Los Angeles herald., 1892-11-27
ne cR|T|CzES HIS OWN BOOKS,
Hamlin Garland Talks About
His Literary Work.
His Ideas as to Construction and
His Methods.
An Interesting Interview with a New
Literary LiOn-He Touches.
Briefly on His Politi-
cal Theories.


is in the city.
, He has been literary man for II
years. and laughingly referred to the
hard time when he had to struggle the
haroest. Mr.. Garland is on the coast
principally to observe it, with prob
able view to new material for move
or short stories.
'"Tell something OF your works, your
ide OF them and OF their motive," was
asked by the reporter.
SIN Jason Edwards, although il
starts In Boston, it deals with typical
country existence, and my idea there
was to contrast the actual west with the
actual Boston. Not the general idea of
Boston the one of Beacon street, but
the Boston outside of Beacon street, the
real city, of which the people do not
know.
"When deal with farm life it is from
what l know, and all the incidents
spoken of in this work l have been
through with myself.
"There is mystic quality connected
with free land, and it has always allured
men into the west. 1 wanted to show
that it is a myth. also desired to deal
with the American workingman when
his livelihood was cut off. l have made
AN active study of the iron workers and
have talked with men who had pursued
the more elusive western paradise, but
who had returned without finding it.
believe, as l stated in the introduction
to the work, that when the escape to
free land is cut off, the reaction on
American wages will come.
'The reduction will not probably
come in the cutting down of dollars and
cents. but in the raise of rent, which is
practically the same thing. And this
raise of rent is just as certain to come as
ia the leveling OF mountains and the
filling up of valleys.
"The idea in the Spoil OF Office WAS to
treat of the west and its great political
movements and revolutions as they
would stand related to young man OF
political ambitions like Bradley Talcott.
The whole book deals with things and
evente as, seen from this young mans
center. l tried to take him through
development of farm hand whose op-
portunitiss had been meager and who
did not realize his power of development,
on through many changes, up to his life
in congress-that is, to apparent suc-
cess.
"His SUCCESS, however, from my point
of view, consisted in his keeping HIM
self clean and unspotted in his public
life, 60 full OF temptations. The climax
OF his life, in my estimation, came in
his rise to q comprehension of the
altruism which was expressed through
out by Ida Wilbur.
"While it is political novel it is
political novel as the veritist would
make It; veritist could not fail 70
make mention of politics, ior they are
flying in the air.
'"The book is full of problems. the in.
ordinate growth OF cities, the apparent
thinning out of the rural population
and other problems.
"In this book 1 have no mouthpiece.
I aim to have it an actual work and hav-
ing it az actual scene of the west. Each
pan speaking hia own panacea and
leaving the reader to Judge of them.
While am reformer l want to be an
artist and I do not aim to teach OBJ
viouely but to teach rather as light in
structs us.
The Little Morse is really statement
of the problem of two modern men in
their relation to each other and in rela.
ton to a motherless girl. There are in
this little story great many things that
are to me very vital. But perhaps the
primary motive is the delineation Of life,
which is the primary motive of all my
stories.
"Ihe Member of the Third House
really sprang obscurely from expe-
riences in Chicago and Boston and GER
tain transactions in Washington some
three or four years ago. It is probable
that Boston contributed the largest part.
This work illustrates the power OF this
novelist. He takes mental notes OF
everything for him; to use pencil or
paper would result only in confusion
Of ideas. He builds upon his uncon-
ecious observation. He seems to absorb
something from everything.
'A number of amusing incidents came
to my notice concerning this work. The
various reviews attempted to locate the
scene OF the book one had it in Albany,
N. Y, another in Chicago and another
in Washington, d. @. Another paper
said that the author had evidently form
erly been a political rounder, judging
from the knowledge of legislative lobby
ing that was shown, when in reality
have never had any connection with
proceedings of this nature.
"My object in this work was to point
out the danger that threatens every leg
islature and city council through the en-
deavors Of corporations to obtain street
car and other valuable franchises.
"As to my methods of work, never
write mechanically and never unless it
is pleasure to me. generally have
ten to fifteen themes in process of con-
struction, as painter with his numer-
GUS easels placed over his studio, would
work according to his inspiration. 1
work from 8 am. until IL O'Clock. and
let nothing interrupt me. Sometimes
write very rapidly, and always revise
carefully, but as rule do not eliminate
very much. have no power to change
the great idea plan of book; merely
change the details.
ut is probable that Main Travelled
Roads represents me in my methods of
work. and especially that of the
Chole country, more than any
other of my books. You observe
that l never have any plot
in my stories. Life has plane, but
never plot. UP the Chole represents
my impressions OF life as completely as
anything I have ever written. 1 like
the short story comprising from 5000 to
10000 words. 1 think it is the most
perfect form OF writing. Many of my
stories are shaping themselves into tales
numbering from $4,000 to 10000 words.
They are really novelettes.
"The Spoil OF Office think kindly Of.