Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-26
NICHOLSON CHAMPIONS BOOK
Author of Novel of Omaha Society
Talks Back at Destructive
Critics of His Work.

In the Indianapo polls Journal Meredith
Nicholson gets back at the attack on his
book. THE Main Chance" as a roast
upon Omaha, expressing his opinion of the
World-Herald man and his comment in
the following fashion:
ut is curious" he said, that he should
take this view, for a number of eastern
newspapers, In reviewing my story, have
expressed pleasure that at last a novel
OF western life has been written in which
all the characters were ladies and gen.
tienen. who, as. the Boston Herald says.
no longer eat sugar and vinegar on their
lettuce had an inquiry from gentleman
the other day as 20 where my town OF
Clarkson is, as he thought It sounded
like an ideal place, and he wanted to
move there. fear the World-HeraId man
was looking for trouble. The loyalty Of
the Clarkson people toward their own
city is one thing that hoped to get into
the story, and nobody but this one editor
seems to have missed IT, Ny story IL
dated back to the early nlneties, and
Omaha had changed much in the past
decade. l don't care to have my book
advertised in this yellow way, at the ex-
pense OF Omaha, which l meant only to
praise"
But there are certain incidents that
seem to have given especial oftense,
ball, for instance. What about that?"
Mr.. Nicholson laughed. MY descrip-
tion of the Knights OF Midas ball does
seem to have wounded the Omaha editor"
he replied. but here again be has quoted
from the joking references to 1t OF one
OF my characters, and not my own com
ments. He calls my description OF the
Clarkson club sarcastic but there isn't
a word of sarcasm in the whole book.
There may be a little gentle irony here
and there, but not enough TO wound any
normal human beings feelings. The
World-Herald seems 10 have forced me
into the position of defending Omaha.
which is not a wise thing for a news
paper Of good intentions to do"
do you admit the charge that YOU
drew your characters from Mfe?"
1T makes me tired, this effort to hnd
the originals of my characters in certain
Missouri valley cities" said Mr.. Nichol-
son with much earnestness 'I have had
letters from Kansas City, St. Joseph and
Omaha asking as to the identity of Ger.
tain characters" he went on. There are
no originals of any Of my people They
are pencil sketches and not kodak pic
tures William Porter is a composite OF
two or three men that have known in
western cities, Evelyn Porter is. I think,
type OF the present-day colleee-bred
girl. who goes home from school to md
that life isn't all chocolate creams and
matinee tickets. Mabel Margrave is her
antithesis have known about seven
Mabels in different parts OF the world,
ana It has seemed TO me that they added
a good deal 10 the gayety Of nations.
II have no intention OF quarrelinE with
the literary critics, but the World Herald
man is not OF that class He went through
The Main Chance merely TO fnd some
thing that would make sensational ar
ucle, He has digsed his own pit, for
never told anybody that Clarkson was
Omaha. He doesn't owe me any apology,
but as an admirer OF the snap and viEof
and charm OF Omaha l think he owes AN
apology 10 his fellow-citizens"