The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-08-10
SOME LITERARY HERMITs.
A Number of weII-Known American
Authors Prefer n Life of
seclusiOn.

Genius not infrequently prefers SOL
itude to the noise and hustle OF the
city or the plaudits of admiring thou
sands. One OF the most striking in
stances OF a literary celebrity living
the life OF recluse is furnished by
Mira. Maxwell, born Miss N. f. Brad
don, who absolutely shuns personal
publicity. There is probably no liv-
ing novelist whose personality is so
closely concesled from the public as
Miss Braddon. Very few people have
an idea OF what the talented novel
ist looks like. for the simple reason
that she has never allowed ffer photo
graph to be reproduced, says the Chi
cago Chronicle.
For the greater part of the year
she resides in her house Mt Richmond.
Va, and the only recreation she in
dulges in takes the form of an occa-
sfonal visit TO the theater or n picture
gallery. But one never sees her move
ments chronioled in the newspapers,
as is the case with other celebrities,
and her name only appears OCCASION
forthcoming book.
Count Leo Tolstoi, the famous Rus
sian novelist. is a remarkable exam
pie Of n present day genius living the
life of a hermit. The man resolutely
refuses. for the sake OF his principles.
TO occupy that social position to
which his works have entitled him.
Instead Of enjoying the delights of So
Ciety i'm st. Petersburg. he is content
TO live i'm seclusion among the peas
ants of Russia. working hard at man
ual labor. as well as mental. lie
cares nothing for riches or rank, al
though the Tolstoi family is a veal
thy and powerful one. No monk could
be more severe and rigorous in his
mode OF living. Count Tolstoi pre-
pares his own meals, chops the wood
for his fire, digs his own potatoes and
even makes his own boots.
1t is very seldom. indeed, that one
hears news concerning Jules Verne
whose novels have delighted millions
| of boys and grown-up people, too. for
the matter of that. The French nov.
elist has always been characterized ms
being most reserved man. dislikinq
Embarrassment in any shape OF
form. He has never sought public
recognition from the hands OF his
countrymen, and although French so
ciety would, so to speak. receive him
with open arms, he prefers to live in
seclusion with his devoted wife in q
| little house on the outskirts OF
Amiens. Jules Verne gave up travel.
Ing ten or twelve years ago, and with
the exception of occasionally visiting
Paris TO see his son rarely goes be,
yond the boundary OF his garden.
In quaint part of London resides
DIR. Samuel Smiles, now in his eighty.
fifth year, whose books have beer
read and digested by millions. His
name has been so long familiar &c
everybody that II will probably sur.
prise many people 10 know that he il
still working. In his earlier days he
was known as q great traveller. but
for the last 20 years his life has beer
spent at home with his work. He IL
extremely devoted TO his vile, max,
ing his CLUB" his home, and enjoying
his declining years in n very quiet apG
transformations manner. DR.. Smiles Is
rather averse 10 being interviewed
and II IS mainly owing TO this fact
that one 30 seldom hears any news
regarding the author of SELF Help"