New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-27

THE Manyman' was written III tnc isic v.
Man. where, by prolonged residence, he was satu-
rated with the spirit Of the place and the charac-
teristic genius Of its traditions. Every true
Manxman recognized In him a brother with racy
qualities smackng Of the soil, and every gray
haired grandmother opened for him the treasury
Of her memory He was one of the natives, and
was a welcome guest at any humble board where
herrings and potatoes were served and pipes were
filed and renlled while stories were told He
was always ready to listen to the ManX tales, ana
the cottagers and fishermen considered IL a priVi-
lege to repeat their oldest and choicest stores 10
the man who could discern in them imag'natioh'
poetry, humor homey virtue and profound re-
ligious ideas. Living among them In familiar IN
timacy and writing at leisure in his quaint nome
in a little town the brink OF the sea. ne mace
book in which the deepest and truest tones OF
local color were reproduced The ironical talk
the manners the superstitions. the religious con-
victions. the commonplace philosophy and the
Imagination Of the people were In 1t. Some OF
the natives themselves in the book. dis
guised more less ingeniously. but not 40 ef-
fectivey as to escape identification by observing
friends.
Hall Game Is now In the prime Of life, tall but
not robust with hazel eyes dark. chestnut hair
and beard and a thoughtful face. He is without
ancctation or mannersms. and receives his
friends and visitors with simplicity and genuine
cordiality. He is sngularly free from envy and
Jealousy, and has naught but good to gay OF his
brother novelists He Is a dramatic story-teiler,
acting out the dialogue with animated gesture
and mimicry OF tone When he is once thorough
" aroused his eyes fash. his voice deepens and
his conversation fairly sparkles with flashing cpl
grams No one be with him long without
feeling the intensity. earnestness and religious
feryor OF the man. Books that live. he recent
~ said. must be sound in their moral basis. A
book that is unsound is bad art: il Will die quick
w." He writes what may be called novels OF
emotion and he makes the stories dramatic and
insists upon having the characters men and
women Of real flesh and blood. who act naturally
and consistently albeit not always morally; Dut
he is not a writer who ever ventures to outrage
conscience by disc,alming moral responsibility for
his work Indeed there Is something almost He
brac in the intensity OF his religious ideas and IN
his recognition of fundamental moral principles.
Mr. Gaines pallid face reveals tendencies To In
firm health, and he has delicate nervous organi-
cation which is readily upset He Is most Ia
borous worker l asked him whether he found
IL easier 10 write as the years passed NO he
said: "every new novel requires more time ana
labor than the last" He writes, rewri'cs. re-
vses and corrects his manuscripts THE Manx-
| man. cost him more effort than anything else
that he has produced. He plans stories with
| great facility. In the course OF an afternoon ne
will tell two or three stories which he has made
ND during the hours OF a sleepless night and
whoever listens will say: Those good plots
for novels" But ne will only shake his head
with smile and reply: Il can never write all
nv stories II takes only little time TO plan
| them but many weary months Of intense labor
| 10 fll them out" The making OF stories in skele-
| ton or outline is one Of his favorite recreations
| II is what he enjoys more than anything else.
| Mr. Caine complains bitterly OF the conduct II
some American publishers in reprinting some OF
| his earlier and cruder works. written during ms
literary apprenticeship and selling them on the
strength of the reputation OF The ManxInan'
| Not only does he receive no compensation Tor
| these editions OF works. which are not sold mere
under his name, but he also IL sensible OF the IN
Justice Of having these youthful books proclaimed
| as the latest publications Of the author OF The
Manxman." He surprised me by telling me how
little he had received for his books from Arneri-
| can publishers until The Manxman" was
brought out by the Appletons. Several OF MS
| best works he feels. have never been properly
presented to the American public. owing to lack
OF revison and careless proofreading. The
Scapegoat" he regards az a book which is pecul-
|
ideas with which Americans will naturally be In
sympathy: and he welcomes a new and author
lied edition which will properly present II for In
tegent judgment.
II was with kindlng eye and eager face that MI.
Game showed me large collection OF photo
graphs Of scenery, cottages and people IN the Isle
Of Man, pausng every few minutes to enlarge
uron the natural beauty OF the country or 10 tell
some story Of his relations with the cottagera
and fishermen He speaks Of the island with the
warmest affection. and his love OF the people Is
heartily reciprocated By them In regard for him
He is the hero Of the Manxmen. They know that
he has lifted the island out OF obscurity ana
brought It within the range OF human syinpa-
thies They throng about him when ne crosses
from the mainland o nd receive him with the high
est tokens of distinction. He could be elected
Governor, Bishop. Deemster. or almost anything
IL the sympathetic and grateful Islanders were
allowed to exercise democratic prerogative. But
| he does not go among them In search or honors
and compliments. but only to listen to their stories
and to work quietly in Castle Greeba. reading
and fishing little and writing from sunrise until
noon
| He sets out for the island this week 10 pass the
summer In completing new story which VIII Dc
different from anything that he has yet under
taken He has not exhausted his Manx material
He says that he could not do that II he were t(
spend lifetime In writing Manx stories H'
apprehends. however danger from overworkinf
the same field, and has decided. probably wisely
to abandon the ground. at least temporarily. hi'
| new story will be modern and English. the mar
scenes being enacted In London. In Septemoe
Mr. Game Is to visit America for recreation nn'
rest l. n. r.