The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-09-27

popular magazines which have sprung
UP during recent years i'm England; the
EXpOSitor, a theological monthly which
is widely known in America; and last,
but not least, the Bookman, of which
there is an American edition
Besides carrying on these publica-
tons, DR.. Nicodl is constantly devising
great literary schemes such as the
"EXpoSitors Bible to which the most
distinguished writers of the day con-
tribute. He acts as literary adviser to
Messrs. Holder & Stoughton's publish
ing firm, and it is in this capacity that
he has won his unrivalled reputation
as a. discoverer of neWSwTtcer DR..
Robertson Nicoll holds a. unique posi-
ton in his own country as a critic, and
perhaps there is no man whose judg-
ment would be more implicitly trusted
by publishers. His contri buttons are
eagerly sought after, and although his
own special work occupies the great r
part of his time, he OCCASIONALLY writes
reviews for the leading London dailies.
These meagre outlines give some idea.
of the facts that were in my mind when
[ went to interview DR.. Nicoll. Our
conversation naturally opened with a,
reference to his Forthcoming tour in
America. [ inquired what was the OBJ
ject of his visit and how long it would
be likely TO last.
There is no special object" Dr.
Nicotl replied, except that we wish
to see America, and to get a good Holt
day. We hope also 30 meet some
American people whose names are
known TO US. 1 look forward with in
terest to seeing something of the book
and newspaper trade of the United
States. Mr.. Barrie has special reasons
for the visit, as ONE of the least of his
plays will probably be produced in New
York. Both as am author and dramatist
he has received the greatest kindness
and appreciation from America. 1.-THE
Professor Love Story was particular
ly successful in the states.
Have you formed any programme
of visits?"
eve have had many kind invita-
tions," said Dr. Nicou, but we are
waiting until we arrive before making
definite arrangements. We shall at
once go from New York to Ottawa on
the invitation of Lord Aberdeen. The
governor general and Lady Aberdeen
start for British Columbia early in Oc-
tobeT' and that is why VIC are to go to
them in the first place"
when do you expect to return to
2"
81 shall only be in America. a. few
weeks, but possibly Mr. and Mrs Barrie
may stay longer. 1t will depend on
circumstances.
next asked Dr. Nicoll to tell me some
of his experience as a literary discover
er. and especially about his early con-
nection with Mr.. Barrie. DR.. Nlcoll,
however, astonished me by the remark
that in the proper sense of the word
he had never discovered anyone. a
discoverer of a writer" he said, lis the
editor or publisher who picks out
from the contributions sent
to him and in this way brings out a
rev writer What 1 have done has been
to help on some writers who had al
ready made a more or less obscure De-
ginning This is in no sense discovery,
and 1 have always strongly disclaimed
the title of discoverer. AS regards Mr..
Barrie. if he had any discoverer at
all. it was Mr. Frederick Greenwood,
who first accepted some AUD LIGHT
Idylls' for the St. James Gazette, what
7 did was to induce Mr.. Barrie to
choose a name and TO sign his writings,
and afterwards helped him 10 get them
published in book form
..Wha. was the first of Mr.. Barrie s
writings that attracted your notice?'
Il read with much interest an anony-
nous article in the Edinburgh Even
ing Dispatch; L FOUND out lHe dulllOA,
and asked him to call on me. AT that
time the British Weekly was about
six months old, and 1 found that Mr.
Barrie had already read several num-
bers. He was willing to contribute, ana
his sketches signed Gavin Ogilvy' be
gan to appear almost at once. The
whole history of my connection with
him is fully and generously explained IN
the preface to Messrs. Scribner's edl-
ton de luxe of the ''Auld LIGHT ldylls.
but surely you may claim to have
discovered Miss Jane Barlow
.oThere again." said DR.. Nicoll, Il
was attracted to the writer by work
which had appeared in an obscure form,
Miss Barlow's first book, Bigland Stud
les, which was published at her own
expense in an edition of 250 copies After
this, it occurred to me that
she might do for Ireland such work
as Mr.. Barrie had done for Scotland.
Accordingly 1 sent her a copy of "A
Window in Thrums, and asked If she
would try some idylls. The result was
Ter well known volume of Irish Idylls,'