The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-09-15

their lungs calling on the great American
novel, the short story slipped into litera-
ture, in its place. / don't know that we
have lost so much, either Page or Har-
ris can paint the soul of a negro as truly
as his ragged coat. / feel as well ac-
quainted with Uncle Remus as If he
chopped our wood. And Miss wilkins
delicate old spinsters and forlorn widow
women-arent they true as death? Yes, /
think the short story deserved to climb"
What kind of character do you like
best to describe. yourself?' aslIed: now,
am almost sure that you like TO describe
men. hut viii you dare to say so-and have
me tell?''
Yes lady. do dare The human crea-
ture that like best to describe is a man.
an elderly man-like Col. Rutherford in
'Expiatlon.'"
AS to her methods of composition she
gave me an interesting and suggestive &C.
count.
Usually" she said, 'I write a story or
an article twice, although sometimes I
write it once, alter IL and have it copied. I
can't seem to do more than block out the
skeleton, at first draft. Then. as I strug-
gle to make every line tell and have no
waste sentences littering up my scene, 1
often have to go over the ground half a
dozen times. But find that I take more
and more pains with my first draft, trying
to strike out the diction as we'll as the
characters with first blows as much as
possible. There is certain sketch-Iike
quality very necessary TO a short story
that l am fain to keep II I can: but all
sorts of light touches add themselves as I
go over the picture. The bits of humor
are almost always second thoughts. But
| have written a story over five times
from start TO finish. changing pretty much
everything but the names OF the charac-
tiers. The characters, themselves have a
ssnFrI 80 H. =.
and attending to their own fates. Pro
portion is the great mischief maker, and
atmosphere makes a deal of bother. too.
Sometimes my climax insists on going in
to the wrong place, in the most indecent
manner. then the whole stage must be
pulled 10 pieces. And the minor charac-
tiers never know their places and con-
stabulary duty takes time
I asked If dialect" was difficult
Not after YOU have lived long with
people, for YOU get TO thinking in their
speech: the dfficultyls 10 strike the hap
by mean where YOU give color and form.
but don't inSicate every sound I think
was too slavish with dialect at first am
more merciful to my readers. now"
l spoke Of Col Higginsons belief. as ex-
pressed in his Advice TO a Young Con-
tributor." that rewriting was the best
method to secure a good STYLE. This adj
vice. II will be remembered was a charm
AuE paper winch appeared IN the atlGntiC
Monthly many years ago. when men and
women. now in the mid-hour OF their
careers. were all young contributors"
and their voices. in the youthful freshness
of the dawn sounded like ''the earliest
pipe of half-awakened birds"
I had contrasted the esss visits theory
with that Of Harriet AIartinesu She held
that rewriting wasted time and strength.
and believed that one could be trained 10
throw the whole force into the first draft
ION the whole" said Octave Thanet. "a
master Of style would better be Needed
than one who is nothing OF the kind Col.
Higsinson IS "A master" Then she added.
with, fancied, half smile Of self-depre-
cation. "au of which is respectfully sub
mitted"
The interview by letter had come to an
end, but It's closing words brought back 10
me a pleasant memory OF a day when
sat In Octave Thanet's room, day when
she too. was young contributor" her
real name and sex still unknown TO the
public and she showed me letter from
Col Higginson, graduating her on one
Of her first stories, The Ogre OF Ha-Ha
Bav." Since that day faithfully she has
followed the vision splendid which dag
zles the eyes OF youth. knowing we'll that
only by hard. persistent pursuit over toll
some WAYS. VIII 81 be persuaded 70 keep
company with later life. and so only may
the worker become one OF "the purple
host who take the flag OF victory"
LILLE =. CHACE wYNAN