The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-02
A WRITER OF SEA STORIES.
Concerning w. w. Jacobs, Author of
"'The Shippers WOOing."
London Mail.

LONDON Mail.
81 do little work, and l have no methods"
said Mr.. w. w. Jacobs in a recent CONVEX
sation in answer to the question how he
worked. II published my first book, Many
Cargoes.' In 1896, and since then one book
peared each year, except in 1899. when | did
nothing. This year / am publishing two
books-'At Sunwich Port, my Strand Mag
azine serial, during the spring, and a vol
ume of short stories In the autumn. When
j want an idea i sit down and think of
one. and take as long as 1 possibly can in
working II out. Sometimes | publish a
story exactly as l first write il: sometimes
! make many alterations. 1 really have no
rules"
MIR. Jacobs is a slight. fair man. who
looks considerably less than his thirty
eight years. lie was a civil-service clerk
for sixteen years. and his first story was
printed in a private magazine published
In the Savings Bank. The first of the
Many Cargoes'' stories was refused bv
thirteen editors before finally appearing
In To-Day. then under the editorship of
Mr.. Jerome. Mr.. Jerome wrote asking for
more, and Ar. Jacobs started the humorous
exploitation of the lower Thames. one of
the stories in Many CargOes' was sent TO
the late Mr.. James Payn, then the editor
of Cornhill. and refused by him. A year or
two Mr.. Pay the
completed volume for the "Academy's'
prize for the best book of the year.
The reputation or being humorous is. ac-
cording 10 Mr. Jacobs. a very undesirable
possession. People who meet me at tea
wait expectantly for my conversation to
scintiilate, and il never does. II could be
humorous all the time, / should write a
story a day As a matter of fact. ones
jokes are often born after much tribula-
ton"
The unique knowledge of the lower
Thames and the small coaster that Mr..
Jacobs possesses was acquired by him
when living as a boy at Mapping. where
his father had a wharf. He knows thor
oughly the small. half-decayed posts on
the Essex coast. where many Of his stories
have had their locales. He has used the
Thames and the coaster because by so do
ing he broke new ground. but he has no
Idea or always combining himself TO them
AS a matter OF fact, the majority of his
latest short stories have no connection
with the sea.
Talking Of humorous writing generally.
Mr.. Jacobs said he thought the essence of
the art OF comedy was knowing what TO
leave the imagination Of the reader to fill
IN. AS an example OF what he meant. he
told a story. which. though not quite new
Is worth repeating. a small boy was sit
ting down one evening 10 do his home les
sons, when an elder brother came into the
room. and. affectionately putting his arm
round his shoulder, said; "Hullo. old chap.
what are you doing-geograDhy?' The
younger boy promptly replied: Look here.
II it's anything 10 be fetched from upstairs,
I'm not going"
Air. Jacobs lives at Buckhurst Inn. hav-
Ing Mr.. Arthur Morrison as his nearest
literary neighbor- He says that the district
Is admirably suited for quiet literary work
as he and the mflkman are the only male
persons living there who do not go To the
city by early trains. Two OF his short
stories have been dramatized. and he has
ideas OF writing an original play. There il
room for n humorist in the English theater.
and A. nav be hoped that Mr.. Jacobs will
carry out his Intention.