The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-04

present moment, he has yet further de-
veloped into the politician, the historian
and the writer of novels. which, if they are
not exactly conspicuous for completely of
plot or dramatic situation, yet are striking
in dialogue, happy and fertile in creative
power and notably in the eccentric type of
character. Of his historical works the
same criticism applies in limited degree,
for though they are not profound, yet they
are impartial, brilliant and deeply inter-
esting. Curious it is to note, too, in his
historical work. how he brings into play
his novelistic faculty of Imagination, and
how the dry bones of historical personages
who have long since passed awav, at his
hands come to life again and strut and
pace their little hour on the stage. / al
luded to this faculty of his at the very out
set of our conversation.
"Mr. Mccarthy" said I, 81 want to ask
you secret. Does fction-writing assist
you In the making of history?" Mr.. Nc
earthly laughed. Eyes. think it does;
it makes it more interesting undoubtedly"
II can believe that" l replied. "but don't
you find the temptation very strong at
times to create characters of your own, or
at all events very much to improve upon
the originals2 Don't you ieel sometimes
that plots in real history differ very
much from those you would construct in
writing a novel;" Perhaps you are
right" said he, but is it not possible for
me to take a certain great character in
history and suddenly one day, after long
study OF that character, he or she comes
up into ones mind and stands there COM
pete, and one says to ones self, yes, he
did this, but he could not have done that?'
But Of course you must first make your
self master OF his times and sur
roundings." YES" l urged, "all very
WELL but his times and his surroundings
are probably utterly beyond the ken of
any man living?" my dear friend" said
Mr.. Justin Mccarthy, with smile, ''hu-
man nature Is always and everywhere the
same. And as it is with individuals so it
is with nations. 1t would be easier for me
to write history of England and of the
English as they were 600 years ago than to
write of country of today of which I
practically know nothing" Don't YOU
feel inclined, as / have already asked, to
mingle history and novel writing togeth-
er?' ''Oh, no; though / quite acknowI-
edge that it is difficult to avoid romance in
history, but on the whole novel writing
helps to make history writing more real
and lifeilke. History writing does me this
good / tind-it makes me take fair and
impartial view of matters. l find tina. l
take q fresh view of many things in writ
ing history"
We then passed into discussion on
novels and novel writing. Said he: II
am rapid writer. If had nothing else
TO do, three or four hours of steady work
daily would quite suffice me for literary
purposes. never, Ill writing novel,
have any plot and l never even plan out a
chapter. 1t all comes to nue. as | write.
The same thing in my lectures and
speeches; never prepare either the one
or the other until | am actually on nv
feet and speaking the opening sentences.
and then, perhaps, | mentally group a few
leading and central ideas. Some of my
novels are decidedly political, still l do
not always feel called upon to hight Tor nv
own special side III my books. No. | am
frequently quite as much interested,
and | throw quite as much earn
estness into political battles in my
books on what | would consider
in real life as utterly and entirely
the wrong side as | should in fighting for
my own party. | spoke OF lecturing lust
now. Ii Is curious how very much more
popular 1t Is III America, where / have
lectured frequently, than 1t is here in En-
gland; but now think it is growing in
favor over here. and | am glad Of it. for il
is a capital method of teaching our
people"
And speaking of novel writing gener-
ally, Mr.. Mccarthy. do you think that on
the whole. II Is iInprovihG?"
Yes, decidedly, IL is improving over the
whole area, although it Is not showing so
many mountain tops. There are about
twenty novelists nowadays who write
really well. ain quite Us fond OF reading
as am OF writing novels"
What about novels with 3 purpose?"
said l.
They are apt 10 be heavy" he replied,
with smile, Il: people deliberately set TO
work 10 teach; but if there is some strong
feeling IN man or woman, and the feeling
unconsciously rnolds into a purpose, that
book will be great"
And how far should novelist touch I'D
on certain grea: social and moral cues
iions, Mr.. Mccarthy? Do You agree with
Walter Besant when he says that all refer
ence to the one great fault between the
sexes should be left out entirely?"
mo. certainly not, replied Mr.. McCar-
thy With emphasis. Il certainly don't
agree with him there. /, ought to be
dealt with. although of course very deli
cate!y. But to leave cut altogether one OF
the most stirring. interesting. tragical epis-
odes OF everyday life. ami as il Is. Is 10
pluck the heart ont of all novel writing
that processes in any way to deal with life
As il really is"
But you draw the line somewhere, Mr.
Mccarthy. Don't you think that Zola and
Walt Whitman have a. times-I do not