The news & observer., 1896-12-27

Harris If he found writing very hard
work.
No" replied "Uncle Remus," II write,
you see, aboat 2,000 words Of editorial
every day This | have been doing 80
long that it goes very easy. You take a
good subject, put your pen on the paper
and the editorial writes itself. My story
writing is done ut night / usually begin
1t after tea VIXEN the children have gone
TO bed. l then pick ap the story where
have left off and write away until bed
time"
How much OF this do you consider a
good evenings work I?
About one thousand words replied
Mr. Harris ''Such writing is easy for
me. / like il, and when / am tired from
my other work ] take it up and soon feel
rested It is rather amusing work, you
know, and does not require much care.
" / should think you would have to. re-
wise it over and over again"
No" on the contrary" was the reply,
II revise very little. / have not the
time, and the work is such that it does
not require it. 1t rs, think, work for
the day. / don't suppose it will last
"Is not dialect writing an invention of
recent yearsT'
'fYes," replied the great dialect writer
of the South. ''It seems so. Walter
Scott was among the first of our authors
who used ii largely. Burns wrote many
of his poems in dialect, and Tennyson,
| you know, wrote much dialect verse.
! Chsucer was written in the language OF
| his time, and it is curious that in some
respects the dialect used then was some
what the same as that OF the plantations
] to-day"
"UNCLE REMUS'S" BOOK LOVES
| Mr.. Harris has always been fond OF
! the old English classics. The simplicity
of his style was largely cultivated through
his study Of the great English authors
during his boyhood. As he talked thus
of Chaucer and other writer's | wondered
as to what books had most Influenced him
and | asked him to tell me something
Of his book loves, saying ! supposed the'
he read much.
~ read somewhat" was the reply
"But it is hard for rae 10 say what books
have had much effect upon my work
| When / bessn 10 set type on the planta-
| ton ! found that my employer had O
| large library. He kindly allowed me e
Borrow such books as ] wished, and
/ among those which | read FIRST was this
Vicar OF Wakefield It's simplicity de
! lighted noe, and read it again and again
| think l could to-day repeat pages of it
| / still read it and enjoy it, almost at
/ much as when I first saw 1t. 1t is sc
| genuine. you know. Another author
I whom | especially like is Sir Thoma:
/ Browne 1t is strange thing that
I though this man had library OF perhaps
/ two thousand volumes, embracing tht
1 works Of modern writer's. rs well as tht
English classics. | IN most eases tool
TO the classics.
THE BIBLE AND JUNGLE RE
MUS's" RELIGION.
Then another book that I read a gooc
deal" Mr.. Harris went on, is the Bible
! 1t is one OF the best books in literature
/ | like it and | read it more and more.
What portion do you read most?"
THE New Testament" replied '.UnclC
Remus." Il especially like Pauls Epis
/ ties and the Gospels. / am fond Of parts
! of the Old Testament. They seem TO fl
+ into my nature at certain times, and there
/ are hours when chapter or so OF Eccle
siastes seems especially appropriate"
BY the way, Mr.. Harris, what is your
religion. anyhow
/ Uncle Remus' thought moment ant
| then said rather soberly: That is a diff
fcult question to answer. hardly know
myself. / can only say ] believe in al
| good men and all good women ! should
not want TO live If had no faith in my
| fellow man"