The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-15
WILL BE A TREAT.
The Readings of "Chimmte Fadden"
Townsend and Others.

st. Paul people who love literature will have
an opportunity tomorrow night that should
be seized at the ''food-tide' At that time at
the Peoples church, will appear In readings
from their own works three of the best of the
youngest writer's of the day, Edward w.
Townsend, Mrs. Ruth McEnery Stuart and
John Kendrck Bangs Their coming has long
been awaited, and their public appearance
will partake Of the nature of a social event.
There is little to be added to the general
pulc information about them.
John Kendrick Bangs is a literary man to
the manor born. He inherited literary ten
denotes which were so strong that he soon
gave up his studies for the bar, to which his
lawyer-father had consecrated him. His first
ventures with the pen were offered to Life,
and were So acceptable that he soon became
an associate editor of that publication. This
was in 1884; in 1856 appeared his first book,
"Reger Camerden,' and in 1888 Mr.. Bangs
formed the editorial relations with Harpers
publications which are still In force. He has
written great many works, including poems,
satires, farces, travesties, stories and juven-
lie things. All have been eagerly taken by the
reading public; and not yet in the prime Of
life the author of Coffee and Repartee" finds
himself famous in his generation as writer
of pure refined and unadulterated humor.
Before 1892 Edward w. Townsend was
known in San Francisco as brilliant news
paper and the writer of clever stories.
In that year he drifted to New York and took
a position on the Suns reportorial force. His
assignments led him into the tenement dis
trict and aroused his interest in the life
this interest was evolved the "Chimmie Fad
dem books, about which every one Rows all
there is to say. Their bright humor, their
simple philosophy and accuracy of descrip-
ton and narrative patent to all who
read them. Mr.. Townsends latest published
work excepting numerous short stories and
sketches is "A Daughter of the Tenements."
This and "Chimme' have been successfully
dramatized Mr.. Townsend is so young and
his work is so full Of promise that it is likely
that his future will bring forth writing which
will add to his reputation 81
Mrs Ruth McEnery Stuart is a daughter
of the South who finding herself dependent
upon her own resources after her husband
death, took up her pen for gain rather than
fame. Both have come to her, and the nu-
merous circle of her readers are not disposed
to regret the dependence which has given
them so much pleasure. Her stories of New
Orleans and the Sunny South-the country
she knows and loves-are intensely interest
ing. They are written in the language, or
rather the vernacular of the scenes The dia-
lect is not of that justly condemned over
done kind, but of just a sort that seems to
be demanded by the story and its inviron-
ment. 1.-The people l write about says Mrs
Stuart talk that way and l don't see how
to make them do otherwise"
Mrs. Stuart devotes much of her time to
public readings from her works, in which she
is very successful. In this respect she IS
like her colleagues, who, in their readings
give to their writings that something which
every author feels he cannot embody in
words