The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-13
WHERE MAJOR GOT HIS IDEA
Shelbyville Author Had Read Halls
syNars of the Roses"
New York Journal.

Charles Major, the novelist OF when
Kn:ghthood was in Flower signed yester-
day with Charles Frohman a contract by
which Julia Marlowe is to play on the stage
the Mary Tudor that Charles Brandon
loved.
She was a poetic silhouette cut out of a
panel of azure. Major gave to her lines,
colors, a language. One may not hin of
her now otherwise than in the image
that he has made Of her. Julia Marlowe
Is to lend to her a voice; that Is. her soul.
OF a human being one may preserve every
thing but the voice.
HAS Julia Marlowe the voice Of Mary
Tudor?" Mr.. Major was asked last night.
Absolutely" he replied.
He sat at a table under the light I'm the
Waldorf-Astoria. He has large, clear blue
eyes. dark hair. finely arched lips. an ex-
preston of quiet strength in kindness. He
Is glad that his work Is popular, because II
pleased him to write it, and when it was
finished he liked it. He said to himself at
intervals in reading It: WAS that idea
really mine? How did it come to me?' He
said:
II had written stories and essays for
years. In Shelbyville, on the Blue river, in
Indiana, where i am a lawyer. 1 had no
greater diversion than to write. / locked
the door of my office and wrote after the
business hour.
II wrote to please myself personally. But
the romance of Mary Tudor and Charles
Brandon was hardly finished when the
thought of making it known to others came
to me. This was five or six years ago. 1
sent the manuscript to publishers here.
They made objections which were practi-
cally refusals to print the book. / threw
the manuscript into a drawer.
II liked my characters 90 much that 1
wondered why others would not like them.
OF course, the success of the work compli-
ments my judgment of it. 1t was not writ
ten deliberately to be published. Perhaps If
1 had considered publication in advance the
work would have been different. 1 wrote it
with a pencil, as fast as i could write. L
did not think of polishing and repolishing
phrases. 1 thought only of saying the ideas
that occurred to me-.
They came of reading a book of Halls
Chronicle of the Wars of the Roses in
an old edition issued in 154S. l. had always
liked the writer's of that time. They formed
the Language. and the manners Halls
description of Mary Tudor and Charles
Brandon captivated me more than any other
tale. In writing their romance i had no plot
other. 1t was all suggestiveness.
Il ave read Scott. Dumas. Weyman,
Hope, but they did not excite me in the
desire to write historical novels. Halls
Chronicle did that. Dumas was my ia
vorite author. But 1t had always been my
impression that his characters were stir
and needed TO be 'limbered up
Il had the temptation TO write I'm the
book a great deal of historical matter.
which it was. / an persuaded. my duty TO
avoid. II one a history one must read
historical books. A historical romance
should have vivacity. My aim was TO
marry Mary and Brandon, after obstacles.
adventures. incidents that were developed
Of sentimentaiity and reserve In the love
scenes.
"Do you like them? I hope that you do not
think / have any merit as a student. for 1
book the ideas of the time. not the style.
II / have succeeded in the view of those who
are able to judge, l am very happy. Now
suppose / am 10 be an author instead of a
lawyer. Well, l am sorry only that / did
not begin ten years ago. / could have done
then the work that / am to do now.
Il am writing a romance Of the time OF
Charles III. That Is another delightful epoch.
/ read Pepys diligently, OF course. / read
the chronicles of America that Capt. John
may / ever make a historical romance OF
Americas aborigines? / doubt IL. / cannot
enter into their minds. / have to be in
sympathy with my characters"
Are you bs ever sscS TEMPTED 70 WRITE for the
Pater?" Mr.. Major was asked
Never he exclaimed. That Is an idea
| OF d~ecadence- i want to write what is in
my mind as simply as I can. / must tell
| you Of q fear that / had. My book was In
London. One of It's titles was Industrious
Lovers, or the Romance Of Mary Tudor
! and Charles Brandon I sent Z cable as
patch Ter The Sook. ! shaddsrsd lest some