The Topeka state journal., 1899-09-25

OF An Eccentric And was much
unused a11o1e to read, the other & Gay. in a
was supposed to be myself and that the
work was biographical, giving the story
of my own life.
Nothing could be further from the
truth The individual is an American
millionaire. He leaves his fortune as
Jhe stake of a game which has for it's
field of operations all the States and
territories. In this way get my
readers interested in Chicago and so
lead them through the country.
was asked the other day why did
not include your most interesting pos
sessions, Cuba, Porto Rico and the
PhlIpp1nes. And 1 can only answer
that the book was half written before
you won these countries. That is the
onlv reason, doubtless otherwise you
also.
a dldact1c one. 1t is, like all my books,
instructive. It is as easy to write in
ones"
Here Jules Verne jumped up and led
the way toward a large adjoining room
and 1 followed him. Once inside
could easily imagine myself transport
ed from big bare writing room to the
laboratory of a chemist, yet not so, but
to the chart room of a geographer. At
one end of the room were microscopes,
test tubes and bottles of all natures;
at the other were globes, charts, the
planetary system told by revolving
balls; and still, in another part of the
room was complete library in all Ian
guages, including Japanese and Rus
sian.
AT THE VATICAN.
Mr.. Verne seeing my look of wonder
pointed to complete library on Rome.
i remember once having a caller from
Italy" said he, inviting me to be seated
in the library niche, "and wishing to en-
tertain my visitor 1 said: Tell me
about the Vatican. Is the game keep
a a 1fav- cha TO
be?'
Yes said the visitor, laughing.
Just as pretty
And the old staircase in the Vati-
can, has it been taken away yet?'
No, not yet. 1t still stands.
as clean as ever
They are swept hourly
But tell me- said my caller, have
YOU spent a great deal of time at the
Vatican? You seem to know it so thor
Oughly.'
% No. said 7. T have never been in
Rome, much less at the Vatican, but I
have read all about it
I tell you this story" said Mr..
Verne, Ito show you how idle it is to
suppose that man cannot write be
cause he has not visited a place. AS I
said to critic the other day, Have you
ever visited the mOOn?' He said that
he had not Have you ever Wis
tied the stars?' 1 asked. He admitted
that he had never visited the stars, nor
been to the bottom of the sea. Yet you
know a great deal about all of these
things said I.
The fact that have not travelled
over the scene of my new book is no
proof that it is not accurate I confess
that l was stunned by your progress
when learned that Chicago could turn
out a pair of shoes in less than two
minutes; and that pork could be trans
formed from the living animal into the
cut up meat. while you We're looking
on, in one awful moment: and that one
of your cities makes 1000 watches per
day But I learned all about it and
my book will please Americans.
Yes it is true that I have a very
deep affection for America. have al
ways loved it. I should have gone over
to New York ten years ago. when
let the opportunity slip by. The fact
that I speak such poor ENGLISH kept
me at home I speak very few English
sentences outside the books of Charles
Dickens. love Dickens so dearIv that
1 like to memOriZe his works in the
very language in which he wrote them.
I like BalZac- too, and Victor Hugo and
all the standard works of adventure
with truth in them. They do the world
so much good.
YES it is true that I am getting old.
Though I work much, I am not agile
any more. I was obliged to decline the
invitation of the American University
Club of Paris, only a short journey
away because I felt so feeble. I wrote
them s-ying. Neither my age, nor my
health permits me to accept your in
vitatiOn to dine But after I wrote the
letter sat down and finished my book.
MY habits? II, they are more than
regular. I rise at 5, you call that sun
rise; and work until midnight. 1 so
dearl-- love my books that want never
to stop. It is a pleasure to work.
do come of literary parents? Yes.
MY father was a man of some means
and was passionately fond of writing