The herald., 1896-01-12
TALKS WITH Travellers
Men of Standing Now in South.
ern California
JAMES, STEWART FAIRBAlRN
Views Of an English Journalist, Critic
and DeyOtee of Chess
An AustraIasian En- Route Discourses Briefly
on Tasmania, Its Condition and Prod
ucts-Puget Sound Lumber

James Stewart Fairbairn, journalist,
critic and devotee of chess, is enjoying the
delights of winter in Southern California.
Mr.. Fairbairn is one of the oldest members
of the editorial staff of the London Times,
his chief work or the great daily was
mainly done, however, in the days of the
brilliant Delane. He is over 70, but his
stalwart figure, swinging stride and youth
full manners make him look very much
like his departed friend, Charles Reade.
Full of anecdotal "reminiscences of Tom
Hood, Walter Savage Landor, Shelly,
Lytton, Dickens, Thackeray, Mark Lemon,
Shirley Brooks and other shining lights
who formed part of that brilliant set of
wits and literati which made the Savage
club so famous forty years ago, the hurried
chat at the depot yesterday was much en-
joyed. Among other things he said:
"Taken altoge her, the American press
was the triumph of all that was best in jour-
nalism; the issues of the smaller cities ex-
hibiting as much editorial ability as the
great dailies of the larger ones. The
bluster of some American journals, and
the ridiculous pomposity of many English
ones count for nothing. This mighty re-
public is admired and, may say, beloved,
of every Englishman of intelligence, and
by none more than the urobt-usive men,
bers Of Great Britain's most ancient aris-
tocracy. The election of Lecky as men,
Der of parliament for tina univer-
sity of Dublin pleased me greatly
it is we'll deserved recognition of one of
her most distinguished sons. | was dis
appointed in the selection of Austin for the
laureatship. My fret choice was Swim.
burne, then Morris. Since George Eliots
death we have produced no great novel.
The neurasthenc creations of women
writer's have, to my mind, scarcely pass
ing value, while even the clever stories of
Stevenson, Haggard, Kipling and Conan
Doyle can scarcely be said to have en-
hanced the value of our literature. 1t may
seem unpatriotic and rank heresy, but
enjoy Holmes, Lowell. and last, but not
least, that charming Tennsssenn, Miss
Murfree, above them all,and he laughingly
added, as the train pulled out for nearby
station. do not exclude the fashionable
Scotch story tellers, peat fires, haggis.
cock-a-leekie and bastard Calvinsm mixed,
notwithstanding.
James Mcfarland, well-known Puget
sound lumberinan, is visiting relatives on
Hill street. He said: "There are some
signs of improvement in the demand for
lumber SO patiently awaited by Washing
ton operators, and bope next spring more
remuneratve prices will be current There
u fair demand for finished lumber, doors
and sashes for Delagoa bay and other ports
in South Africa, some large shipments hav-
ing been made recently from Tacoma, Sc
attie and Everett, but owing to keen COM
petition by British Columbia manufact-
urers, the margin is so small as barely to
amount to a reasonable interest on the
capital employed"
Among quite number of AustralasIans
oyostart2ay' . overland wAs Angus Cams