The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-05-08
MAIL ORDERS

vorably as some OF her stories have done.
Mr. Parker, however. caused much sur.
prise and the most enthusiastic applause.
He was revealed rs even more brilliant
and fascinating reader than writer. Mr..
Parker Is a young man who chose as the
field for his romances and short stories that
hitherto mystic country in upper Canada
and in the region of Hudson bay which had,
until his pen didit, never been painted by the
romancer. His earlier short stories were
accepted eagerly by the editors of the maya.
zines, who rejoiced in what they called a
new find, " and for the past three or fom
years his pen has been a very busy one, with
stories appearing both in English and
American magazines, and after translation
winning high praise from the critics Of
France lie has recently returned from a
trip to Mexico, where he has been studying
local color and gathering materials for a
romance of that country lie lived for a
time in the antipodes. and one Of his most
exciting stories is a sketch of Australian
life.
The litterateurs OF New York who have
recently met Mr. Parker found him utterly
free from the Alterations and self con
scious mannerisms which have marred the
pleasure of meeting some others Of the
younger school of fiction writers. lie does
not even suggest the accomplished littera-
teur in speech or manner, but might rather
be looked upon a. "a patient desk man in
some newspaper office or quiet clerk of a
bank
But when Mr.. Parker began to read from
his own stories he was changed as complete
~ as is an actor who Ina private life is "a
man of quiet habit and upon the stage be-
comes intensely dramatic lie read with
thrilling power enc of his Canadian stories,
and the audience could almost feel the chill
Of the arctic atmosphere and almost See his
characters as he depicted them 10y n ech.
Gable has something of this power Mark
Twain has the capacity of humorous sug-
gcst ion when reading. and Whitcomb Riley
can draw tears or smiles at will. But Par
kcr has the picturing faculty, which is per
haps the rarest quality Of a public reader
There was another surprise Tor tins com
pany of cultured litterateurs when several
OF the poems Of Stephen Crane were read
by Mr. Barry People asked, who Is
Stephen Cranef' but there were some in
that company who knew that in "a recent
article Mr. llowells had praised Crane r
work a. be has praised the work of no new
man for many years and that MIR. Howells
would give his formal approval by way u
Introductory note To the volume of poems
of this young man which is soon TO be pub
lished.
Mr.. Barry read the poems with delight
full elocution, suggesting their perfect
rhythmicnl quality, although they are not
arranged In metrical form. II the opinion
OF those who heard the poems is "a just one,
they are likely to suggest high talent when
they are published
stephen Crane is a New York lad, for he
is scarcely more than a lad, who plunged
into the miseries of tenement life IN New
York and associated with the tramps and
the outcasts for many months ~ that he
might see them as they are and paint them
thus Mr. llowells has said that ia the sin
gle book which Crane has written he has
revealed power Of realism, a capacity 90
paint with almost brutal force and direct
ness. which suggests much Of the power Of
IolstcL r.. J. EDWARDS.