The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-13

return to the pen he had once loved and
use IL again for the writing OF Other
things than scientific dispositions. In real
ity his experience in hospitals and as a
general practitioner had -erved him NEST
admirably as a preliminary school for the
study of human nature, and there is not
the slightest doubt that his power "A. Il
fiction writer is in great part derived from
the wonderfully varied store of human ex-
periences which he has been able % lay
up during his professional career.
DIR. Mitchells first contribution to the
periodical press came about by accident.
and the story thereof. which has proba-
bly, not been in print before. comes 10 me
from perfectly reliable source in this
form:
Some time after the close Of the war
he was one day humorously discussing
with friends the question as 10 whether
loss OF physical members involved loss
OF any portion of ones individuality. As
q result of that discussion he wrote out
the suppositious case OF one George Ded-
low. who had suffered the amputaton of
both arms and both legs. The paper was
an exceedingly clever one. and its de-
scrption and discussions were highly IN
teresting. DR.. Mitchell lent it to the Rev
DR.. Furness, and he, thinking il would
be read with interest by his friend, Ed
ward Everett Hale. sent il to him. Dr.
Atlantic Monthly. and has trained eye at
once noted the value of the paper as
contribution to his periodical. 1t seemed
OF such value, indeed. that the leading
article for the number then about TO &C
to press. was lifted out of the forms and
The Case of George DedIow'' was hu.ri-
eddy substituted. 1t was published an
anonymously. and DIR. sfitchcIrs first init
nation of the fact was afforded by the
reception Of u letter from DR.. Hale inclos-
ing. with the proof, a liberal check and
complimenting the author on the fresh
hess. unconventionality and power of his
work. Some of my readers may remem
ber the sketch. II was written in such
realistic fashion as to cause subscriptions
10 be raised for the imaginary George
Dedlow's support and comfort. An ex-
tended discussion of the ease followed in
the newspapers, ana 1t was some time
before 1t was understood that no such
armless. legless Dedlow really existed.
Or Mitchell does his literary writing In
the summer tine. On June ] he leaves
Philadelphia and goes 10 Canada. where
he fishes for salmon on some of the Can
adam rivers Then he goes TO his summer
home a Bar Harbor. 1t Is there that he
writes. when ne feels inclined. in the morn
ings until he is ready TO return 70 Phila-
delphia. lie does all his writings with
the pen. He never dictates this work. and
* Is We'll known th2t ne puts an nniSu3l
amount Of labor on his stories. Though
he writes rapidly and with ease he seems
never satisfied with his work as first writ
ten. It IS stated that there Is not chap
Ter Of Importance in Hugh Wynne," for
instance. that was not written AT least
twice before II was sent 10 the printer and
that some chapters Were thus dealt with
three times. Besides DR.. Mitchell cor
reefs his proof almost interminably
Or. Mitchell belongs To the third OF three
generations of success. His son. Or. ].
X Mitchell is lecturer on diagnosis IN The
medical department OF the University Of
Pennsylvania and represents fourth gen.
. grafton OF professional men. nor IS ne him
self without literary capacity. The poeti
cal work Of his brother. Mr. Langd3n +,
Michel Is we'll known. Success n four
generations Is a rare thing IN any country.
but not rarer than such single careers IS
that OF the author Of Hugh Wvnne."
which may he divided into three distinct
parts. invcst iSations Of q purely scientific
nature. clinical and medical invest gstions
and tho production OF pure iiterature-fic-
ton and poetry.
Or. Mitchell vas born on the 18th Of Feb
ruary. l>g. His health continues excellent
FOR one 50 advanced IN years
CHARLES APPLEBEE.