The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-03-04
A TALK WITH Mr.. SHELDON

Charles NJ Sheldon, the famous author OF Sin
HIS steps, who is soon 10 try the experiment
OF running the Topeka Daily Capitol for A
week as Jesus would he talked freely OF
ms coming experiment aud OF his work as d
religious novelist and preacher OF the gospel.
fhe interview took place IN sleeping ca
Just as MT Sheldon Was leaving Chicago for
MS home in Topeka, Kas. He was accom-
panied by his wife. vlvacious charming,
orown-haired woman, who has doubtless In
vented many Of tho scenes and characters In
his writings and inspired many OF his unique
schemes. In appearance Mr.. sheldon Is
typical Celt--ruddy OF countonance. tall, largo,
blue-eycd, brown-haired. gentle In manner
deliberate in speech. After talking a few
moments about the wonderful success OF In
his steps, which. It is estimated, has been
read by 2oooo.ooo people, l asked Mr.. sheldon
about the origin and evolution OF the religious
novel; OF which In His Steps" Is the mos,
conspicuous example.
at would be dfhcult," he said. "to tell
when and where this form OF fiction was born,
II Is doubtless as old as any other kind or
story teillng-tbat is. as old as man. The
folk tales OF all primitive peoples were all
nero or less religious. Christ used the short
religious story in the shape OF the parable ms
The chief vehicle for conveying His ideas to
the world. Why II has been SO little used for
advancing the kingdom since the dawn of
Christianity II is hard to explain. Sir Walter
scott went so far as to say that fiction should
nave no moral misson--its chief function was
10 amuse, not to instruct or inspire. But
Scott was wrong. Probably the best recent
example OF strictly religious fiction Is found
IN the writings Of Mrs, Alden tPansy) She
has done more than any other person to break
down the prejudice against fiction which was
one of the hcritages handed down from our
Puritan forefathers"
~
What would you say of The Christian, by
ian Game? Is that religious novelg"
Yes suppose that would be called reIig-
ious fiction. But II is not exactly the sort
am trying to construct. | do not consider
Il a fair or true picture OF the Christianity OF
today. II is not such book as one would
like to read from pulpit. My books are built
With two central Ideas which nun through
every line of them; they must be suitable for
Sunday reading; thoy must be suitable for
reading from the pulpit"
May not Mr.. Gaines books be valuable as
religious fiction for week day readngY"
Yes. doubtless" said Mr., Sheldon. ~ ap-
preciate Mr.. Caine. | believe he is an earn
est and sincere man. bid him godspeed in
his efforts"
And what would you say OF QUO vadls as
religious novel;"
Il should not call It ideal by any means
He has brought in great mass Of sensational
Observation-Disclosures material that might far
better have been omitted. There are passages
in the book that one would be ashamed to
read before the family circle"
Then you think religious fiction has
great future?"
II am sure OF IT," said Mr. Sheldon ontbu-
siastieally. 1T is as yet IN It's infancy. We
are Just on the edge OF this unexpiored land
of incompatible richness. Every year will find
2Sre people using this agency In the TWEEN
tieth century believe 1t will be one of the
most powerful forces. next to tho church. for
promulgating the principles given us by
Christ"
What training should one undergo to write
successful religious nct!on?''
The Twentieth century novelist will have
to attend the school of life This Is the nov
elist's treasure chest. The ideal training
should be this: He should study at first hand
every class of people living upon the face OF
the earth. He should live among them, syu-
pathize with them find out what they think
and how they feel. l do not mean that one
should live with criminals or associate with
by the magic power OF sympa-
thy he can understand the hearts OF those
people, while really he will have little ocoa-
sion to describe their dongs in detail. But
know the various classes OF men one must
exclaimed Mr. Sheldon, 'if he is going to
achieve tho largest and most lasting sue
cess The writer Of fiction can not travel toe
should study the habits of all peo-
pies in all lands. Now that expansion Is In |
the air, now that science, commerce ana
Christianity have opened the whole world 10
our gaze, there is no land to which the
novelist may not transport his readers 20
their delight and interest"
Here the conversation drifted to the fact
that "In His Steps" was written and preached
on successive Sunday evenings. the various
chapters OF the novel taking the place Of
sermons In regard to this daring innova
ton on his part MIR. Sheldon said:
~ may say, as part Of my experience. that
| have enlarged my definition OF n sermon 10
mean almost any conveyance by means OF
which whatever is Christian truth to me goes
from me into the daily lives of my people.
"Do you expect the sermon-story to be
largely adopted by the American pulplt?'
asked.
II see no reason why IL should not be. II
offers an opportunity to apply christ's teacn-
lngs to modern life in practical manner that
is denied by the ordinary sermon. II l should |
attempt to deal with problems OF business,
and civlos from tho viewpoint OF
Christ in a sermon the cry would at once
arise: You are not preaching the gospel In
a sermon STORY or religious novel they wei
come such things. 1t is merely returning to
Christ's method OF teaching by the concrete in
stead OF the abstract. the parable and story
Instead OF the phllosophic discussion, ana
the former Is hundredfold more effective
than the latter A young minister in Topeka
tried Il with great success. He told the story
OF business msn--his trials. encourage
merits, victory In living the Christ life. The
people attended his services in throngs. Its