The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-11-26
THE "BRoWNIE" MAN.
which Have Made Him Nationally
Famous--A Talk with This
Literary Genius.

pleasing stories Of the Brownies, than any
other man who has ever entered the Held
Eof babyland or childrens literature.
A man who loves children and does
things to please them rs universally liked
by everybody except, perhaps, by crusty old
bachelors and vinegary old maids. and
therefore the vast majority OF people will
be interested In knowing how and why
Mr.. Cox hit upon theme that has 50
much contributed to the pleasure Of the
children and at the same time interested
older people.
A Post reporter called on Mr.. Cox be-
hind the scenes last night, after he had
drawn his portrait Of the Brownie for the
edlHcation of hts audience, and asked him
to tell how and why he came to write OF
the Brownies. Il was literary worker"
said Mr.. Cox, land was engaged In writing
juvenile stories for nearly all periodicals
aud magazines that publish that character
of stories. lived in San Francisco at that
time, about twenty years ago. but moved
to New York because 1t afforded me better
facilities for producing the illustrations for
all my stories. While working in New York
was casting about for theme that
could work up In extenso; in fact that
could write on as a continued story, when
hit upon the Brownie idea. 1t is an old
Scotch legend that the Brownies were
spirits. similar to the fairies They we're
different from the idea or legend Of the
old English gnomes. in that they were kind
aud helpful little fellows and delighted In
performing little acts of hepfulness TO the
good housewife or the farmer All that was
needed to keep in the good graces OF the
Brownies was to leave, where they could
get 1t, bowl OF cream. Then they would
delight in performing ell sorts OF unfin
ished tasks. from knitting a pair of socks
TO harvesting and storing the farmers
grain. The old Scotch farmers fully be-
lieved In the existence of the Brownies up
TO about 400 years ago, when the legend
died out entirely, except in the folk lore
preserved by them. The Brownie was sup
posed to be spirit aud invisible TO every
one except clsirvoyant or person gifted
with second sight and declared he was
tanned by the sun, hence the name Brownie
"a little brown fellow. never saw the
picture Of a Brownie and only knew from
the old folk lore that they were supposed
to be small, so the picture of the Brownie,
as drew him. Is entirely original. AS OPP
posed to the idea that he was snome as
an evil spirit, I drew him to represent a
little funny fellow with cbild's face, no
hair, and pudsy little belly. He Is sup
posed to have big. scared eyes and looks
ready to run or work. The Brownie Is not
supposed to know that he is spirit and
therefore can not be harmed 50 they
scamper out of danger as quickly as a
mortal and II gave me opportunity for
many funny situations in my stories and
the grouping of my illustrations. con-
ceived the idea of having these little men
go In bands with the intention of per-
forming kind acts everywhere, and their
adventures in crossing rivers and forests
also gave me opportunity to widen the
scope Of my Brownie stories. In the de-
velopment OF the Brownie idea also finally
produced the Brownie Trshman, Chinaman
and the Brownie dude and Brownie Uncle
Sam and also 10 represent many other
characters. Their dialogues would then
proclaim the nationality of the Brownie
for I never tabled any OF them allowed
their dress and dialect to do that and the
children have delighted In watching for
the next Brownie who would appear on the
scene. ] wrote all my Brownie stories in
verse and while they were amusing to the |
children they were also Instructive to-
grown people, as I filled them fun OF hui
man philosophy, spothegms aphorisms and |
original ideas on human conduct, frailt!es |
and foibles and nearly all OF them con- |
tanned a moral, For instance have pointed |
out in my stories how the farmer, sick in |
bed, was unable to harvest his crop, and |
1t was done on a single night by band OF |
Brownies. Next morning when he would |
look out OF his window he-syas astonished |
to see what had been done and would, |
when he recovered, go about thanking his |
neighbos for kind action that they were |
entirely guiltless OF. but which taught them |
a much needed lessen in neighborly con-
duct. Thus have carried the Brownie idea |
through all phases of life and human con-
duct and ! must say 1t has made a hit |
with both young and old. When wrote |
my first Brownie sketch fifteen years ogo
IN New York ! remarked to friend that |
II IT did not make hit. was incapable
of doing so with my pen. Every phase OF |
the Brownie idea has come to me like an
inspiration. and 1t Is the easiest work I |
ever did. may be at q reception, or In a |
crowded hotel or street. but the little
Brownies come to me everywhere and
whisper to me the words OF the verse In |
which tell their story to eager. listening
childish ears or to the minds OF maturer
age, which grasp the moral, when told OF
heir sins OF omission and commission. nv
having the Brownies perform the acts OF
kindness they themselves have omitted.
There was such demand for the Brownie
literature and Illustrations that saw II
Was necessary FOR some one to put
Brownie story on the stage, so wrote one
md adapted 1t to the stage and then put
It on myself. As the Brownies are supposed
o be spirits and not human, |, of course.
vas compelled to associate them with
Aries and devils and 1t gives great oppor-
unity for spectacular effects I have in
NY play all the Brownies OF my stories. in
,luding the sailor. Uncle Sam, dude. In
ian, Chinaman, Irishman and twir
brownies such as you have seen in INV
'tories | have not written any for two
'ears, but have been devoting my time TO
ny pay and II has given me opportunity
or visiting many places In this county I
probably never would have visited other
WISE For instance, this is the first time
ever visited Texas and like II and like
he people. They seem to like Brownies as
seil as any people have visited. I feel
however. that | must get back 10 nv nen
NY brownies have been calling on me late
y and assure me that there are many
more characters among them that T havs I
io' yet portrayed that are us fully capab'e
: any with which the people are familiar
ale. ANo'n ins
The Liquor Dealers Fund.
The Houston Liquor Dealers prots silva