Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-02-12
NEW YORK LETTER.
a Man Who Writes Stories Of
Western Life.
MANY FRENCH AUTHORS ILL.
A Famous Author Who DIE = Paris last
NJ u Was an American BY Birth His
I,ath Was Caused by the Fail.
ure OF Play

dor The Sunday Gazcttcl
New York. Feb. The latest literary
sensation tx the publication 10y Mr. w
g. Stead, editor of the English "Rcyicw
of Reviews of literature said to have
been produced under spiritual control.
In his recently published Prom the Old
World 10 the New. 4 Christmas Story
of the Worlds Fair" Mr. Stead has
introduced chapter which according
90 his own statement. he did not write
himself, but which was produced In his
presence by someone under spiritual con-
troll. ! have read the whole book and
l must confess that | noticed no differ
encc in the style Of the spiritualistic chap
ter from that Of the rest of The story
have heard, moreover, that Mr. Stead
has put forth the claim In London that
hc himscli has written under the innu-
euce of spirits. ! had a conversation
the othor day with DIR. Albert Shaw,
editor of the American edition of The
Review of Reviews with regard to
these spirtualistic tendencies of his En-
glsh associate. MIR. Stead" said DR.
Shaw, has long been Interested ia psy-
chic questions, and MS he Is a singularly
open. minded man, absolutely free FROM
all prejudice he is always ready To CON
slider seriously any theories or phenomena
that may be presented. This is why lac
takes such profound interest la spirit
unlism. So far AZ | know, however. "a
single chapter In his novel h the only
writing that he has presented 60 the
world as the production of spirits
II " De true that Mr. Stead is being
caught Ia the meshes OF spiritunlism. Il
Is probable that his Influence in England
win be- seriously impaired. His enemies
are too numerous aud too yigiant 10 let
pass the opportunity of striking at him
which this would give thom. One Of The
most persistent and bitter of these enc
mics is MIR. Harold Frederir, London
correspondent of the New York Times
Mr. Frederic IN 80 fond of displaying a
profound contempt for MIR Stead the
story that he has n spite against the
! English editor is probably true When
MIR Frederic first went To- London ho
constituted himself an ardent champion
of Sir Charles Dixie whom Mr.. Stead
has pursued for the last few years with
relentless uniuOsitg; consequently, In his
defence of Sir Charles, Mr. Frederic
was Obliged 10 take up the cudgeiu
against Mr. Stead, who, he declares Is
one of the most pcrnlcons Influences
IN English politics
MIR. Stcad's novel has sold very well
In England, but IL has apparently made ma
Impression in this country lis success
| in England is dOubtlcss due To the per
sonal prestige of the writer who is not
generally known here. Consequently, Il
does not follow that the neglect Of one
book indicates that American literature
Is superior 10 English taste, As for thc
book itself, Il is beneath criticism. II
IL said t0 have been written In two weeks
and after reading II, one can easily be-
lieye the story. MIR. Stead has none OF
the noyelist's skill In constructing plot
or in making his fictitious characters
lifelike. His style, too, which IN usually
full Of yirility is in this story tame and
embarrassing ! have been told that seye
raj of the characters are unmistaka.
bic portraits of well-knOwn men and
women. This fact would be interesting
II the book wcr worthy Of serious con.
siderntion. But 1t will probably soon be
forgotten and, If II Is remembered at all
it will be remembered as a piece OF
folly, OF which one Of the most success
FIJI Of modern editors ought Co be thorO.
ugly ashamed.
Mr.. Stead, by the way, has announced
his intention Of coming 10 the WOrld'i
fair lie will doubtless receive consider
able attention while be IL here and he
| VIII, Of course, he thoroughly interviewed
| In spite Of his mistakes 0t judgment and
! his superabuudant enthusiasm he is on,
| of the most Interesting figures in con
temporary journalism. A writer Of thii
| city who knows him intimately said "a
! nearly like an American Newspaper man
than any Journalist outside of this cOun
/ try lic has "A passion for reform and
| lac h Interested la all problems that affert
/ humanity His capacity for work I,
| uuh1undrd. Unlike most men of fierce
| enthusiasm he docs not have periods OF
| reaction which temporarily unfit him foi
/ work On the contrary he keeps up
| continued activity that is marvellous
/ His whole ufe Is spent IN occupation; d,
| rs never seen Ia society and as soon "a
! his days work Is over he hurries 90 hii
/ home Ia Wimbledon, where he continues
| his work late into the night. He Is oblig
! ed 10 work when other people are sleep
/ ing for, In addition 20 his editorial dutie,
/ he takes An active part Ia many Of ths
| great economic aud other reform move
ments Ia Great Britain He has cstab
l lished IN England for example syH
/ TEN Of Civic Centres" ORGANIZATIONS OF
/ citizens 10 the leading cities which meel
FOR the discussion Of social problems anC
for mutual improvement He FREQUENTLY
| addresses these Centres Il ~ his spin
| that keeps them going
/ Perhaps the best evidence that coult
I be found Of Mr.. Sends eXtfaOrdinarl
/ ability is the success u his magazine
/ Though the Review Of Reviews wa.
| started only about three years ago, d
I has now one Of the largest circulationi
| Of any publication in the world III,
\ success of the American Corresponds viii
/ tie success Of The English edition. Mr.
I Stead spoke wisely when he said that Dr
I Albert Shaw. bis American editor. wa.
Z d man after his own heart. DR. Shaw
I has Ia two years brought the circulation
VI the magazine Ia this country Up Z,
I 10000 copies anh has won Tor hiinsel
d place among tie two Or three leadlni
etlitorf Of America.
A New ORLEANS PAPER recently srlrtss