The Topeka state journal., 1898-11-28
Author of esThe Christian"
Would Improve Conditions.
Noted Author Given a Welcome
in Chicago.
TO STUDY SLUM LIFE.
What Christ Taught, What He
Lived, Is
He Says, the Greatest Ever
Given the World.
70 STUDY SLUM LIFE.

Chicago, Nov. 2S.-Ha1 Caine, the
novelist, the author of 1.-The Christian
the creator of the character of John
Storm. was welcomed to Chicago Sat
urday night by representatives of the
culture, beauty and wealth of the city.
Am I an orthodox Christian? The
question is a perplexing one," said Hall
Caine, novelist, dramatist, nervously
twisting his cigarette while lOunging in
a chair in parlor s of the Palmer
House.
THE Unitarian says he is an ortho-
dox Christian. But the Methodist con-
siders the Unitarian outside of the pale
of Christianity. Yet Methodists sub
scribe to a constitution of their church
that not one out of ten of them in
these days dareS to affirm is what it
purports to be or sets forth. The Pres
Dyterlan takes a creed he does not be-
Heve in and so on. How can one say
what is orthodox Chrtstianity2'
Are you a Christian?"
'Ah, that is a different question and
one simple to answer. If by asking me
if am Christian you mean to inquire
If am a believer 1 say I am. The
longer I study, the longer I examine
the more I am satisfied that what
Christ taught, what He lived, is the
greatest yet given to the world
Hall Caine in personal appearance is
a nineteenth century portrait of Christ
His hair is long and pushed back. His
beard, which comes to a rough but
flowing point, has in it the tinge of red
which all chronicIers give to the beard
of the Christ. He is sparse of form
and very nervous. He smokes cigar
cites necessarily, a box always lying
within easy reach Of his long and sup
pie fingers.
His voice in ordinary conversation is
almost feminine, low, soft, very sweet,
often descending to conversational
whispers. When he feels intensely
l. - ,T,s-,
good effect, many striking gestures,
some Of the pOsings of an actor. To
the observer this does not seem like
affectation since so much earnestness
comes with the physical expression For
a moment Caine seems to forget the
presence of anyone else and gives him
self up to the subject in hand.
He is not troubled with mock mod
esty if one may judge on this point
from the freedom with which he gives
himself up to intervieWers and dis
courses on his books, his plays, what
he thinks and does not think. He does
not criticise.
Mr.. Caine will remain in Chicago al
most a week. This evening a banquet
and reception will be given him at the
Auditorium by Manx residents Of Chi
cago. Tomorrow night he will again
speak at Central Music hall. During
his stay in the city he will study some
of the phases Of slum life in Chicago
and the conditions of servant girls. He
will go no farther west than Chicago,
returning to New York and thence
home.
He was asked: What has become OF
that promised book on the Jews?"
He answered: "Oh, I spoke of that
when the Russian Jewish committee
asked me to go to Russia at the time
of the terrible persecution of the Jews
there by the government. The hero was
to be a Russian Jew. I think at the
time of that journey the first great
wave of complete sympathy with hu-
manity came upon me. Pardon me if
I seem to say too much of myself and
report it sparingly. But prior to that
kind as things which they brought on
themselves, something which they de-
served. All the little amusements which
mankind sought, the trivial things, I
scorned because I did not understand.
But when I came among these per-
secuted Jews, saw what they were suf-