The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-10
A TALK WITH CRAWFORD
THE FAMOUS AUTHOR or MANY
NOVELS Is A HARD WORKER.
How He Came TO Write "Mr. Isaacs'--
A Good Memory Help. Him-sug-
gests Some Literary "Don'ts.v


Correspondence OF the Indianapolis Journal
NEW YORK, Dec. lo.-I called on Mr..
Marion Crawford. the novel writer. at his
den" i'm this city a few days ago to in
terview him about himself. his methods OF
work. his views on literature and the
drama and the American newspaper and
magazine. knew that Mr.. Crawfords
opinion of American Journalism could not i.
be severe he would not have made the
appointment for me TO interview him and
shown me the way 10 the safe retreat
where all his literary work is done dur
ing his visit to America / shall not say
where the den is. II is not so far from
the center of commercial activity in New
York and probably is the last place where
person of less experience than Mr.. Craw-
ford would have sought the quiet neces-
sary to successful literary work. II Is in
business building and It overlooks very
busy part OF the city. II Is a plainly fur
nished. oblong room, fitted with a long
oak table, where the author sits at hts
work. stif-backed little chair for his
hours Of activ,y with the pen, a couple
of rocking chairs, q small oak bookcase and
such other simple articles Of furniture as
are absolutely necessary to an Office. There
is nothing OF the Oriental and cushioned
luxury with which the popular imagination
likes to surround the literary worker Of
reputation. Possibly Mr.. Crawford has
these things in his home. at Rome. His
New York den IL only temporary habita-
ton. The author Is a man who. as some
one remarked Of ex-President Harrison
within my hearing. looks very much like
his pictures" In fact, the photograph
which my photographer made OF him by
appointment just prior to the interview.
is an admirable likeness Mr.. Crawford Is
perhaps a trife grayer than his portrait
would suggest, and on the other hand, his
cheek has a healthy ruddiness that no
photograph could reproduce. Broad OF
shoulder. he looks very like an athlete and
IT is hard to believe his statement that he
never exercises" and much easier 10 ac-
cept his assertion that he is seldom fl.
Mr.. Crawford did not come to America
last year, but he generally spends one-half
of each year on this side the ocean. This
year he arrived early In November. and he
expects to return to Italy in January.
When asked him how he found the retire.
ment that he needed for his work in a
big, noisy city like New York. Mr.. Craw-
ford said that he had found seclusion much
more easily attainable in large city than
in a small one. "No one disturbs me here"
he said. 81 have this little room all to my
self. There is no name on the door. IL
/ want to communicate with anyone I
have a messenger call at my hand IL
want to see anyone make an appoint
ment with him here or at my publishers.
But IL / want to be alone I can lose my
self entirely. In Rome am interrupted il
my work far more than I am here. There
friends are coming In at unexpected mo-
ments and strangers arriving in the city
call to see me. Rome. you know. Is a
very small place. Much Of my recent work
has been done on my boat I have spent
most of the summer sailing about Sicily.
Malta and the south of Italy. making
studies for the historical book on which /
am writing. On the boat 1 can have all
the quiet I need"
Don't you find some embarrassment in
looking for your material where you are
so well known" I asked.
HAS A GOOD MEMORY
mo. I have a great many friends In
Rome who are very good In the way OF
helping me to what I want, but when / am
travelling / am seldom known. During my
trip of last summer lived on my boat al
together when was on the coast. I never
went to an hotel. When i made my trips
into the interior 1 went as any sight
seer would 60 with a guide. or course I
know Sicily very WELL but whenever I am
going to write about a place ] make it
a rule to visit it as a stranger would. so
that may make no mistakes and omit
nothing. 1 have, however, a good memory
for places and for conversations. Not a
verbal memory. for could never remem-
Der poetry or long quotations. But without
particularly noting its pecuiiarities hardly
ever forget the details OF place once
visited. II had not seen Broadway in
twenty years ] could describe II very ac-
curately as 1t was when I last saw 1.-THE
way IL looked and the little peculiarities
of the people In the street"
Then you do not do your literary work
hastily. as some of your critics have saidy"
mo. 1t is great mistake TO think that
/ work hurriedly. On the contrary, 1 am
very painstaking. The reason why I pro-
duce so many books is that work all the
time. I have no other occupation. no
amusement. In fact. there is nothing in
my life but work. 1 am never idle Even
when 1 was lecturing and travelling all
through the West was at work constant
ly. finishing up odd bits that had been left
uncompleted for long time. 1 work on
the steamer when / am crossing People
who read my books may have the idea that
/ lead a pleasant. idle life between the
times Of writing them. In fact. as have
told you. I am never idle"
Mr.. Crawford's method OF work is the
old, laborious one-with a pen. He writes
In a very small hand and covers each long
sheet OF his manuscript with many hun
dreds of words.
II have dictated a little of my work when
1 was nl-and that has not been very
often" he said. but cannot easily dis
pense with the self-hypnotism OF the pen
point moving on the paper. believe that
IL has great deal TO do with the habitual
concentration OF creative work"
What is your method OF work?' I asked.
do you frame the whole scheme of your
story in advance. or 90 you allow YOUR
characters TO work out their own story
81 have the whole plan OF my story ar
ranged before ! begin 10 write. Charles
Dickens made a great mistake. 1 believe
when In some OF his he advised young writ
ers to begin their stories without a definite