The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-29

Copyright 1905, by Joseph B. Bowles.)
IN ORDER to know an author as one
knows friend, or knows his trade
or business, something more is
needful than the mere hurried per-
usal of his book. One does not
now an author in any real sense, un-
3ss he gets hold Of the personality be-
ind the work. In all the world moth
lg is more vital than book, if it be
ITO the page, whose life has permeated
he story and whose purpose in work
as been higher than Offering mere
musement, or the hope Of making
loney. TO amuse and entertain the
ublic is legitimate object, and we
annot but send our grateful thanks
} anybody whose gay good humor
rings a smile to careWorn people. An
uthor, let us add, like any other day
lborer, is worthy Of his hire, If his
ork be we'll done.
But the mirth-producing book is gen.
ally ephemeral, and should be used
ither as dessert after meal than as
10 meal itself. And as for authorship,
lille occasionally successful writer
axes a fortune, it's emoluments are
tie. The books that will live longest
I'd that have done most for the world
ave not been books which paid their
lthors very much in coin Of the realm.
!. !. i.
But this is bit apart from the topic.
ow shall we know an author, who is
i'll living, and therefore whose biog-
~N-phy' has not been published7
After a mans work is done, his me-
oirs throw great illumination upon
and no reading is more profitable
IAN that Of biography. The great
atesmen, the great poet, the great
,mmander, having finished his course
I'd gone to the majority, leaves be-
nd him footprints on the sands Of
me. Some one then tells the story OF
IS childhood, his training, his adven:
res, and his methods Of work, and
aiding about him, we take new in
rest in all that he has done and said.
any Of us feel as we'll acquainted with
ennyson and Browning, Carlyle, Rus
and Stevenson, Emerson, Haw:
orne and Longfellow, as if we had
t at their tables or talked with them
side our own fires. We may even
Tow them in way that their con
mporaries did not, for the intimacies
domestic life are too often laid bare
the letters and memorials which ap
ar when the dead can no longer de
nd their privacy.
AS for the living author, he may bal
) door and put up his shutters if he
doses. He cannot be invaded by in
-.-rviewers or besieged by admirers
ainst his will Still, it is compli
ent rather than an intrusion to seek
know something about an author .
vironment, his home life and the i'm
ession he makes on his townspeople
the latter, to his grocer, butcher anC
ker. he is very much like. anybody
Sc. They regard him with no especia
ference. If he is good fellow, he il
-pular, and If he is crusty and cur
idgeon, he is charitably supposed tt
eccentric. .I..
In our day few authors affect oddi
IS of dress or behavior. They look
t and talk very much as other clti
rs do. Eccentricity is not badge O.
MUS, altho it may be a misfortune O.
MUS.
X 1. \
There are useful compilations whicl
may consult if he have to write
per for literary club. Whateve
needs to know is terse, condense
I'm about Edward Everett Hale, yoh
rroughs, Rudyard Kipling or Mrs
lmphrey Ward, one may find out b.
5iting the nearest library and glaI
lg into the latest edition of Who
no.. If one loves an author yer
lch and has had great pleasure g
lp from what he has said, so that hi
me in the family is household wore
one would willingly take a journe