The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-07-06
The Literary Outlook.
(By Herbert Brewster.)

The bacilli of authorship seem to be
mysteriously transmitted through the
printed page to the average reader
Few are immune. The ink FEVER has
many victims. And because this is
SO. there will always be many WHO take
seriously the learned articles which APP
pear from time to time on the subject
of How to be a Novelist" Several
English authors have recently given
views on the matter and the diversity
of opinion among them indicates at
least the general value of directions to
successful writing.
Mr. William LIE Quex believes that
one should write out of wide expert
ence with life-which experience is to be
gained only by much travel. o. E.
w. Mason and E. F. Benson, however,
say that there is no need of travel. Mr..
Ouiller Couch also affirms that one can
not become novelist through following
the rules laid down by Mr. LIE Quex
Mr.. Frankfort Moore recommends the
writing of boys books as a fine training
for the novelist because directness of
narration is thus cultivated, and an
other writer goes on to say that he
would rather take a boys opinion as to
the possible success of new work than
that of any publisher, reader or critic.
The former statement has the ring of
truth in 1t, but the latter was doubtless
written hurriedly and not revised. A
boys opinion on boys book would be
valuable, but for boy to judge of the
quality of some books for the adult
would be as foolish as to expect the
first year Latin student to appreciate
the rhythm and beauty of Horace.
Mr.. Tom Gallon, who has just pub
lished 1.-THE Man Before" puts it down
as a qualification that the novelist must
have studied life at first hand. Neil
Munro says that the novelist is born
not made. The unfortunate part of
this opinion is that it is too often
shared by the beginners, each of whom
imagines that such was his happy fate
at birth and that the world has refused
to see his greatness since.
Max Pemberton insists on having
story to tell. Barry Pain waggishly ad-
vises the aspirant to write a novel
which shall become popular: Hamlin
Garland, Cy. Warman, Stewart Edward
White, Owen Wister, and a host of
Western and Southern writers of our
own country believe that one should
first live the life and then tell it truly
Booth Harrington exclaims. "You must
see it first, but you may see it in your
minds eye Curiously enough, Mr..
Harrington pictures all of his stories
out first on paper and then proceeds to
the writing.
Wasn't it Kipling who said: "There
are forty thousand ways of nditing tri-
h,I
rights?'
There IS a young lawyer about to take
Ex-Governor Altgelds place in a proml-
nent Chicago law firm, named MIR.
Brand Whitlock, who, besides being
capable lawyer, deserves also to be
ranked as one of the best political fic-
ton writer's living. The truth of this
statement has doubtless been impressed
upon the minds of many who have read
his short stories in the magazines,
though the fact escaped the notice of
many. No one, however, who reads
THE Thirteenth District will mistake
The authors standing. for this first book
is wonderful picture of one phase of
politics, and the story which runs
through the book has all the elements
oI dclud1ty. lnueed, MT. WnltlOCkS
high standing as a political fictionist
comes from the fact that he writes po-
ltical truth. His Characterization in
The Thirteenth District are doubtless
pen portraits. Once the author allows
himself an expression of his apprecia-
ton of Altgeld under a thinly yelled
euise.
Mr.. Whitlock was for several years a
newspaper man, working in Chicago
and also in Springfield as legislative
correspondent. In his first long story
he has chosen the Thirteenth district of
Illinois and the tale relates the rise,
progress and downfall of a Congress
nan. The book has not been recog-
niZed properly as yet, but it will be-
and the future work of the author may
be watched with much expectation
Girl of Virginia., by Lucy NJ Thurs
ton is to call attention to the tendency
of young writer's to make novel out
of just enough material for short
story. OF course there is need for
many writer's to save their energies, to
keep as many plots ahead as possible,
but the result in most cases is very bad.
In the present instance one feels that
the author has libeled the girls of Vir-