The Topeka state journal., 1902-06-21
THE LITERARY OUTLOOK.
George Douglass Tells of His Life
and Work


OF George Douglass (Brown), author
of The House With the Green Shut
ters," it is literally true that he not only
awoke one morning to find himself "a
nous, but ne also came suddenly to
have his desk piled high with letters
from all kinds of people in all parts oil
the English speaking world 1t is SAID
that women especially write long Screeds
to him about what he must have been
thinking when he wrote his first book;
minister's of the gospel have renonstrat-
ed with him for the pessimism IN his
view of Scotch life. and men in various
occupations have praised or blamed him
for his work. 1t may be little satisfac-
ton to these unsolicited correspondents
to learn that Mr.. Brown pays little al
tention to their letters. The particular
indifference of the author is given to
newspaper requests for information
about himself He prefers to be let
alone. 1t happened, eweVer, that the
alone 1t happened, however that the
editor of Saint Andrew vs., the official
publication of the Scotch established
church, was an old friend of the au-
thor, and when the editor insisted upon
a sketch of the authors life, the follow
ing reply was given.
You ask for some details of my life.
'Tis a clean sheet, sir: L have absolutely
no past. 1 am clothed with mine own
innocence as with garments of exceed
T was born on the 25th of January
1869 l have only the Vaguest recOllec-
ton Of that happy morn. But tradition
hath it that l gave a particularly vigor-
GUS squawk when first set eyes upon
the beauteous world.
Il was cherubic child, and thereby
hangs a tale Returning to my native
village after a long absence. I was met
by an aged crOne, who remembered
when
.. Trailing clouds of glory did come
From my celestial home
q" Mercy upon usi' she cried with the
crir7 of he Scotch
ant; can this be Geordie2' 1 grinned
an assent with my usual modesty.
' 'Eh me- she said in sad reminis-
cence: .eh me, you We're a Draw wee
boy, but Gade kens you're anything but
thOt now.
THAT is not the only gag that has
been worked off at my personal appear
ance- I met Froude, the historian. once
in the house of an Oxford Don. Its
astonishing he said to me. it's aston
ishingi You're the living image Of my
dear friend, the late John Conington'
Il said I was glad to hear that I was
like the great authority on Virgil. For
a moment the old mans thoughts seem
ed busy with the sacred past. Coming
ton he said dreamily, was the ugliest
man ever elapped an eye on.
Il was a pious child I remember be-
ing bribed with shilling to read Bax-
ter's Saints Everlasting Rest. I often
wished the book in everlasting rest with
its author. but I won the shilling.
The first thing 1 ever read on my
own account. however was death and
DR.. Hornbook, spelling it out by the
light of a great kitchen fire. I blunder-
ed at the word 'scytne.' pronouncing it
SIXTH and wondering what on earth
it was. Ca it heuk and gang on
said a grinning plowman- AS to read
ing in general can read anything
ever came across except Algebra, E.le-
ments Of Logic and the speeches of the
late Mr. Gladstone. For the rest. be they
'pome. tome or rome las a friend of
they are equally accepta bic to me. As
Charles Lamb says, Bless my stars for
a taste so catholic, 50 unexeluding.'
What other details can I give you?