The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-06-15
Life and Work of - *
.@ - Marion Crawford.

NiN'fNAN "ih"'V'
81 his life
NJ he said II could only write play should
'e perfectly happy 1t has always been my dream. But
eye been able do it, have tried over and
gain, but it has been in vain. 1t seemed easy enough
When tackled it. bur somehow my conversation didn't talk
50 have finally given it up"
This was two and he discussing the drama
zaton by another hand OF his lin the Palace of the
King The play had just been put and had proved
big The other day the cable brought the brief
announcement that Francesca da Rimin by f. Marion Craw
ord had been produced in Paris and had with the most
be is romantic years ago Mr. Crawford began what
he meant to be the serious undertaking OF his life.
Under the title OF The Harvest of the Sword he
going tell the story OF the sixty characters
81 history Each character to make complete book
Mr. Crawford the task with his enthusiasm.
But for the first time iii his life he tired task rather
he realized after he had gotten we'll into it, that what he
had undertaken to do in couple of years would take seven
eight He therefore stopped short cabed his publisher
that the arrangement off requested the return of the
manuscript already in hand and paid substantial forfeit 1t
happened when he broke off the work that he engaged
the story OF Francesca da Rmni incidental character
in The Harvest of the Sword The intense dramatic situa
tons had held his imagination firmly and he made up his
mind when the other plan went by the board that he would
use the Francesca material TO write play He plunged
headong into the work and carried the manuscript with
nm when he sailed last year for Europe Bernhard had
often asked him write play for her but he had always
declined He concluded that he would read her this last
effort They the Carlton London and Bernhard
into ecsacies The play course had been written
in English which Bernhard understands perfectly 1t
turned Morris Schwab her translator and gem
tleman turned it into French without however altering
single situation. SO Mr. Crawford finally achieved
the thing he had almost put out OF his mind
The impression with most people is that, while Mr. Craw
ford writes in English and is OF American parenagc he
TO all inens and purposes foreigner who does all his
matter OF fact most OF his serious work is done IN New
York city, where he maintains regular residence Mr.
Crawford is striking than OF his faso-
natng characters and his New York living place worthy
of his unique individuality 70 Fifth avenue, at
the southwest Thirteenth street With the excep
OF that portion taken BY the novelist the building
bping in
floors Mr. Crawford took long lease OF the part
OF the fourth floor, and remodeed suit his
He has passion for large rooms born OF his life in
the great Italian palaces and in this he has INDUCED
himself in his New York apartments a that would
the average American stare The main room is about
sixty feet long by thrtyhve feet wdclarger than many
meeting halls. 1t absolute impossbty conduct
binary conversation this Its still
further emphasized by the pauncs and seauness of the
furniture To be there enough in the place to fill
ordinary fat overdowng but this huge it is
almost lost. The striking object in the place is a
monster dvai nine feet long and hye eet or SIX feet IN
width. This is the novests bed 1t popularity of the
Crawford family that they sleep in made-up beds like
other people They want to feel that they really
retiring for the night They simply lie down for few
moments rest and then when they wake up again it's the
morning This trait is particularly strongly developed
in Mr. Crawford and in his Italian home Sorrento he has
divans like the in the New York establishment
tered all the house Another peculiarly is that he
reads by the ordinary lights His valet Of those
altar candles used by the Roman Catholic churches the
biggest to be had This candle is cut into short lengths
winch placed at the heau OF the IL gives Deautl-
full soft yellow light which the novelist declares is better
for reading than anything else in the world.
Mr. Crawford always to America late in September
early in October and settles down in the Fifth avenue
quarters until the latter part of January early February
For days the week he works in the big of which
have spoken at large desk that stands near one of the
several windows that face Thirteenth On Sunday he
touches pen but from Monday morning until Satur-
day night he gets his desk before o'clock in the
ing and works until Up TO this time he has eaten
little nothing cup of coffee and roll perhaps
sofboiled egg; At noon he goes to nearby French
luncheon and constitutes his main meal
4 il
1t is doubtful whether there is any other living person
who produce quite much hrstclass copy Mr..
Crawford 1t is ordinary thing for him to write 5000
words in day and he really writes it, lie tried debating
several times, but somehow could make any head
way His copy" is work of art, but very unpopular
with the printing fraternity He writes beautiful, clean,
copperpate hand and when he starts out his letters
OF very good size and lcgblc ypewriting. But
he proceeds the letters grow smaller and smaller until finally
they much larger than pnhead. Some concep-
ton of the minuteness OF his writing may be had when
it stated that his copy will generally words to
page.
Mr. Crawford generally writes complete of 1907
coo words or more during his New York stay. At his
Italian home in Sorrento Mr. Crawford does comparatively
little work. There he devotes most of his time his
four children two boys and two girls Of whom has
been in America. Mrs Crawford. who belongs
old American family comes across with her husband once
every three years but rarely makes long stay
working purposes in Italy Mr. Crawford some time ago
leased ancient watch tower on the Calabran coast
is days sail from Sorrento but entirely Of the
Of travel The only thing there is to it is dungeon with
keep above 1t stands rocky little ise facing tiny
rockbound harbor The novelist has fitted up the keep in
scanty fashion and here he settles down for
time writing steadily his chair facing the broad blue
Mediterranean During his residence here he is compelled
live fish and eggs which his sailors the
main The sailors present because Mr. Crawford
always makes the trip his yacht taunch schooner
sixty long built in America. Mr.. Crawford sailed this
schooner across the Atlantic. He is mariner hold
captains license and always when afoat
the regular crew. taking his turn at the enthusiastically
E0cHHg Posi-