The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-26
Full of DroII characteristics
Like The Negro
HATES7OBEl INTERVIEWED
Has Never Outgrown His Fondness
For Rural Occupations
FIRST ACQUAINTANCE WITH BRER RABBIT
Has Never Forgot Any Of The Stories Which He
Heard From The Lips of Negroes on
The Plantation,

tHc ldHldtIOns
Joel Chandler Harris. better known
as Uncle Remus, has long been one
of the favorites of the American reai-
ing public, and his stories of south
ern life are eagerly sought after by
young and old. Writing so constantly
in response to the demands which are
made upon him, it would seem that
his genius would soon exhaust itself;
but instead of losing ground he is
steadily growing in popularity from
year to year, and his literary pruduc-
tions today are as bright and origi-
nal as those which came from his pen
in the flush of his initial success near
ly twenty-five years ago.
Most of those who know Mr. Har-
ris chiefly through his dialect stories,
will be surprised to learn that he is
The Atlanta CONSTITUTIONS leading
editorial writer, and that he has pro-
duced most of his books during the
intervals of leisure which he has
snatched from his daily grind of rou-
tine work. He is one of the most in
dustrious of men, and this fact ex-
plains why it is that he has been able
to accomplish to much.
Until recent years Mr. Harris has
done most of his editorial writings in
his little office or den" on the sixth
floor of the Constitution bilding, but
now he does it all at home. He is as
systematic and regular as clock
work in his habits, and every morn
ing on week days he comes down TO
the office at 8 o'clock for the purpose
of comforting with the editor in re-
gard to the editorials which he is eX-
pected to write for the next days pa
per. He seldom fingers at the office
for more than half an hour, and if the
editor happens to be late and fails to
come in before the expiration of this
limit, Mr.. Harris picks up his bundle
of papers, which the office boy has put
aside for him, and starts for home.
Thus it will be seen that Mr.. Harris
is somewhat Independent. but he
never let's his failure to see
the editor serve as an ex-
cuse for not sending his edi-
toI-ial copy. Every afternoon by 5
o'clock, unless prevented by illness,
his leaders are always in. Some
times he brings them down himself,
but usually he sends them down by
some one else. Mr. Harris writes cas-
lily and fuently. though not at the
break-neck speed which characterizes
the editorial writing of some of our
modern journalists. He always uses
the pen in producing his manuscript,
and seldom grasses what he has writ
ten. Unlike most writer's who culti-
vate bad handwriting because of the
idea which exists in the public mind
that men of genius are almost
invariably bad penmen. Mr.. Harris
forms his letters distinctly and care
fully, and the printers are always
glad to get his manuscript.
Though editorial writing has con-
stitute;l the bulk of Mr.. Harris's work
for twenty-five years past, it supplies
him with decidedly the smallest part
of his income Most of his revenue
is derived from his books and from
such magazine articles and short
stories as he writes from time to
time. He never fails to obtain good
prices for his literary wares, and why
he continues to write editorials when
he could make nearly ten times as
much by putting the same amount
of labor into regular literary W )rl1
can only be explained upon the ground
that editorial writing has become one
of his habits, and habits are rather
difficult things to leave off. But Mr..
Harris finds editorial writing more
and more irksome from wear to wear.
and though he is still on the sunny
side of fifty, he has threatened more
than once to give up in order to de-
vote himself exclusively to literary
work.
Like the negro whom he loves to de-
scribe. Mr. Harris is full of droll
characteristics. With strangers he is
usually somewhat reserved. but with
old friends he is always talkative and
CORDIAL His playful humor never
! fails him when congenial spirits are
around. On coming down to the of
flee every morning he announces his
approach by whistling some favorite
tune. or by humming some plantation
song; and while waiting for the edi-
tor to come i'm he is always the CEN
ter of attraction. telling some racy
joke which he has Just heard. or mar
rating some funny experience which
has happened to him.
In his personal appearance Mr.. Har-
ris is rather below the medium
height. and is thick set and robust.
Perhaps no one would dare tn call
him handsome. as red hair and freck-
les are seldom associated with good