The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1899-03-16
Popular Story Writer.


wonder N there In a boy OF girl
between twelve and eighteen who
does not know kirk Munros 49,
through his books. I mean And In
this connection say girls de-
signedly. for my experience IL that
girls like wholesome. stirring boys
stories about as well as the boys
themselves.
Kirk Munroe. or rather Kirk" for
that In what the men. women. and
children call him down In the quaint,
isolated little village of coceanut-
grove. Fla. II NJ breezy ana enter
tanning as his books. and as much
OF boy as the most esuberant OF
his readers.
MIR. Munroe7" the villagers will
repeat. looking at you blankly In an.
Hwer to your question. then a broad
smile OF good nature viii spread over
their faces. ''Oh, Kirk. you mean ?
Yes. We know him. OF course. Yon-
der he IN running down 10 his boat" I:
or. there he H.. talking TO a boy who
has caught a redbird. bargaining for
the reicase Of the captive. or.
that's he. with all those boys on
the pier-pianning some kind Of lark.
most likely"
And ~ IL comes to you from all
sides. Whatever Il Identified with
the welfare Of the village. and espe-
ciaiiy with the welfare Of the village
young people. Kirk has a finger in.
as they express Il. Just now he il
the head and slncwn Of village
library. which IL being started with
several hundred volumes. mostly
from his private store. There IN
peculiar fascination In looking over
these books. for many Of them are
presentation copies. and on their fy-
leaves we nnd names which ARE
household words. as ~. c. Hummer.
Hudyard Kipllng, W. |. Stoddard.
John Hendricks Bangs. John F-lske.
and hosts Of others Usually they
have some inscription or bi; Of verse
to their friend Kirk Munroc." A
volume Of Rudyard kiplinE has sew
erai Of his telling stanxar. and some
OF the others have lines which are
charningly Identified with the names
scrawied below them.
Kirk Munroe's winter home IL
small. but IL IN surrounded by broad
verandas. and there II an orange
tree. which snugsies some OF It's
branches under the front veranda
roof. and there are lemon trees on
one side and confusion OF tropical
fruit and flowers. which peep Al one
from somewhere behind. but for
the most part the ground in front
Is bare. affording an unobstructed
view Of the beautiful Biseayne bay.
stretching away 10 a long line Of
inciostng reefs or keys in the dis
lance. Down from the house Is n
well worn path leading directly 20 a
pier and hoashouse. and here. ex-
cept when away on one OF its many
pleasure or fishing excursions among
the keys. may be seen Kinks fine
yacht and its good natured. ebony
hued keeper.
The surroundings are picturesque
~ Wild and tropical. Palm trees
abound. and In the woods or ham
mocks are wild oranges and lemons.
and lines and nRr. clumpr OF giant
bamboos are seen along the path.
which leads through the hammock
to the hause. and all about IL a
growth which Is unfamiliar and
CURIOUS
II we go into the house we find
Mrs. Munroe very cordial and inter
tanning. and II we evince an interest
In her husbands work she will show
us English reprints Of his books.
which she smiiinRiy declares are
her own especial property; and she
will speak Of certain hours IN the
morning when he IL not to be dis
turbcd. and Of another new book
which il soon 20 be issued. and Of
the proofs Of a serial he In revis-
ing preparatory TO its coming out.
And u may be some aliusion will
be made TO her own work. or TO n
new book by her mother - Amelia
Barr. Before We know II. n half
hour has slipped BY. and we go
away with as much interest in the
authors personality and home as
we have hitherto fei; In his work.