Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-05-09
KATE JORDAN.

| KATE JORDAN.
complete novels, testing in that way the
strength or probable popularity of the work.
| Others have read short stories-sketches
| which they have not as yet put into type
| There is of course the fascination of myS-
terry to account for some of the interest
which these entertainments have awakened,
since there is always curiosity to read or
| hear about the work which an author of re-
| pute is preparing for publication. But
| there is another element which has made
| these entertainments successful, and that is
| due to the personality of the authors them
| selves.
Sometimes there are great surprises, and
| this happened recently at an uncut leaves"
entertainment in New York city. There
were present and in a building where the
social aristocracy of New York is accus-
| toned to meet during the winter for what
are called the 'higher social functions" a
considerable number of those who represent
! the literary culture of New York. 1t was
| announced that Miss Kate Jordan and Mrs.
| Frances Hodgson Burnett were to read
| from some of their uncut leaves;'' that
| Gilbert Parker was to read a story of Cana
dian life; Mr.. J. T. Barry was to give Sc
lection from his own manuscript, and also
to read a number of poems written by a
young man who has recently been set be-
fore the pubic through the praises of Mr..
Howells, and whose poems are soon to be
published. Hamlin Garland was also an
nounced as a probable reader, and it was
expected that Mr.. Howells. Mr. Thomas
Bailey Aldrich and Mrs. Burton Harrison
would be present, although not as readers.
Miss Jordans selection was from story
of German life in the great east side in
New York, and it made decidedly favor
Ill
turned out anything from her pen that is
in the slightest degree trivial or light She
always writes for purpose, and there are
heart and soul and feeling in everything
she produces Some of her short stories for
the American Press Association are artistic
gems. In a recent competition of IL short
story writer's in Lippincott's Magazine she
won the prize by popular vote. Miss Jor
dan is young, handsome and ambitious-e
rising and brilliant literary star.
Mrs. Burnett read extracts from new
story which she is preparing, but it seemed
to those who heard her as though she was
not in the hest of health, for her reading did
not impress those who were present as ia,
vorably as some of her stories have DONE
Mr.. Parker, however, caused much sur
prise and the most enthusiastic applause.
He was revealed as even a more brilliant
and fascinating reader than writer. Mr.
Parker is 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 did it, 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 fout
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. He has recently returned from a
trip to Mexico, where he has been studying
local color and gathering materials for a
romance of that country. He lived for
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 writer's. He does
not even suggest the accomplished lttera-
teur in speech or manner, but might rather
be looked upon as patient desk man in
some newspaper Office or quiet clerk of
bank.
But when Mr.. Parker began to read from
his own stories he was changed as complete
ly as is actor who in private life is a
man of quiet habit and upon the stage be-
comes intensely dramatic. He read with
thrilling power one 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 by speech.
Gable has something of this power Mark
Twain has the capacity of humorous sug-
gestion when reading. and Whitcomb Riley
can draw tears or smiles at will. But Par
ker has the picturing faculty. which is per-
haps the rarest quality of public reader.
There was another surprise for this COM
pany of cultured litterateurs when several
of the poems of Stephen Crane were read
by Mr. Barry. People asked, who is,
Stephen Crane?" but there were some in
that company who knew that in a recent.
article Mr.. Howells had praised Cranes.
work as he has praised the work of no newz
man for many years, and that Mr.. Howellsi
would give his formal approval by way of.
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
rhythmical quality, although they are not
arranged in metrical form. If the opinion
of those who heard the poems is just one,
they are likely to suggest high talent when
they are published. !.
Stephen Crane is New York lad, for he.
is scarcely more than lad, who plunged
into the miseries of tenement life in New
York and associated with the tramps and
the outcasts for many months so that he.
might see them as they are and paint them
thus. Mr.. Howells has said that In the sim
gle book which Crane has written he has
revealed power of realism, capacity to
paint with almost brutal force and direct
ness, which suggests much of the power Of
Tolstoi. E. J. EDWARDS. |
Accident to Julia MarIowe. /