The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1902-05-08
STORIES OF STOCKTON
Incidents In the Well Known
Noveltst's Career.
WANTED TO BECOME A PIRATE.

His Clever Riddle Tale tsLady or the
Tigers" Puzz1ed the Wor1d-Two
Good Anecdotes That Relate to 1t.
One of His Graceful Answers and
His Note to a Literary Woman.
Francis Richard Stockton, the novel
Est who died suddenly in Washington,
was born in Philadelphia in 1884, says
the Philadelphia Press. After gradual
ing from the Philadelphia High school
he became wood engraver on Vanity
Fair. Subsequently he went to New
York, where he was soon promoted
from reporter to editor. He contributed
60 numerous magazines and for short
time was connected with the staff of
Scribner's Magazine. Later he became
assistant editor of st. Nicholas.
Mr.. Stockton's best known work was
undoubtedly his clever riddle tale, "The
Lady or the Tiger~ He keenly en-.
3oyed the furore created by this novel,
but always smilingly declined to an.
swer the vexing question propounded
In its closing chapter. This famous
story set everybody GUESSING. 1t was a
topic of conversation when Mr.. Stock
ton met Rudyard Kipling at a reception
and informed the latter that he con.
templated going to India.
"I'm glad to hear it," exclaimed Kip
ling enthusiastically. 81 know jus.
what We'll do with you over there when
we get you away from your friends
and family Well lure you out into
the jungle and have you seized and
bound by our trusty wallahs. Well
have you turned on your back and get
one of our biggest elephants to stand
over you with his foot poised above
your head. Then I'll say in my most
1nsinuatfng way. Come, now, Stockton
which was it. the lady or the tiger?
On one occasion Mr.. Stockton was the
guest of honor at dinner given in
of President Harrison's cabinet. Dur
ing the meal the conversation was rig
orously kept away from literary topics.
FINALLY the dessert was served. Two
large Plates of ice cream were placed
IN front of the hostess. One of orange
water ice was cast in mold of tiger.
the other, vanilla, in the form of wo-
man. Turning to the astonished novel;
list. the hostess. with now I've got
you air. asked:
(Which favor do you, prefer, Mr..
Stockholm
ga little Of both, if you please" he
replied imperturbably..
And so the famous question again re-
manned unanswered.
Probably no book of late years caused
as much comment as this aggravating
enigma. For long time the author
was pestered with inquiries as to the
true answer to the question with which
the story ended.
''I don't know myself which it was"
he responded TO one of these inqnisl-
tons 81 never knew whether it was
the lady or the tiger. Honestly, would
like to know myself"
It was told that an enterprising mag
azine manager offered him $4,000 for
q brief sketch by way of sequel that
would reveal the true end Of the ia
NOUS tale, but Stockton was true to his
story and declined the offer.
Mr.. Stockton said that before he
reached his teens he had decSzed to be-
come either pirate or physician.
His father willed that he should be-
come a wood engraver, and at this he
gained a livelihood for several years.
When the family lived in Bucks coun-
= :, Pa, Frank and his brother had g.
dog which they trained solely to hunt
cats, says the New York World. The
brothers were overhauled one day by a
farmer whose cat they were chasing.
30 placate the farmer they gave him
dollar for pig, which they took home.
BY driving away their fathers pigs at
feeding time they soon made their own
the latest pig in the pen and sold him
at a profit of 81. Mr.. Stockton always
considered the deal q tribute to his
business acumen.
The following racy story of Frank
Stockton was related some time ago by
a correspondent of the New York Trib-
une: A well known literary woman
called at The Century office on rainy
day. When she left, the sun was shin
ing so that she forgot her rubber
shoes, which she had laid aside on en-
te Sag. Shortly after her departure
Stockton came In, noticed the shoes,
was Informed to whom they belonged
and asked permission to return them.
Mrs. - received her rubbers the same
evening accompanied by some such
note as this:
Office OF The Century Magazine,
New York, Nov. TO- 1885.
AIRS. -:
Dear Madam-Without expressing any
opinion in regard to the literary merits Of
the inclosed articles permit us to say that
they seem unsuitable to the columns Of
CHS magazine. Respectfully yours.
YYYrY T1Xy IN q