The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-06-20
NEW ORLEANS LITERARY FAME
Chicago Times Herald.

Chicago Times Herald
Boston may be the literary confer OF
the East, but New Orleans Is the Athens OF
the South. Whether or no literature is n
plant which flourishes best IN sunshine
1t is undcniably true that Of late years
Southern topics ana Southern writer's have
come greatly TO the fore. New orleans has
been especially favored. Gayrre, Gable,
Lafcadlo Hean. Grace King. Molie Il. NJ.
Davis the BIsland sisters. Catherine Cole,
Mrs. Nicholson, Henry Fletcher, Ruth Me
Emery Stuart-these and others have linked
their fame indissolubly with the traditions
OF the quaint old city on the yellow river.
1t is said that once in his life every man
writes verse--whcu he first falls in love.
But in the life Of anyone who spends April
in New orleans comes The same impulse OF
singing words. II is in the soft rose per
TUNED air. Just AS the glamour OF romance
is over all the tangled, narrow streets OF
the French quarter
Perhaps the great American novel may
never come out OF New Orleans, but the
great American play surely may" said
Grace King one sunshiny afternoon. when
white and yellow butterflies held special
rendezvous on her smooth lawn and poetry
breathed with every breeze whisper IN
the magnolia tops.
what do mean? only that everything
is dramatic here. Take the story OF the
malta. for Instance. Was there ever more
weird. and dreadful drama I'm this country
of ours? The sUaid Aoriherners VINO come
here calm and cool soon change their ways
TO the quick. dramatic time Of New Or
leans. 1t may be atmosphere 1t 49, per
haps. but the stirring instinct OF the
drama is always here.
Miss King Is one OF the foremost writer's
In the Crescent city, Her Balcony stories
Tales of a Time and Piece, New Or
leans and Its People are books KNOWN III
all parts OF the country. She is sweet
ana modeet gentlewUmRn, very strenuous
about refusing to Sc iltervlewprs, and Ut
t,rly true 10 her art. History is her espe-
dial delight, and one of her WORKS, a history
Of Louisiana. Is used as text ppoh IN tue
schools. ITS almost az sooi Natlhs az u
novel. too." confessed hlSh school eltI
TO the chronicler OF such IS Mics hinb
serit.s She breathes unon the dry-as-l aust
narratives and they glow with true hre'
Her home Is "a ohgrnling one As silu4-
inn and taste can make IT, Tine non. Bate
a. Ven, vigorously locked, but smart Try
nj its bell brings white-capped ersan,,
who tisheTs the visitors through snhny
,.gallary" and cool hall into long drawing
$3.50 nniIns. books, paintings and won
A. mi hrlr- A. brac On the wall Is large
nortrait Of Gaycrre. the historian friend OF
,ha author. who has dedicated her last pook
~ Ma memory. Nine. Gayerre lives with
w,ss King. Il Is charming southern
henseho,d, and the author herself. slight
fair. arstosraiic, Is that rarity---a person
aIi,y-which dts her books.
Wit Aiiss King gays OF the dramatic
,,ossibilitifs Of New Orleans is true-ann
~ h delightful conveTsationaiist. Al
~ livery ono there with taste for letters
~ inclinine towards the writing OF play.
y nd The people themselves seem strangely
ofrsn like emotional actors IN afana.
Here, whother II DO " dictaunS W 'as S'''S