The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-06
GAVE A TOMBSTONE PARTY.
Vagarics of a Woman Author in a New
New England Village.


New York literary genius is below par
in one New England town. Early in July
a new boarder appeared at the house Oh
the Postmistress. The town does not
boast hotel and a stranger is an excit-
ing rarlty-also an object Of legitimate
curiosity and speculation. Fortunately
I'm this case. information was to be had
for the asking. The Postmistress having
by virtue Of her calling a profound inter-
est in her neighbOrs' affairs, appreciated
the state of mind into which they were
thrown by the advent OF her boarder' ana
charitably consented 10 tell them all she
knew. Possibly her pride in the iact
that she harbOred the distinguished per-
sonage under her roof added 70 her zest
in telling the story; and 1t wasn't Two
hours after the bus deposited It's ,passen-
ger at the POstmistress's door before az
the village knew that an author was III
town The POstmiStress must nave Deen
expeditions or the author communicative
for during the same two hours the village
learned that the stranger had written
two books and number OF short stories
and that she had come away from New
York TO this quiet spot in order that she
might escape from her fame and write a
new novel without being interrupted by
ciamoring admirers and publishers nght-
ing for the yet unwritten book.
Not being in the writing or publishing
business themselves. the villagers ac-
cepted the explanation and showed such
profound respect for the authors privacy
that she finally became exceedingly bored
by her own society. Moreover. ner arts
tic conscience troubled her She felt that
she ought TO be amassing copy and
studying rural types. so she began 10
make advances 10 her neighbors. When
they understood that she was really will
ing 10 be known they responded readily
enough They were as anxious 10 study
her as she was to study them, and the
consensus Of opinion about.her was that
she was terrible queer. but not upplty.
To be sure she had strange ideas about
things and her conduct wasn't always
i'm line with what was considered be-
coming in the village. but then every one
understood that some concessions must
be made to genius.
The President of the Reading Club was
the first TO call upon the celebrity-ursed
on 10 the deed by the other members OF
the circle Her reception was encourage
ing, so others plucked up heart OF grace,
and soon the VlSltOr was luliy lduuCHtu
into village society. She was invited 20
teas and sewing bees and dinners and
social evenings. and the villagers became
used 10 her startling theories and more
startling method OF arranging her back
hair, and felt that life would be trihe
duh when New York reclaimed its own
and there was no author for them to
watch and criticise.
A week or two before her departure tho
celebrity said to the Postmistress:
Miss Sarah. the people here have been
so nice 10 me that I think I'd like to
entertain them in some way"
Miss Sarah gasDed and furtively looked
through the window. measuring with her
eve the distance to the nearest neigh
boris.
Would you be WILLING :" oct up very
nice super for me2 or course. ia pay
for everything and give you whatever
you thought right for your extra work.
I'm sure I'd be glad 10 do IL. said
Miss Sarah.
That's nice. I'd like 20 give something
unique and out OF the ordinary. I must
think OF something that will surprise
them" said the authoress. with the look
usually reserved for the moments de-
voted to her immortal novel, Then the