Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-03
cvrlttcn Tor thc DIsDalch)

Nr. Thomas Nelson Page is now en-
eaecd in writing a story OF the Recon
trucuon period. Although he has been
for so many years q prominent figure in
tho world OF letters. his published work
occupies very uncomfortable rpace
upon his library shelves. Ten slender
,ommcs-a handsomely bound edition
gotten out for his wife-contam an that
De has ever given TO the public Intervals
OF entire suspension OF literary EFFORT
have been iutcrspcrscd throughput his
career. Then. too. no writer is moro
careful OF his reputation than is Mr.
Page. and numbers OF completed manu-
scripts ne by him which ne has never
orored for publication. simply because
they DO not reach his own high standard
x excellence.
In The beginning OF his authorship he
wrote rapidly. CHARS ChaA." was dashed
OF in a few evenings Now. however
he works mere slowly. retiring every
morning 20 his "den" in the upper part
% h.s beautiful Washington home. where
he remains at his desk until he feels
acecd.
.
sp.r1uon of hi9 early efforts. so is his
present wife his able coadjutcr. to- whom
De- submits al That be writes and whose
critical Judgment he regards as infallDlc
Mr. Page comes of the best stock. and
both horclity ana environment have con-
t.hutel 90 make him what ne u.s. Tho
Nelscns-from whom he is descended
through both parcuts-wcre distinguished
FOR strong, common sense and high re-
Id. H|.N o.
De iuher!tA his literary talents
lr DIS boyhood home. Oakland" m
Hanover county. Va. situated upon an
original grant from the Crown y Eng
hnd 10 The Colonial magnato. Thomas
Nelson there We're none but good BOOKS:
and 90 this, and also 10 the fact that he
vas surrounded from his birth by Gull
ilIel people. he owes most of his early
education. He WAS taught by his aunts
later, learning Latin in a dosultory fash
iou from his father. and acquired
reputation 600 his own small circle for
Ais quckness no figures. being frequently
called upon TO answer puzzing questions
lie iai also remarkably rctontlVe menu
Org, and learned the cOilects-as did Dr
Johnson-by merely reading them over.
one OF his aunts on the fathers side had
written novels. interviewer with moral
dissertations. and perhaps from her the
hTst suggestion Of authorship Was re-
celvcd. This lady was a charming racon-
tour. deliehung an who knew her with
her impromptu stories, but her pen once
in hand her gift deserted her, and her
style became sun and stiited. During the
war; as the sister-in-law Of General PEN
dlctou-Gcucral Lees chief Of artillery
she was frequently with the army. AMI
brought In touch with those bearing a
conspicuous part i'm the struggle A diary
in which events were written down I'm the
moment Of Transportation. was the result
of This experience. The account had am
the charm Of spOntancity; and. as an ac-
Curate record of occurrences. many OF
which were not generally known, would
have made am invaluable addition 10 the
history Of the period. After the war.
however, with the intention of publishing
81. the author rewr0te this account, SUBJ
sututing' for the glowing narrative a re-
visei version. couchcI In her most studied
Vlrasco.ogy. The work was rejected, and
when her friends asked for the MS. from
which the account had been taken they
were told that she had destroyed IT,
Another person who exercised am in-
fueuce over young Page during the forma-
tive period was the original Of My Cousin
Fannie" q clever old maid cousin, who
was in the habit OF making annual visits
t0 the ueiehhorhood. and who taught his
brothers and himse,f 20 waltz. and intro
luced other "friyol ties" among them.
Tndl the hreakitg ont of the war the
boys spent their time after the manner Of
happy southern children Of that period
playing about the fields with the young
negroes OF the plantation as their COM
rani0ns or listening 10 the tales Of their
elders around the cabin fire.
When Sunday came marbles tops. and
strings We're put away. and, rain or
shine" the family carriage with four
horses or as many mules attached. was
brought ont 10 take them 90 "Tho Forks
Cen miles on 10 church.
IDEAS OF WAR.
Their ideas of war were formed from
the old Testament accounts OF ST. where
women and children were put TO dealh
and whispered rumors NJ the approaching
conflict filed them with terror by way
o. ure1arati0n. they provided themselves
with guns OF "Uncle Balia's" monuiac-
ture. ana. forming military company OF
the little negroes about the place. put
themselves in command of it, and drilled
fesidu0usly.
Oakland was situated between two Of
tie main roads lea ding 10 Richmond. and
flr two winters the Army of Northern
Virginia was encampei near Il. The tu-
tlfe author. therefore though only 5
years old when 80 began. saw and heard
much of the war. 10 was rather as
vivid panorama. however, that II i'm
pressed his youthful mind, the reflex or
ite deeper significance and antecedent
conditions being caught from the CONVEX
satlon OF his elders after peace had been
restored. 10 was the custom of ladies' az
that time 90 bring their work, and spend
long days with each other. and as mas
mother and her friends talked. he LISTEN
ei and absorbed. After the war came
haud-to-hand flight With poverty, and
Young PAGE worked in the fields. MIXED
the COWS. and tended the cattle. Then in
the evening. crouched upon the hearth
rug. with bis head buried I'm his hands.
be devoured the books which came into
his way by the Light Of pine knots
j. was his fathers chief desire that his
bows should be educated, and for time
Thomas Nelson attended "a school az
'Fdgewooi." the old Berkeley homestead
walking q distance of five miles cacn
waD where Pee studied under the direc-
zion Of his kinsmau, Professor Charles J..
G. Minor. In 1855 be- went TO Washington
College now Washington and Lee Uni
yersity) living in the family Of his uncle
Row w y Pcndleton. who served during
the war az Lees chief of artillery. There
ne conceived the ambition 20 be a great
speaker At first he had difficulty IN
steadyng HIS voice and his knees but by
repeated efforts he oyercame this nervous
trepidauon; and, at the close or the
scholastic year. carried off the orators
medal
His first attempt az authorship was an
acrostc written when he was child,
IA. horn