The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-18
MARION CRAWFORD
 SEES VIOLA ALLEN
Distinguished Novelist Writing
 New Play for the Actress
HERE TO CONFER WITH HER
Crawford at Work on Life of Leo. Talks About Great Pontiff and
 Other Subjects-Miss
 Allen Also Talks.

F. Marion Crawford, the eminent man of letters, was in Viola Aliens party that reached Birmingham yesterday. He spent Wednesday in Atlanta, where the dlstln- guished actress appeared in Twelfth Night" Miss Aliens company goes from Birmingham to Indiana, but MT. Crawford leaves in the morning for New York.
 T delivered a lecture in Birmingham about six years ago and then had an op- portunity to see much of your wonderful district said MT. Crawford to an Age l Herald reporter at the Hilman last night ''I am here now to confer with Viola AL len touching the details of new play that l am writing for her, and have not | had time, therefore, to see much of the city, but l find at q glance that Birming- ham has grown rapidly. It Is a fine town and one feels progress in its very atmos- phere"
 Versatile Man.
 MT. Crawford is, perhaps, the most versatile literary man In the world today He has written twenty novels, every one of which has high merit. His first novel | was MT. 1saaes," published in 1882. The scene was laid in India. The book met with immediate favor and ran through | many editions. In certain aspects and contrasts of Oriental life, 1t brought a new romantic element into fiction. The original of MT. lsaacs'' was Mr. Jacobs who, by the way, is still living. Among his other popular novels are 'Dr. Clau- dius." ITO Leeward "A Roman Sin ger "zoroaster" and "saracinesca."
 But before MT. Crawford wrote his first novel he had done a good deal of work in scientific writing, especially along the lines of engineering, and in recent years he has l hppn DrOlifp nG a xiat a c nl 50 years of age, although his iron gray mustache and the deep lines in his face make him appear somewhat older. He is singularly genial and fame has not spoiled his conversation is entirely free from ego tism
 MT. Crawford Is often referred to as a cosmopolite and we'll he may be. His father, the great sculptor, was a native of New York but the novelist was born In sunny Italy He received a classic education in Concord, N. H. and after wards studied at Trinity College, Cam bridge, England, and at two three German universities. He speaks seven or eight modern languages and is as fluent in Italian as he is in English.
 MT. Crawford has spent several years of his life in Rome and he knows and loves every street and nook of the eternal city. In speaking of Rome last night he said the climate there was delightful and that the only period of the year when it was unhealthy was from the middle of August until the middle of October. But, he remarked, "any of you southern peo- pie could go to Rome in August or Sep tember and keep we'll"
 Life of Leo XII.
 MT Crawford was urged by a number of gentlemen to remain in Birmingham for several days. but he said he had to hurry | yy ynrlr a Life of Leo XIII" This book will be brought out next year by Macmillan. "I have much of 1t yet to write" said MT Crawford In speaking of the work. 'I am working in conjunction with an Italian who was very close to the late pope, and in a certain sense, then, the life of Leo will be work of collaboration. My CO., laborer had been collecting material for this work for 90 years and 1t is an inter- est fact that while l had known him in- timatey during all these years l had no idea. until after the holy father died, that } he had been In the confidence of Leo with this work in view. Te Life of Leo XIII will be very comprehensive for it will really include history of the pap acy from 1S4S down to the pontlfieate of Plus K"
 When MT Crawford was in Birmingham six years ago, he lectured at the South Highlands Presbyterian church and his ! theme was Leo Alll JL lS IeCdlleu ny many persons of culture as most charm ing effort MT. Crawford was. of course, an admirer of the departed pontiff.
 Leo's Will Power.
 Leo was a man of towering intellect and intense spiritual life" he said, and man of wonderful will power He domi- mated the vatican absolutely. While Leo loved books, he had little time, after he became pope, to indulge in literature. He touched humanity at every point and out side of his spiritual duties, his mind ran largely on the labor question, sociology, and politics in broad sense."
 MT. Crawford said the cardinals did wise thing when. they elected the patri- arch of Vepi6e as the successor of Leo. "Pius- X,'| he said lis a great broad D minded, progressive man, who will go forward with Leo's policies. Cardinal Rampolla, had he been elected pope, would have proved reactionary, it Is thought. Plus X is certainly making a splendid start
 Asked about recent American novels. Mir Crawford said that much good work was being done. "The national novel was a happy idea" he remarked. "It Is finely illustrated in Winston Churchhils s books Mary Johnston is another novel, ist of high ability. I read her TO Have and to Hold with rare interest" Miss Allen Talks.
 When seen last night at the Jefferson theatre, just after the performance. Miss . Allen said that for some time she and 4 MT. Crawford had been arranging for a \ new play and that her plan was to ap- ' pear in it next season.
 4 T am afraid it's just a little too soon" I began Miss Allen, Ito say anything about the play MT. Crawford Is writing for me. unless l may say that I think 1t is just splendid
 When MT. Crawford writes part it just plays itself. Why, that's why Tn the Palace of the King ran for so long time. I'm really ever and ever so in- terested in this new part that isn't be- ing taken from any book at all, but is being written for just me But sometimes I'm almost worried too, for fear that I won't half do justice to it and then" Miss Allen threw up her hands as If such possibility were too terrible for words. ''No. these scenes will not be laid In Venice It is true. that MT. Crawford still has that play in reserve. Maybe he's waiting to see fhat can make out to1 I t. hrft,o