The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-23

beside the church, that high slate roof
with red chimneys.
Here / am at the home of the author
OF The Nabob" and "Sappho," in the
little study from which l can see the
immense garden, sloping toward the
river. which. far below looks like a
long thread of silver Bordering the
green carpet OF the lawn.
Here Daudet works at a high desk.
winch can see encountered with
sheets OF writing paper covered with
that peculiar writing, little trem-
bling, In which are revealed the uncer-
families OF the poet and the novelist's
strange power OF fancy.
The painful nervous malady from
which he has suffered for almost ten
years has left him a little emaciated.
giving TO his dark eyes a fire so ar
dent that at instances It troubles and
disconcerts you.
Without doubt. my dear friend" he
said to me, Il am better; but / often
suffer still. and i am Obliged to lean
on this cane to walk. In spite of all
i have learned to bless my suffering.
since for so long have endured IL. You
do not suspect the extraordinary clear
ness that this nervous tension has Civ
en-, at times TO my brain; the power of
observation. intuition even, which at
certain moments have felt! And then.
i have been able to study pain so well,
not only in myself, but i'm all the other
sufferers among whom have lived, i'm
the watering places I have visited.
What curious and interesting studies
of suffering! For suffering, with every
human being, exhibits a different state
of mind. which varies in a manner. ac-
cordfng TO the rofession or situation OF
the sufferer. The priest, the soldier. the
merchant, do not suffer the same way
but all this we will talk of later; YOU
have doubtless come 10 ask for some
Information about the book I am writ
ting?"
Yes. indeed. for a book by the au-
thor of the Kings in Exile is always
literary event"
"One evening, when I had to dine
with me Goncourt, lola. Charpentier
and several other friends-that was
long ago, for IL was in 1882 If | remem-
ber-we talked a long time Of the du-
ties OF the writer. apropos of a novel
or either Zola's or mine, / 40 not re-
member exactly. which had appeared
and aroused vehement criticism. Sud
denly, there appeared. with a clearness
that disturbed me. the responsibility
which rests upon writers who enjoy
the favor of the public. The moral |
force which they exert Is too great for !
them TO forget in writing. the power |
that they WELD. On that day / prom |
ised myself never 10 write a book with |
out an aim. 1t seemed to me that there \
were In our society so many innocents |
10 aVenge, so many powers TO demolish. |
so many high moral causes to defend /
tried; IL was with this idea that 7 |
wrote The Evangelist 10 avenge a
poor woman who came TO me TO tell /
now fanatics had taken her daughter
from her.
The poor creature has been dead but
short time. Some friends and NV
self settled a small pension on her
When we buried her, her daughter stiu
hypnotized by her religious mysticism
did not even follow her coffin. / have
dreamed of writing a book like Uncle
Toms Cabin the famous story OF Mr.
Beecher Stowe. There are so MANY
white negroes around u.s. But I saw
very quickly that all the roads we're
occupied and that II was necessary,
merely TO follow. The negroes are try
ng 10 emancipate themselves. and the
BEST causes have too many CHAMPIONS
have horror Of initiating others. ana
have returned 10 the simple progress
which has always served me-wlthout
however, forgetting the moral purnosa
which / mentioned to YOU.
"My process, you know. IS 10 take "A /
act Of real life. which / have observed
md relate IL: IL should bear In ttseIf
Is moral and its teaching The hook ,
which ! am preparing. lie Soutlen de
'aTnilIe,' opens with the letter exactly.