The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-04-26


VI. G, as second class matter.
81 April 20, 1896.
s.@.saas.--1a..-
LITERARY NOTES.
Aa satisfactory Lover is the
--latest ne1ei by The Duchess, published
81 i +. Iippincott &Co., Philadel-
phia. Price, 80 cents. Tt is the best
Of the late novels By this popular
syriter.
Alaska needs no instruction as to the
position of the New Woman. THE wo-
man III Alaska is the superior being.
The child belongs to the mothers
totem, or clan, and, if tribal war occurs,
he fights on his mothers side. Thus
writes Mary G. De Nore, Tia an Illus
trated sketch OF s'Child Life in Alaska,
in the Sunday School Times.
Robert Louis Stevenson was asked
now you could tell good literature
when you saw: 1T is capable of ex-
PLANTATION, think, he said; when you
see words used 10 the best purpose
no waste, going tight around a subject.
Also they must be true. My stories are
not the truth, but / try to make nay
characters act as they would act in
life. No detail is too small to study
tor truth Lloyd and / spent five DAYS
weighing money and making calcua-
9ions f0f the treasure found III The
Wreeker'
-
Robert Louis Stevenson was a great
reader Of trash: that is, if it was bad
enough To be funny In the April
Scribner's Isabel Strong this step
daughter and secretary writes: I'VE
went into big shop and had picked
out an arInful Of books. a young clerk
came Up f0 Louis with great respect
and recognition in his eye. What have
you been getting. Mr. Stevenson he
asked. We have all the best authors
Meredith, Barrie, Ansty--, and then his
countenanee changed; lie cast a more
reproachfui, disappointed look at Louis
as lie read the titles Of the chosen
works The Sin Of Of a Countess.
Miriam, the Avenger,' THE Lady De-
5ectiVe lie retired and took no furth-
er interest In US. We felt it keenIy.''
Robert Hichens, the author of "An
Imaginative Man. is thirty years OF
age As a boy. says writer III the
Critic, he was devoted To music, though
he manifested early a distinct gift for
writing. AZ the age off III he had COM
pleted b novel and found Il publisher
Coz - On leaving Clifton Mr. Kitchens
had his choice between going to Ok
ford Oh the Royal College OF Music in
1souaon ard chose the latter. During
his course there he studied the organ
and the piano. After finishing his
tine there he proceeded to David An
derson's School of Journalism, where
be worked for about year, picking up
d good many useful wrinkles He
then started life as lyric writer, pro-
sducing some 200 or 300 copies of verses
for music. His readiness in this re-
Fspecr Is proved by a story told by Fitz
Roy Gardner, editor Of Woman. When
geing to press with his Christmas num-
her Mr. Gardner found himself half q
page short Of matter and sent mes
seneer round to Mr.Hichens asking il
lie could let him have some lyrics Of a
christmas character to fill the space.
The editor looked to get them IN the
course Of a day or two, but in an hour
the mess niger returned with the copy
freshly aritten and d note Of apology
from A.r Kitchens for having kept the
boy so long, as he could not az first
1hink of an idea. The verses were
both accomplished and graceful.
Here Il the history Of the evolution
of ChiInmie Fadden 1t started with
an attempt to- write sunday special
and one story led to another, Hunt
MP that little Bowery chap sou wrote
about. said the city editor after the
first sketch appeared, and give ns
some more about him. On Mr Town
sends replying hes an Imaginary
characetr, the city editor reJolned
Well imagine some more about MN
MIR Townsend relates how the follow
ing Incident put him on Chimn1e's
track i feW days before he wrote the
first story for the sun: II was VISIT
ang d mission where some ladies were
giving 4 dinner 10 tenelnent-house
children which / was to report. mo-
ticed one little fellow near me gulp
down piece IF pie i'll about two bites
The young lady ia charge, VINO seemed |
10 he on very good terms with the boys
and assumed Il pIetty a as #osatsel4a-
ship. nas standing by and saw the Pie |
disappear She leaned over and SAID, |
with 4 Biz of the boys manner for good |
Fellowship. Mould you like another |
piece II can sneak itg His eyes |
Frightened. She brought the pic and |
placel IT before him with little con-
iidenfia whisper is though IT were q
special favor OF which he was not to |
tell. AS she did so the boy leaned over |
and kissed her hand. II must haze
gaeen The innate gentleman N him. no |
one could have taught hinE Il may be |
that he had seen q courtier 90 u on |
some bowery stage but think it was
8usf his own natural tribute. That /
was my 4irst insight into the BoWery |
character lit set me thinking aud |
when / wanted to write i special /
used the people had seen, making up /