The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-24

fields, and actually wrote about
10000 words, all crude and amateurish
enough"
1T isn't too late to return to the
triiogy."
Miss Tarbell smiled and shook her
head
Somebody else, perhaps, will take
up the romance of the oil fields"
Where were you educated, Miss
Tarbell?"
In the public schools Of Titusville.
| graduated at the High School, and
then went to the college at Meadville.
1t was educational There were
tve -glrlS-two seniors, two juniors,
and / the only freshman"
Where did you begin your literary
work."
LAS you may infer from the strug-
giles of the oil producer, it was neces-
sary for me to earn my own living.
| became writer on The Chautau-
guam and subsequently associate edi-
tor. | worked very hard, but soon
discovered that to diffuse ones self, as
an editor must do, discouraged any
other sort of work. To accomplish
anything worth while, one should
have a speciality ! had already writ
ten several sketches Of the lives Of
the women Of the French Revolution
for The Chautauquan.
why women of the French Revo-
luton? You seem always to have
some definite purpose. Why did you
select those?"
1T. was as a phase of the woman
question. ] wanted to see just what
women who had the opportunity to
engage in public affairs were able to
do-to determine the Importance of
tic influence they were able to WELD
Do you like catS?"
This diversion arose from the tabby,
who had climbed to the top of my
chair and was investigating my hat
trimmings.
You mustn't let him trouble you.
Even in Western PENNSYLVANIA there
was good deal of material to draw
upon, and | found myself interested
i'll historical biography. Being con-
verified to French methods Of historical
research and to the French manner of
dealing with such material, I deter
mined to give up my position on the
magazine, go to Paris, and devote
three years to studying and equipping
myself for this sort of work.
Burrowing in the National Library.
AS | was still obliged to support
myself, | worked hard, writing maya
zine and newspaper articles while |
burrOwed in the National Library and
attended lectures. About this time
Alphand died. He was the man who
carried out the improvements begun
by Raussman, and was known as the
King of Paris wrote an account
of his work and life, and sent it to the |
Mcclure Syndicate. AS it happened, |
Mr.. Mcclure, passing through the
room, picked up the proof of this ar
ticle and read it. Why, this girl can
do things he remarked
1T was not long after that there was
knock on my little den, up five |
flights of the stairs of Paris. l opened |
and the visitor said:
"'You're Miss Tarbell and l am Mr..
Mcclure. have just FIVE minutes
to talk to you
"He came in, and, seated at opposite
sides of the table, we talked for two
ho~rs, both at once.
THE magazine was then Matching, ]
presume.
at did not appear until a year and
a half later Meanwhile, he wanted
me to get up an anecdotal article
on Napoleon"
That was the inception of the
Life?"
"By no means. He had arranged
for that in another manner, and from
another person. 1t was after | came
home that one day l received tele-
gram: will you write a history of
Napoleon? Must have the first install
ment next MONTH 1t seemed the
original plan had miscarried.
Pleased by an Audacious Plan.
"The audacity of the thing amused
and tempted me. At the same time it
fell in with another thing. ] had just
written life of Madame Roland
Deep in the story of the French Revo-
luton, had the desire to finish it.
All my previous study had led up to
Napoleon. Briefly, conscious of my
temerity, | accepted Mr.. McClure's
offer and hurried to New York"
"And the Life Of Mr.. Lincoln-was
that natural progression?"