The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-19

life the authoress leads at her home in
Randolph. she lives said this lady,
with two of the quaintest old people I've
ever seen; Just as quaint as any Of the
characters Mary has put into her stories.
Their existence ID absolutely uneventful.
Until within year the people of RAN
dolph knew absolutely nothing about Miss
Wilkins work. OF course they knew her
personally. but they never suspected she
was a great authoress. 1t is only lately
that this fact has dawned upon them. A
great change has come over Randolph
within the past year. 1t used to be q per.
fectly dead place, with no society what
ever, in spite of the fact that it was only
twenty miles from Boston; but now the
wealthy people of the town There are lots
OF them) have begun to give formal after
noon receptions. They darken their rooms
by closing their shutters and illuminate
them by candle light. 1t is all very Curl
Gus. and seems almost created for the BEN
eft of Miss Wilkins"
Prof. Hjalmar Bjorth Boyesen has just
put the finishing touches on his new
soon appear in Godey's. He will also pub
iish before very long his collection Of
papers, "Saunterlngs in Norway" which
are now appearing periodically. Prof.
Boyesen is one of the most indefatigabe
literary workers that have ever known.
thing by hand-he says that it is almost
impossible for him to dictate-the amount
OF his work seems almost incredible. /
think that the explanation lies in the per-
sOnality of the man. He is a fine example
OF the sound mind in a sound BODY, He
takes plenty of exercise every day, leads a
regular life, and he is consequently one of
the best-natured as we'll as the most in
dustrious Of authors. l know of no one
who has such fund of "reminiscences as
he possesses. 1t is a delight to talk with
him. and as diner-out he is unexcelled.
Gilbert Parker, the Canadian novelist
and short story writer, who has been visit
ing New \ ork for the past few weeks, has
sailed for London, where he spends at
least six months every year. He left New
York little earlier than ne had planned
in order to be present at the first produc-
ton OF his latest play, which will soon be
presented in London by Willie Edouin.
drama to f. J. Henley, the well-known
actor. Mr.. Henley, by the way-I think
that this fact is not commonly known-is
a brother of Henley. the poet and editor of
the National Observer. Mr.. Parker during
his visit here began work on a new novel
which will probably be published before
the end of the year.
If some one were to collect all the
stories that have been told about Rudyard
kipling he would make most interest
ing volume. Here is a story that heard
the other day A few days after kipling's
arrival with his wife in this country last
winter a society woman of New York sent
her butler to him with an invitation for
dinner. Intentionally or Internationally,
she ignored his wife. kipling read the il
vitation in the mans presence and then
said calmly: There's no answer" The
man looked surprised. hesitated a
moment. then turned and went away.
H..
hng's house and announced that he had
been sent back for an answer. "There's no
answer" exclaimed kipling quietly, vet
firmly. 1t would be interesting to know
the effect of this little comedy on the
society woman.
have heard this week of two biographi-
Cal works on James Russell Lowell that
are to be published before many months
are over and | presume many more are
coming. George A. Woodbury. is to write
the poets life with the sanction of the
Lowell family. and DR.. Francis A. Under
wood is hard at work on a volume that he
is to call 1.-The Poet and the Man; Recol-
sell Lowell" Prof. Woodbury.. who occu-
pies the chair of literature at Columbia
college, is eininently lifted for this task
for during the past few years he has won
high position among the younger critics
who write the English language. Indeed,
take the place in criticism filled by Mr..
Lowell himself. DR.. Underwood has the
advantage OF a long and intimate acauaint-
ance with the poet. and his work will
doubtless contain great deal of interest
ing matter relating to Mr.. Loweli's per-
sonality. He is one Of the few men left of
that brilliant group of writer's and critics
who lived in Boston thirty years ago.
asked New York author the other
day il he thought that the new copyright
law had had much effect upon the condi-
ton Of American authors and publishers.
lit is a little early to trace the effect as
yet" he said, "but | think that | have
ment in the authors condition. Before
the laws were passed second-rate English
authors had great vogue here; the new
law tends to drive them out, and there
fore to give wider scope to our native
writer's. Then, too, the law does a good
deal to check the piracy business, which,
of course, injured our authors seriously
Altogether, think that in a few years
the law will bring out vast improve
ment in the material welfare of Ameri-
can writer's. But ii Is absurd to expect il
to transform in day conditions that have
been establishing themselves for many
years"
1t is very amusing to hear that Prof.
Josiah Royce. of Harvard, has been
charged with the authorship of ''Calmire"
the anonymous philosophic novel which
created such a sensation on its appearance
last year. Prof. Royce denies the charge
in words which leave no doubt as to his
sincerity. Those who know him only
through his philosophical works are prob
ably not aware of the fact that q few wears
ago he did publish a novel called 1.-THE
Feud of Oakfield Creek" 1t was not a lit
erary success, and is now almost forgot
ten. ! shall be very much surprised if
Prof Royce tries hishand at fiction again.
STnNE