The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-04-11

methods / have = &C. e. ,'enrtttet,rtafrn1..~4 a
where l can see or at least n6I&S.. w. G
and the children [ have quite family
YOU know, four boys and two girls Well.
l like to look up from my work and Join in
the talk and resume any ucncu. | always
write with 4, pencll--a pen hampers NE. ~
DO You read much?'
II read a few books and read thea CT en-.
If | had to make out a list Of my favorite
books 1t would embrace the Bib.e. SAnkcs-
peare. the Vicar of Wakefield. Lorna
DOOne. the Three Guardsmen SERIES Mon
te CrlStO. Charles Lamb. Stevenson sto-
rieS of adventure, the Portrait of a Lady.
and some others too light and frivolous TO
mention. -
My readers have doubtless heard that
MIR. Harris is Il modest man. This only
family expresses it. He is painfully mod
est retiring, shy to the last extreme. 1t is
constitutional with him, and nothing will
ever change it. Distinguished men and
women from all over the world call on him
when they are passing through Atlanta,
but he is determined not to be lionized at
home or abroad. When he has been in
New York and Boston, literary and press
clubs have made an effort to capture him
at receptions and dinners, but the result
has been his precipitatc flight southwark,
and when hard pressed he has crossed over
into Canada But for this excessive modcsty
-
readings. Mark Twain tried to form Al
combination with him, and managers have
offered him long engagements at $500
night, but they might safely offer $1,000;
IT would be refused just as the other offers
have been refused.
He can afford to follow his bent in this
regard. Fortune has been kind to him.
Lis eight books command a steady sale in
this country and in England. He is The
Constitutions leading editorial writer at
NO aIDl ,,l..,,
residence IN the beautiful suburb of West
END Is worth Il competency in itself. The
wonder is that man so happily situated
should work so hard. He rarely ever takes
Il vacation, and when he leaves his Office it
Is to go home by the shortest route The
spacious grounds surrounding his house
enable him to indulge his fancy for jersey
COWS and intensive farming. These are
subjects that bring his conversational gifts
into play. lie is not going to talk about
his books if he can help it. And yet he
was never buster in a literary way than at
the present time. He is writing a series of
short stories, play, and u novel entitled
Aaron.
The author of Uncle Remus" has been
often described. His portraits do not do
him justice. OF medium height rather TO-
tund with a genial ruddy face, chestnut
hair and mouStachc and twinkling blue eyes,
he strikes the casual observer as the most
soclable OF men. And so he is-among his
stinctS are just as active. but an inpedi-
ment in his speech manifests itself and he
is with difficulty drawn into conversation.
Like many literary men he is strangely
forgctful Not long ago, when he called
at the postotlice to pay his box rent, a new
clerk asked him his name
My name" said Mr.. Harris stiffiy, lis
is
Then he broke down completely and con-
fessed that just at that moment he could
not recall it. He was greatly relieved
when the clerk told him that he was the
fourth man he had met in a month who
had made a similar failure.
The admirers and friends of Mr.. Harris
will be interested in his oldest son, Julian,
a handsome and talented youth of eighteen,
whose work on the local staff of The Con-
sttution has been the subject of much fav-
orable comment. Julian Harris has writ
ten few admirable short stories, and it
is safe TO predict for him a successful fu-
turc both in literature ard journalism. Few
young men of his age in the country are
50 we'll equipped for good work. Blu: this
scattering gossip may very well draw to a
close. The public will hear from the senior
and the junior Harris through their pens,
and that should be enough. without the ran
dom personal comment, which is SO apt to
run into impertinent suggestions.
WALLACE PUTNAM REED.