The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-13
NELSON PAGE,
THE VIRGINIA NOVELIST.
His First Attempt at Fiction, and How He Wrote Oh Saes
for PTactiee-He Speaks Of His New Novel, of
NarSe Cba9," and Other Stories.

and publishea which I wish could now ~
on the slate so tina, | could rub them OUT
When did you do your first wurk in
eialect writing?"
Il suppose some of IL was done in those
slate stories replied Mr Page 81 tried
! 10 write IN dialect while | was AT the Uai-
| verss,y OF Virginia and later on. after
began my practice OF law in Richmond. IL
was when l was practicing there that |
| wrote poem entitled "Unc Gabe'S White
| Folks and sent 1t 10 the old Scribner.
which is now the Century. 1t was accept
ed and | received a check for SIS for IL.
Il was my first money for literary work.
and remember that | was very proud of
the check. Later on | wrote an article on
old Yorktown for the Scribner. and then
sent them my first story, which was en-
titled 'Marse Chan
The Origin of "Marsc Chan"
rs there any story connected with the
writing OF Marse Chan Mr.. Pager" l
asked.
Yes the story started in my mind from
an old letter which a friend OF mine
showed me. This letter was from an IL
literate girl in Georgia 10 her soldier
sweetheart. The letter poorly written
and poorly spelled. but fun OF pathos. The
girl had. Il seemed, trihed with the man.
bat after he had left for the war she had
realized her great ioA, for him and writ
you mean. l amt never done right with
you all my life and | loved you all the
time. When you asked me 10 marry you,
| laughed and said l wouldn't have you.
and IL makes me cry to think you are gone
away to the war. Now. l want you to
know l love you. and | want you 10 sit A
furlow and come home and III marry
YOU With a few words OF affection the
letter closed. but a postscript below was
added: Don't come without furlow, for
unless you come home honorable I won't
marry you This letter was received by
the soldier only a few days before the
battle of Seven Pines and after he was
shot It was found in his breast pocket just
over his heart. The pa;hos of II struck
me forcihly that cut OF IL came the
story 'Marse Chan.
When did you write 'Meh Lady," l
asked.
"Not far some time after 'Marse Cham
was written he replied. THE law, you
know. is very jealous mistress. and all
OF my energy was going in my practice.
Such writing as / did In Richmond WAS
donc during the evening. and for time
| stopped writing entirely, for fear the
work would interfere with my success al
| the bar. The story. 'Marae Chan was
| kept for several years by Scribners before
| IL was published. 1t had been paid for
and wrote the editor asking why they
did not publish it. Shortly after that re-
eeived the proof and the story appeared.
| | was married In lsS6. and 'Meh Lady was
| written a short time after that. / then
wrote other stories and have beer writing
more or less from that time 10 this
LAW and Literature.
You were speaking Of law. Mr. Page.
Were you very much Of "A lawyer"
THAT Is leading question" said the
story writer. with a smile. II think You
ought to ask that Of some Of my copfac-
ttioners in Richmond rather than me. l
VIII only say that | was able TO support
myself within six months after | began
my practice and that for eighteen years
and. indeed. UP 10 the time | came 10
Washington 10 live. my chief income was
from the law"
How did you like your work a one of
the editors Of Earpers Magazine
Il was never one OF the editors" replied
Mr.. Page. IL had an engagement with the
Harpers 10 write Il story every month for
a year for the Editors Drawer, but /
could not stand being Obliged 10 furnish
so much manuscript at certain time. 1t
worried me- l kept up the work. however
for two years and then stopped.
DO YOU write rapidly"
Yes and no. was the reply. Some
times can make my first draft very
quickly I write the first draft rs rapidly
as / can and then go over Il very care
fully in the revision. | try 10 simplify my
writings as much as possible The more
simple Il IL 1 think the better II IS | find
however that the revision often takes
away the spirit from the FIRST draff. lay
away the manuscript and upon looking
at II several weeks later | ran FSe that
the first draft Is truer 10 nature than the
more stilted revision. | think do more
careful work now than | have done In
the past NJ ideal * far above anything
have ever done ma sometime despair
Of approaching 81. There IL one thing I
10 however which | think Is a good plan
for any writer. That Is. I always give the
bea. / have IN me 10 the story which
am writing DO not save anything which
I thfuk might perhaps to Of use 20 me In
she future The cream n you could use
that expression always goes 20 the pres
ent -
Literary News Notes.
Speaking 81 Mr. Page calls attention 20
ghe enormous amount OF literary work be-
ing done here Almost as many great
looks are turned out ri the national CAPT
tai as AZ Boston or New York. John Rus
sell Young. the librarian. has q new life
- Grant well under way. Hs Is being as
sisted IN his work upon II bv Feed Grant
ana Col Fred told ne not long ago that
ag IN. Grant papers rad been put At
Mr. Yo4nEts disposal. Mrs. Gen Grant
has not vet decided 70 the psiflIcat on
OF her memoirs She has them 10 manu-
script and has put considerable woTk upon
them during the past few years She =
ro, bie TO do rnucn writing herself bat
she can tell a story very we'll. ard she
has dietated her reeoiectlons 20 ore OF ffse
best sten0graphers IN the United States.
Her hook will ssa full q interesting AefatiE
ard gill give a great dsal ~ unpublished
history. / met Miss Eliza Y. sefdmoFe
mere fhis week. She - one II ihs bright
est AMI moss entertaining travel writer's
If tire times she has spent the grea f@T
part of ne past ten years - she far East.
and has gus1 Published book 81 Java
vngrs s. selgirr very sell. Miss scigsDore
= the author OF "JinTtksna Days sE
Janan.'' ard also very eateffs lining book
OF Alaskan travels
What GEN. Miles Is Doing
Gen. Nelson 4. Miles has iass e1Hs~
s,fp-ed a series 90 articles on MS recent trip
IL FuroTe Tor McfauFs's &a@azine- These
articles wlA describe fne 8iIereraf = frnE@s
in Europe an4 wiu ~ OF great sas14s from
q military standpoint They vii be Illus
yrated by photographs. some OF which wsre