The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-25
Admitted to the Bar.

1
| and UP to 1894 or '95. remained in prac-
tice. Most OF my work was with cor
poration law. am very fond OF tho
study OF law as q science, and am in
clined to think had obtained a large
| practice. quickly l would never have
abandoned 1t. still keep UP my legal
studies to a certain extent. reading law
occasionally for the enjoyment it affords
me-
How is It," the author was asked,
that you happened to give up law for
| litcrature?'' s
well. when studying in lawyers
office, before passing the bar I had
considerable time on my hands In
those days, many young students, and
even some OF the men who had passed
the bar frequently wrote for publca-
ton. Many n guinea was thus brought
into the Golfers. and extra guneas al
ways were acceptable; at least, We
found them so!
First Essay at Literature.
when about twcnty-six or seven.
found l had more time on my hands than
I could employ to advantage and used
to write a little. My first lengthy at
tempt was book called Man of Mark,
1t was about 10000 words long. The
book was more or less of n speculation
on my part and publisher brought 1t
out on commission.
How is 1t you adopted the mans
Anthony Hope instead OF your full
name r.
1T was not because considered An
thony Hope a better name than my full
title replied the author. "but. in those
days-and, indeed. even now, it is con-
sidered somewhat out OF the usual way
for legal men to work at anything other
than the law: and many who went in
for literature, as 1t were. adopted noms-
de-plume. I took the first two words
since"
Will Never Return to Land.
do you think you will ever return to
the 7law?''
ooh! no-not now said Mr.. Hawkins,
decidedly. After began writing a
little. found that the time came when
{ I had to choose between writing and the
sbar-and I have made my choice.
IT do not mean to say that In sue
.ceeded SO rapidly In literature that soon
abandoned the law. For some time
did not make any great success-nothing
at least to justify me in giving up my
profession. In 1890 I published Father
Stafford and had written a number OF
sketches. Until after the publication OF
Father Stafford did not begin to see
my way clearly in literature.
And they one day, as was walking
from my office to the law courts the
idea for the Prisoner Of lenda' came
Into my mind: and, shortly afterward,
I wrote the book That story caught
on very we'll; and. after that. 4 found
my name more or less In request
1T now reached the point where had
to chose between book writing and law
practice. Literature was taking UP much
.ofgmy time; and / finally concluded that
the pen was mightier than the law, so
far as personally was concerned.
Once had made my decision, kept
at literary work pretty steadily. made
1T rule to spend a certain number of
hours In my study each day; some
times ! write; sometimes no ideas come
to mo that can mako use or
His Method of Working.
"once the plan Of a story has out
age to keep at 1t until the book is
written. write out everything myself.
as find + can compose better that
way"
All the while he had been talking,
Mr.. Hawkins had managed to keep his
cigarette going steadily. asked him
II he used tobacco to a large extent.
cigarettes, anything"
t. :
Mrs. Hawkins entered the room, She
was formely a Miss Sheldon, Of New
York. She Is tall and strikingly hand
some-just tho person you would have
imagined ANTHONY Hope" to have chosen,
Judging from descriptions In some OF
his books.
ANTHONY Hopes' life, since he has
become a successful author. has undoubt-
eddy been a very pleasant one. Mr. and
Mrs, Hawkins are much sought after
by the cleverer sot Of English society.
Among ANTHONY Hopes" most sue
cessful books are Prisoner Of Zenda,"
''The God in tho Car Dolly Dialogues"
"Rupert of Hentzau,"@"The Kings Mir
ror," "Quisante," "Tristram of Blent,"
and "The Intrusion OF Peggy Besides
hook writing he has turned out some
very good plays, notably "The Adventure
OF Lady Ursula" and "Pilkerton's Peer
age" His best work Is yet before him,
as he Is only In his forty-second year,
Ip55EtI- 4 Met aaf4.. |