Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-06

is being made in collaboration
with a journalistic friend.
\ Day without n Line"
MIR. Brady modestly declares that he can
not bring himself to believe that he has
been doing anything herculean. IT'S very
easy and simple to me. All | do Is TO en-
deayor to follow the motto Of an ancient
man OF learning. 1t was TGcitus who eald,
No day without a line My line is gen
orally forthcoming, for once I get a plot in
my head can't rest until q is out and on
paper. First thing I know, a book has
written itself while | have walked and
talked. Then I'm contented and happy and
lazy UP to the moment another plot jumps
into my brain while I'm out walking or
riding. 'Hohenzollern' came to me when l
was on my way to Annapolis to see a foot
ball game.
Instantly fell enthusiastically in love
with the idea and read all the reference
books l can lay hands on, often hundreds.
Many l tear apart, taking what l want and
compiling just the one s%uccinct and peril
nent reference book that | need for the
story. This information get at my
tongues end, after which l begin to write.
Really, though, l don't write the books
and stories I produce. Miss Paris does
that. She punctuates and paragraphs them,
too. I couldn't get along without her, for
the simple reason that l couldn't sit down
and write a book with my own hand. IT'S
too hard work.
How He Came to write Books.
"when l was a preacher, and a pretty
green preacher at that, I prscticed extern
poraneous speaking, with more or less dis
astrous consequences, both to myself and
congregation. AS a result the extempora-
neous habit became fixed. When l remarked
one day four years ago to Bishop Whitaker.
while we were riding In a trolley car, that
/ believed I'd write a book, he laughed.
That laugh put me on my mettle. l
determined to write a book. But l couldn't
DO It; l had never cultivated the pen habit.
l was and am too lazy.
Here was a pretty mess, and the good
bishops laugh was constantly in my ears.
In my extremity I thought Of my eX-
temporaneous sermons and exclaimed: oh,
II l could only talk the book l put aside
the idea Of a stenographer after a cursory
glance at my pocketbook. / had about
given up hope when l thought Of the phono-
graph. Into one I straightway talked, For
Love of Country The photograph got
even. II persisted in running down at the
most exciting parts. When I'd stop to
think about a sentence or a word 1t would
keep right on grinding, and I nearly worried
myself sick over the thought that good
cylinders were going to waste. l had a
strenuous time Of It. To cap the climax,
when I read portions Of the transcription to
Mrs. Brady, she said You'd better stick
to preaching My reward came, however,
when a publishers letter a few weeks
later assured me that he had formed a diff
ferent opinion Of the book. AS a result I've
been preaching and writing ever since, and
I'm glad to say l have yet to experience
the sensation Of having a manuscript re-
jected.
His Earliest Compositions.
That's hardly true, on second thought"
Here Mr.. Brady laughed heartily. IT wrote
four short stories when ! was 21, Just after
I left the naval academy. They were re-
jected all over the United States. Two OF
them are stored away in an old trunk. One
has been lost. The fourth / recently used
for the foundation Of a story that is now
appearing as a serial. Woven With the
Ship After these four stories had Travelled
all over the country in f~ruitless search OF
a publisher. l quit trying to be an author
l went out into the world and gathered ex-
perience as preacher, railroad man, farmer,
soldier, what not, / didn't try writing
again until some four years ago. Then
naturally turned TO history for inspiration
for ever since my academy days | have read
all the American and foreign history l could
lay hands on. Perhaps I seem to turn out
books fast because l have a good deal Of
untouched experience and many years Of
historical reading to draw on
Mr.. Brady is the picture Of robust health
This prime bodily condition may be largely
the result Of a temperament which enables
the owner to forget all about novels in in,
tense enjoyment Of a humorous incident
Mr.. Brady dearly loves a good joke; II 4
happens to be directed at him, so much thu
better, and the heartier is his clear, ringinl
laughter. Indeed, he even goes so far as L
tell jokes of which he has been the butt.
THE praise Of one little woman IN m,
congregation is always in my mind. On,
Sunday, after service, she approached an
told me that she had Just finished reading
one Of my books. Indeed, I hope I enter
tanned your l replied. She beamed int
my face as she answered: oh. you did, Mr.
Brady, very much; | found you to be a de
lightfully modest man, mentally"
There is a statement by a western criti
about When Blades Are Out and Love
Afeld," which makes the author smile ever
time he thinks Of 1t. This particular boo
reviewer sarcastically remarked that II
Brady understood his business when blade
were out, but when 1t came to love-makin
he certainly was afeld.
There is one Joke on him, however, tina
Mr.. Brady thinks is being carried too faI
Out in Kansas and Oklahoma everybody
sitting down and penning wrathful letter
TO him. and all because he made the heroin
in Oklahoma" ride $50 miles in a fe,
hours! Mr.. Brady intended racing the gil
into the newly opened country and to
mythical town just a few miles across tn
starting line. Memory played him false; /
debating the story he ran the Kentuck
thoroughbred all the way to Guthrie. n
one caught the error, and hence a delue
OF letters from the inhabitants Of the plains
Mr.. Brady tries to be philosophical about I
He realizes that he himself brought COW
the torrent and sends an abject apology I
every outraged westerner. But he is grow
ing tired.
Between Jokes Mr.. Brady is seen regu
larly at athletic. games, the theater, socis
gatherings, out walking and riding ana I