The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-22
WITH BOOKS AND AUTHORS
BY PAUL PRv.

Mr.. Harland nossesses to an extraordn-
airy degree. and It stamps The Lady
Paramount" with a charm and delight all
Its own
Apropos of F. Marion Crawford in
recent Interview he said concerning MS
work: Il could not write at ALL II did
not delight in such employment. l Know
OF no one who has written many DOCKS
who would willingly lay down his or her
pen After tenty years of continuous
writing, 1t has become second nature
to me-" OF his characters ne sala' NO
my characters are not creatures OF lhVeh-
tion. 1t would be as impossible Tor me
to invent, a character as for one who
had not seen an elephant to draw one
They are evolved out of the brain, in SO
far as they may be composite the COM
bined characteristics of many INDIVIDUALS
the result Of varied observation. l never
knew of one who invented character.
All writer's are indebted to people ABOUT
them, or personages In history
In many cases characters IN novels are,
largely, portraits of people; with which
they may or may not be pleased you
run that risk. Some persons suggest
story" OF Cecilia, he said: Il think out
my whole story and every detail before
putting my pen to paper, so ailer start
ing 1t Is not difficult. / had Cecilia IN
my mind, planning 1t, for two years,
put ii down. If / were asked how long
It takes me to write novel, l would
include all such hours of construction.
Ny first outlining Is done on one large
sheet OF paper; this Is the construction
stage. I write over my words and make
serious changes. This Is the real lapour,
the rest is actual pleasure
| A sparkling example of Mr. Crawford 9
statement of the way he builds CHAR
acter OF a story upon suggestion or
| thought CLEANED In real life Is FOUND IN
''Vivi l. Empereur." by Mary Raymond
] Shipman Andrews
Here the author has taken the sugges-
ton from some old hatfield Napoleonic
/ legend, and with this slender historical
thread has woven a really charming lit
| tie romance. The, action for the most
part takes place In an old castle on the
| Irish coast A son of Marshal Ney Is the
young lover In the tale which. of course.
| gives piquancy to the plot. The heroine
| is a charming, vigorous young woman,
| and while she listens attentively 10 the
elaborate political plans which are man
| lpulated by no less a parsonage than
M. de Taleyrand, she has finally to make
decision between love on the one side
and power and position on the other
| he plans of the great coup d'etat'
were perfected and unfolded to the
staunch young heroine; now she meets
the situation is the dramatic crisis of the
story The book is readable, dainty and
sprightly. and is a most attractive gift
book 1t Is published In tasty covers of
blue and gold. with striking and appro-
pirate illustrations by f. c. Yohn.
"Riley dreamed and Christy drew this
lovers lay for me and you" explains the
beautiful edition of Riley's IAN Old
Sweetheart of Mine" with Illustrations
by Howard Chandler Christy. The edi-
ton was first published for the holiday
trade, but has proven such favorite
that the publishers are compelled to apol-
ogize for their inability to supply the
demand promptly. While all the ilustra-
lions. which are numerous, are In Chris
tvs best and most characteristic style,
one of the most winning accompanies the
verse:
IT can see the pink sun-bonnet
And the little checkered dress
She wore when first | kissed her.
And she answered the caress
With the written declaration that,
As surely the vine
Grew round the stump she loved me-
That old sweetheart of NINE"