parlor; and a noisy parlor it generally is,
for Mrs. Burnett always has her house full
of young people. and what with their
bRnjos and ,nandolins and laughter and
pranks, they manage to keep the atnlos-
phere of the place in healthful circulation.
books without knowing how they 10 it, for
young folks are hex special inspiration.
At six o'clock every morning Mrs. Bur
nett sets ont for long, brisk walk, returning
ut eight. After breakfast abe retires at
once to her study and writes, usually having
her pen in hand before nine o'clock.
II suppose ! ought to quit at about one
O'clock" she SAYS. but when l am getting
on smoothly the vol IL so pleasant that ]
often stav at my desk until six"
1t was this yielding to the pleasure of her
work that broke her down in Washington a
of her childhood in England restored her
energies, n Notwithstanding the terrible
Affections she suffered there she has
returned to the land of aer adoption in al.
most perfect health.
The history OF her latest book, soon to be
issued by the Soribners. gives a good idea
OF the manner in which her stories work
themselves out. During her stay in Eng
land. after the story of Little Lord Faun-
tleroy' had established her fame as an inter-
prefer of child life, she was frequently impor-
tuned to write this or that recollection of
interesting child doipgs a. she related them
to her friends. but she was not yet strong
enough to resume her literary labors. How
ever, when the q Q atsst trouble OF her life.
the loss of her splendid boy Lionel. came
upon her she turned to the desk Al the one
available means of RELIEF from ns5 over
whelminR sorrow. Aud, oh, what balm
there is in a good days work! When
make q volume she entitled them "Children
Who Have Made Stories" and sent them
to a London publisher. He thought the
title would not be understood, 40 at his
suggestion she changed it to "Children
Whom I Have Known" Some time later,
when tho scribners had the same volume
in hsnd in this country, Mrs. Burnett con-
ceived the idea of adding another chapter,
entitled THE One l Knew the Best Of All,''
TO be q recollection of an event or two in
her own childhood. This idea pleased the
publishers very much, and she began the
additional chapter.
The little story started out at an easy can
ter, but al it. went sione fresh memories
applied their whips, and soon tho story
broke into a furious run, Mrs. Burnett
tried to stop it, but 1t would not stop. She
screamed to her publishers to help her
stop it. but they only stood by and laughed
at her predioamsnt.
1T will never do" she said, "to make the
last chapter AZ long as all the rest OF the
book"
9 il rum" said Mr.. Burlingame, of
,scribners'. ut is beating the record"
She did let it run because She could not
stop il, and on it tore uatil it had traver.sd
the distance Of a whole volume. So now
pretty soon the Scribners will bring out her
latest book under the title, The Ons |
Knew the Best Of Ala Memo y of tho
Mind of a Child"
John Ward, Preacher" was tho most
widely discussed book written in America
in the year 1888. 1t WAS Mrs. Margaret W.
Deland's first prose work. but it placed her
at once in the front rank of American
novelists.
Although Mrs. Deland began to write
childish stories about as soon al she could
make words with a pen. it was not until she
had been married three or four years that
she entertained any thought of writing for