The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-16
HOW HE BECAME A STORY WRITER.
Richard Malcolm Johnston Talks Of His
Career and Early Efforts.

Richard Malcolm Johnston Talks Of His
Career and Early Efforts.
Richard Malcolm Johnston's sketches Of
rural life in Georgia have been among the
most delightful contributions to current
magazine literature. Col. Johnston-for
he bears that title--is tall and elderly, his
hair and mustache being white, but his
eye Is clear, his manner gracious, and he Is
the most entertaining talker, his speech
having rich southern flavor. he was
with James Whitoomb Riley when the re-
porter came upon him at the Denison
House, and that gentleman kindly gave his
assistance to draw the colonel out.
STORY writing" said the colonel, "is the
last thing for me in literature, and came
to it in way altogether accidental. had
published two or three volumes on English
literature, and in conjunction with a
friend had written the life of Alexander
Stephens and also book on American and
European literature, but had no idea Of
story writing for money. Two or three
stories of mine found their way into papers
before left Georgia"
when was Abraham Billingslea' writ
temp" inquired Mr.. Riley.
"Oh, that is recent-only three years ago.
l went TO Baltimore in 1867. l had been a
professor of English literature in Georgia,
but during the war took school OF forty
boys TO Baltimore. There was at Balti-
more in 1870 periodical called The South
ern Magazine The first nine of my Duke
borough Tales were contributed to that
magazine. These fell into the hands of
the editor of Harper's, who asked me what
| got for them. / said, Not cent, and
he wanted to know Why / had not sent
them to him. 'Neelus Peeler's Conditions
was the first story for which got pay. 1t
was published in The Century over the
signature OF Philemon Perch
"Dr Holland told Mr.. Glider to tell that
that he himself had made mistake in
writing under pseudonym. Sidney LanieI
urged me to write, and said that if would
do 80 he would get the matter in print for
me. So he took 'Neelus Peeler's Condi.
tions, and it brought me $50. think he
was more greatly rejoiced over the money
than was, and Pm not a man to turn my
back on $50. Twas at first really surprised
that my stories were considered of any
value, either in a literary or pecuniary
way. am little surprised yet. with
drew from teaching about six years ago
and since that time have devoted myself tC
authorship.
II have never put word in my books, u
continued Col. Johnston, that l have not
heard the people use, and very few that
have not used myself. Powelton, Ga, is
~ Dukeborough. was born fourteen
miles from there, and the road leading
down to that place was rough one. The
first of the 'Dukeborough Tales was the
Goosetown School OF the female char
acters that have created, Miss Doolant
Lines is my favorite, while Mr.. Bill Will
iams is my favorite among the male char
acters. l started Doolana to make hel
mean and stingy like her father, but
hadn't written page before she wrencheC
herself out of my hands. She said to me
i am woman, and you shall not maxi
me mean, and then she just made herself
and she was like her mother
"These stories are all of Georgia as i
was before the war In the hill country
I
the institution of slavery was very differ
ent from what II was in the rice region o.
near the coast. Do you know the Georgii
negro has five times the sense of the Ssutl
Carolina negroi Why5 Because he ha
always been near his master; their rela
tions are closer. Ny fathers negroes love-
him and he loved them, and If negr,
child died upon the place my mother wep
for it.
"Some time ago went to the old place
and an old negro came eight miles-walke'
all the way-to see me. He got to tn
house before o'clock in the morning, an,
opened the shutters while l was asleep
With cry he rushed into the room, oh
Massa Dickp We cried in each other
arms We had been boys together. On
of my slaves is now a bishop-Bisbop Lu
cius Holsey. Heis one OF the most eloquen
men in Georgia and lives in Augusta. ~
Indianapolis News.