The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-06-26

Mr.. Mabie's letter, giving the titles
of the prize winning stories, is in full.
as follows:
| June 8, 1895
Gentlemen:-I have read the stories sub
mitted to me in typewriter manuscript
| with special regard to dramatic interest.
inventiveness, novelty, and simplicity
and directness of style. In my judgment,
the story which combines these qualities
| In the highest degree is that entitled "Thc
Long Arm" Next In order of excellence l
| should place that entitled 1.-THE Twlnkling
| of an Eye" Yours very truly.
HAMLINTON w. MABIE.
Messrs. Bachelor, johnson &: Bachelor.
When the sealed envelopes were
| opened 1t was found that the author of
''The Long Arm" was Miss Mary T..
Wilkins" the well-known writer of
| stories Of New England life and char
| acter. Miss Wilkins had in this in
stance worked In collaboration with
Joseph Edgar Chamberlin, of the edi-
torial staff of the YOUTHS Companion.
Mr.. Chamberln Is widely known also
as the Listener" Of the Boston Tran
script
The author of "The Twinklng of an
Eye" was discovered to be Professor
Brander Matthews of Columbia col
lege.
Miss Mary Il. Wilkins, who has thus
boldly entered a field hitherto entirely
foreign to her, and has taken first rank
In 1t at the first attempt. was born in
Randolph, Mass. She lived for some
time In Brattleboro, VT, but on the
death of her parents returned to Ran
do'ph, which has since been her home.
Miss wilkins wrote verses almost as
early as she could talk. Her first Sc
rious literary efforts were in the direc-
tion of children's stories. Afterward
she became a contributor to the Har-
perS' publications. Probably her
strongest work is "Pemb,oke" Next
that she herself ranks "A New Eng
land Nun" and Jane Field" The Rev.
Dr. Phillips Brooks pronounced "A
Humble Romance" the best short story
ever written. Her understanding of
New England life and grasp of New
England character have given her a
worldwide reputation.
Professor Brander Matthews the win
ner Of the second prize, who is professor
of English litera ture at Columbia col
lege, was born in New Orleans in 1852.
He was graduated from Columbia col
lege in 1871. and from the law school of
that institution two years later. He
has written copiously for the maga-
zines under his own name and that of
Arthur Penn He is the author of
THE Theaters of Paris" "French
Dramatists," "Vignettes Of Manhat-
TAM "1n a Vestibule Limited" "a
Tale of Treasure Trove in the Streets
of New York." 1.-THE Royal Marine" Z"
This Picture and That" and other VOL
umes. Professor Matthews is also the
author of several plays. "A Gold Mine"
was played by Mr.. Nat Goodwin with
success, and "On Probation" was writ
ten specially for Mr.. w. II. Crane.
Mr.. John II. Boner, who brought the
fifty manuscripts down to thirteen, is
Month Carolinian by birth. He was
formerly member of the staff of the
Century Dictionary. Afterward he be-
came literary editor of the New York
World, and is now editor of the Lit
erary Digest. He Is a constant con-
has published a volume, of poems,
Whispering Pines"
Hamilton w. Mabie. LII. D.. who
made the final decision, was born at
Cold Spring. N. Y. in 1S45. He grad
uated at Williams College, and entered
journalism. He Joined the staff of the
Outlook the Christian Union). in
1879, and became its associate editor
five years later. Mr.. Mabie is without
question one of the three or four lead
ing critics of the country. Among his
volumes of literary criticism are MY
Study Fire" Essays in Literary In
terpretatian," and Short Stories in
Literature" He is a frequent con-
tributor to the magazines and reviews.
and also a constant deliverer of liter
ary addresse before the colleges and
other literary bodies. His permanent
home is at Summit, ~ j., where he
lives about half the year Besides his
critical and editorial work, he has writ
ten much concerning nature and out
door life
Among the well-known writers who
submitted stories in competition for the
prize We're Anna Katherine Green, au-
thor of "The LeavenwOrth Case" Flor
ence Marryat, Dufiield Osborne, Rob-
ert w. Chambers, author of 1.-THE King
in Yellow" Howard Fielding and
others.
Stories worthy of honorab BILE mention
were written by John Seymour Wood,
of the University club, New York city;
II. Lynde, of Richmond, Ind: Edgar
Thormet Roy, of New York city, and
David Skeets Foster, of Utica, N. Y.
Too much cannot be said in praise Of
the average merit of the stories sub
mitted. A mass of good material was
piled in upon the syndicate, and the
task of selection was no easy one.
The competition disclosed many in
teresting features, especially the trend
of thought of the writer's on the sub
jects assumed to be the basis of de-
tective story.
The great fault with numbers of
the stories was the announcement in
the first paragraph that crime had
been committed and the immediate
introduction of the astute detective,
who proceeded to umravel the mystery.
Such a bold treatment was not calcu-
lated to afford an opportunity for
ANE''