Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-12-03

his fellow countrymen. Since that time
the eminent author has, 1t seems, great
ly modified his views of America, as he
writes to a friend that he hopes soon to
come to the ever glorious and most
glorious United States" 1t is said that
his pretty 17-year- old daughter Jadwiza
will accompany him.
The following summer came Robert
Louis Stevenson, a Scotch invalid ~
years Of age and still unknown to fame
His physician had ordered him south
but in violent opposition to the com
rsands of the doctors and wishes OF his
friends and family he set out for Amer
lea against great odds. In order to de-
feat his proposed trip to California his
friends withdrew all moneys and sup
plies, but this made Stevenson more DE-
termined than ever, and scraping To-
gether small sum he bought steeraSe
passage across the Atlantic. HIS voyage
and trip across the continent to Callior-
MIA Stevenson describes in his Amateui
Emigrant and Across the Plains. II
was a rough experience that came near
ly causing his death. Thru the month OF
September, 1879, alone and seriously III
he lay at a goat ranch in the Santa LII
cha mountains. OF this period he writes
to his friend Goss: 1T scarcely slept, ate
or thought for four days. Two nights
Law under tree In sort OF stupor, 40
ing nothing save fetch water for myself
end horse, build fire and make cofree.
And all night awake. hearing the goat
bells ringing and the tree-toads singing,
when each noise was enough to set me
mad" Here an old ranchman found him
and nursed him back to life. BY aii
rule" gays Stevenson, this should nave
been my death, but after awhile my
spirit got up again in divine frenzy
and has since spurred my vile body FOR
ward with success.
The divine frenzy that spurred him
forward had more substantial basis
than the dream that haunted Sickle
vic. This, strange to relate, was not
his restoration to health, but his love
for an American lady--a Mrs. Francis
Osborne whom he had met previously
In France, and to whom he was married
at Monterey in the spring OF 1851. Ino
divorced wife and several years mel
husbands senior, their marriage proved
an ideal one, and Stevenson felt reward
ed for his weary pilgrimage. Mrs
Stevenson is described as q woman OF
culture and great charm, a most helpful
companion in his literary life, and the
most devoted and efficient Of nurses un-
til her husbands death fourteen years
later
The critics report sienkiewicz hard at
work upon new novel-a story that
deals with Jan sobieski, the famous Pol
,sh patriot. It will be much shorter than
Quo Vadis," for which a reading pubic
will be truly grateful, and 1t VIII be
ready by the holidays. Then the author
will commence on what he regards as
the great work Of his life: series OF
books dealing with the life of Napoleon,
each one complete story in itself with
the same characters running thru the
series and Napoleon the hero of each
volume. The author has been collecting
lis material for many years. some OF It
furnished by relative who fought un-
der Napoleon in famous battles. Such
subject in the hands OF SO gifted writer
ls sure to find ready welcome from the
reading public.
one would think that on this subject
Napoleon-so much had been written by
eminent writer's, novelists. historians
and biographers that there was nothing
more to be said. Yet Miss Ida. Tarbells
Napoleon has reached sale OF 100000
copies. 1t has recently been revised and
reissued by Mcclure. Phillips & Co. un-
der the title OF Napoleon and jose
phine."
Tho papers are now discussing the re-
ligion Of Robert Buchanan, some gong
so far as to call him an atheist, others an
arnostic. 1t seems as tho his own state
nent made but few hours before MS
death ought to be sufficient evidence
that he was neither atheist nor agnosec,
viz: that God and his own soul were
the only entities OF whose real existence
he had living proof"
From the speciman list given in the
Rookman Of the letters of literary aspir-
ants 70 the various publishers. we are
not surprised that SO many manuscripts
go in the waste basket unread we
rather wonder that the publishers DO
not invoke the protection OF law. me
following specimen is taken at ranoom
from the ABOVE Ilbt, Auu We qNS0S.o'
whether 1t Is bona flde article or
literary fake:
.Dear sirs-won't you please let me
know why you kept my manuscript so
long and now return IT? Please Sirs. II
YOU Intended to publish won't you do
40 vet and how soon can you? Also
under what terms? II you can't pub
fish. won't you please tell me OF some
Iowa publisher who would help me?
80. (here follows part history OF his
Slife). II you accept, pay me snug sum
now and remainder in yearly royalties
Then GO to work and announce in the
patent Sheet and Associated Press pa
pers that you paid me 100000 for the
manuscript. This they will take up az
q news item. will keep all this strictly
secret and so can you. Have short
history of my life with large picture
of --- under the picture have the
words ''The handsome young Hoosier
author who made himself famous and
received 100000 for. "A Few Strokes OF
His Pen"
"Hoping at least to hear from you
again. remain for business. Sincerely