The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-10

Toledo, superintendent of the state
asylum for the insane, he fncIosed his
check for dozen copies. which was
followed by an order for two dozen
more These were judiciouslv dis
triDuted. when, asking to see the au-
thor himself, 1 Went to Toledo and met
the man whom I consider my greatest
benefactor
Encouraged bv the success of my
f1rst venture I broupht out another
collection Of verse, Majors and Min
ors These eliciting favorable review
~ Harpers weekly from William Dean
HOWeis. new readers were added to my
list The Century was the goal of my
ambition. but it took nine years of ef-
fort to reach it, I began sending my
contributions TO the editor when ] was
fourteen wears old. and when I was
twenty-three he accented three poems
from me at once. This exceeded my
happiest hopes. and I was so proud
and happy
Moved to the East.
During the worlds fair I went to
Chicago, remained several years, when,
having decided to devote myself to lit
efature. I removed to New York. where
1 wrote a series of slum stories, con-
triouting to the daily papers.
At this time my Lyrics of Lowry
Life appeared, William Dean Howells
writing the Introduction to it. Folks
from Dixie followed, and, embracing
a long desired opportunity, I went
e@DA OdAi spcndAIlS SIX months IN ACiAuOi4.
There I was entertained by the literary
clubs Of the city, and my books We're
brought out ia substantial British
edition"
A poem by Alice Ruth Moore, which
appeared in a Boston magazine. mad
attracted his attention and upon his
return to New York he met the author,
then teaching in public school. After
a brief acquaintance they were mar
ried, and removing to Washington the
poet filed for a short time a nOSi1iOQ
in the Congressional Library.
The couple occupied a house near lie
DrOit Park, which, though simple, was
refined. Well filed book shelves. upon
which were authors presentation copies
lined the poets study, and engravings
and etchings of good pictures hung up
on the walls. In the drawing room was
piano and guitar and other indications
of culture.
His wife. while continuing her own
literary work, was invaluable as an as
sistant to him, typeWriting all of his
compositions, and frequently taking
them down in shorthand. The climate
of Washington did not suit him, how
ever. and he was often absent from
home. going to Florida, the Jersey coast
and Denver in search of health. At the
far from his publishers and his Sltua-
ton lonely and depressing.
His wife is an EpiscOpalian, and while
in Washington they attended st. Luke s
church., of which the Rev. Owen NJ
Waller, now about TO remove to New
York, was pastor.
The peal of the organ the flowers,
the dim restful light, the ritual-ail
appeal to me- he said. Most men have
at some period of their lives an attack
of agnosticisn, as of measles, but with
me it has left no sears"
OF dialect writer's he said:
1T is difficult to put any name be-
fore that of Ruth McEnery Stuart. who
side of the race with such fidelity. There
are in the writings of Joel Chandler
Harris, however, intimate touches which
to me are marvellous. He represents the
negro in an aspect in which he does
not exhibit himself to a white man, re-
peating characteristic speeches that he
would scarcely give utterance to before
any except those of his own color"