The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-01

AlIen-wrftes skeleton chapters arst unl
draws them gradually out. making the
conversations and episodes more life-lIkY
by constant addition. The most ordinary
way OF writing IL to write ali the chapters
out to!erably fully Mt first. but without
much attempt at literary style. and then
to go over the whole ground pieccm ,al.
making additions OF the sort which give
literary flavor TO the composition. Al
Tor the humor. that Is usually ins srtcd
afterward.
. Marten Martens. he distinguished
Dutch novelist. whose work Il becoming
popular with English and American read.
ers. Is a country gentleman living In an
old chateau remote from towns. II IL
said by his publishers that his neighbors
Know nothing OF his English literary ca
reer. ITO them he is merely one OF
themselves. only a little more indoient
and Indifferent TO local topics. They can
not understand what he does with his
time all day, as he does not shoot. and
occasionally. at some social function, a
young lady Will ask him II he reads Eng
fish. He has Travelled a good deal, and
has lived in France and Germany. lie
was mere logged resolve which forced
his books into print In English. lie
chooses 10 write In English. SO as TO heta
oh dbbitH9 ne sent JOD~I AyeilnXK
to England from Holland. and all the big
houses II was sent to refused Ii. Then he
published 1t at his own expense"
Herbert Spencer. as described by NJ.
Crofton. ir Lippincott. is a bald headed
man. OF middiing height. considerably
rounded at the shoulders. with a firm
mouth, soft gray eyes. and pinky white
cheeks framed In curly sray side whiskers,
and Sffll aAbarps ~ tho k~o.tof~.. f...A.
coat. low-cut waistcoat, stand-up black
cravat. and overgaiters Of long ago. De-
spite the Immense burden of learning
which he carries, he Il singularly modest,
has the g~entlest OF voices, and IL almost
feminine In manner He il unmarried.
and has but few intimate personal friends.
IL is related that his doctor once told
him that IL was not good for such a man
as he TO live alone. as his solitary meals
were apt to be married by thinking too
much on deep subjects. and advised him
10 stay for a while In some boarding
house. where the dihner-tabIe Talk wonii
be conducted by nice. CHEEKY. brainless
folk. He went. but did not stay long. II
came to his ears that to the pleasant lady
whose seat was next TO him at table he
was a sad disappointment. A friead
asked her how she liked the boarding.
house; could she recommend Il? oh.
yes. l think . can" she replied. but
there is a Mr.. Spencer who thinks that he
know about science and philosophy. I
have to correct him every night" He
lives quietly among his books In an old.
fashioned house In Regent Park, but dimes
out often. generally at the Athenaeum
Club. and occasionally visits . place Of
amusement. Comic opera IL his deli <ht.
He nnds I'm 1t an Offset to his lucubrations
upon the data OF ethics. For he In still a
veritabie giutton for work. and Is a. times
Obliged to suspend al mental application
for weeks. being completely Frustrated Nv
nervous collapse. No matter how nne the
day, he carries an umbrella. He also car
ries about a couple OF little plugs I'm his
pocket. and whenever conversation
around him becomes annoying he takes
them out and puts them In his ears. End
thus become leaf 10 the chatter about
him. He speaks with great gus,o OF n let
ter he received not long since from a pub
Usher In the FAR West. asking how much
ha would take for the exclusive right ~
publish his poem, The Faerle Queen In
the United states.