The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-03-14
MORE THAN $500 A WORD.
Rowland Thomas, of Peabody, Mass.
Wins the Great Golfers Contest.
(New york Americans

NNeW 4Ofk A1neflcaI.J
Mr.. Rowland Thomas. of Peabody,
Mass. although very much of a new
conner in the world of fiction, has the
unique distinction of having written
story which has probably been more
violently discussed before its publica-
ton than any tale yet written In any
language.
When Golfers announced that they
were to hold a short-story contest for
American writer's, nearly every author
of standing in this country, and a great
many thousand with no standing at
turned in the best stories of which
they were capable. And then every
one who had read the conditions of
the contest, which was absolutely
open to any sort of story, began to
discuss what constituted a really
good story and if any story could be
worth $4,000. Many newspapers
and periodicals published lists of
what their editors considered the
ten best stories ever written, and it
was curious to note In how very few
cases the opinion of these various
editors agreed.
During the past year, in which the
stories were being written and the
judges We're picking out the win
ners, these same editors expressed
themselves as to what elements form
ed the best kind Of short story.
Mr.. Pages Idea of Story.
Mr.. Walter H. Page, editor OF 1.-THE
Worlds Work, and one of the judges
of the contest, says that "a story must
be a succession of events and ex-
periences; a single picture or mere
description is not story In writ
ing of the manuscripts he had to
pass upon, he also says $50 many
yfif 70. afofa IL
rial for good stories, though l wonder
If this be not common mistake in
our time. A man who has stirring
fact or a thrilling experience has not
story until he has used it in some
proper way has constructed it, has
built it,.
On the other hand, Mr.. William
Allen White, also one of the judges,
has put himself on record as follows:
THE best short story to my mind is
one that handles an incident-a cross
section of life-rather than a story
that sketches the whole of a life''
These two opinions are particularly
valuable because they come from
men who have given the short story
very serious consideration, both from
the practical and artistic standpoint
But 1t is fair to say that every author
and nearly every reader Of fiction
today has very positive ideas as to
the perfect short story, and no doubt
these views are as far apart as those
of r. age and Mr.. White. That is
why Mr.. Rowland Thomas may we'll
look forward with some trepidation
to the publication next month of his
prize-winning story. That he gained
hrst place from twelve thousand
other contestants and that he was
paid at the rate of over 81 a word
should, however, be some consolation
Tale of Savage Life.
OF the three winning stories,
Mr.. Thomas tale. which is called
Fagan, is described by Mr.. Page as
q Vlr1le tale of an untamable savage
life; the story of a robust negro who
became a soldier in the Philippines.
who deserted and reverted to a sort of
savage state and was at last killed by
head-hunters in whose country he
sought refuge"
Mrs. Margaret Deland's contrlbu-
ton, which was just beaten by the
narrowest of margin, is the story
which William Allen White placed first
because lit handled a big. universal
theme in strong way with the dra-
matte power we'll in hand" 1t is, as
matter of fact, a psychological study
of rather commonplace people who
through series of unusual incidents,
AASC " AOSA4 AAOiSillS Vi the IIlOSl Intense
passion. There is nothing in common
between these two stories; they are as
far apart in their substance and the
method of development as the two
poles One is a character sketch of
striking and unusual personality.
drawn with big. free hand. in which
everv stroke tells. The other is the
Photographic result of an excellent
X-Ray apparatus having been turned
on the family skeleton of two ordi-
nary commuters.
Solace to Would-be Authors.
These two stories as well as the
winner of the third prize, which is a
powerful tale of Mormon life. will No
doubt bring solace to many would-be
authors all over this broad land. 1t
is a complaint of the students of Mrs.
Deland and Mrs Wharton--and the
school of their admirers and imitators
is very much overcrowded at present
that editors do not care for psycholoe-
ical studies and always return their
manuscripts with a request for
something humorous or at least