Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-04
BONE OF CONTENTION
Controversy Over the Leading
Character in ''Coniston."
Mr.. CHURCHILL'S CREATION
Scene of the Novelist's Latest Work
of Fiction.
CHANDELIERS VIGOROUS DEFENSE
Abandoned Farms in New Hampshire
Made to Pay-Milking Cows
by Machinery.
VIGOROUS DEFENSE
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence OF The Star and the Chicago
Record Herald.

BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the Chicago
Record Herald
CORNISH, N. H, July 80, 1907.
For twenty years or more artists and
literary people have been attracted here
and have formed quite little colony. Au-
gustus Saint Gaudens, the famous sculptor,
was one Of the first to come and has a
most attractive cottage, with a studio at
tached, but his health has been very poor
for two years or more. He has suffered
several surgical operations, and has been
obliged to give up all his commissions
Winston Churchill, the novelist, also has
a beautiful residence. similar in archi-
lecture to Lower Brandon, the famous seat
Of the Harrison family on the James river
in Virginia. 1t is colonial house with a
colonial view and 600 acres of the loveliest
kind of landscape around it. The views in
the state are SO similar to each other, and
there Is such an abundance Of them, that
a stranger becomes confused and his men,
DRY, after a hurried ride through the state,
is like photographers plate that has been
exposed several times His recollections of
the journey confused vision of hills
and mountains, forests and meadows, lakes
and babbling brooks.
But Churchilrs place would make dis
tinct impression upon the retina of q blind
man, and it is very much unlike the homes
of early authors. DR.. Goldsmith never lived
in such luxury; DR.. Johnson sat upon
wooden bench without cushion; Charles
Lamb used to roost in the East India office
upon stool with long legs and hard top;
Charles Dickens had comfortable cottage
at Gads Hill, with very pretty surround
ings, and Thackeray did most Of his work
at club. Mr.. Churchill does his writing
In large. sunny room with windows fac
ing to the east and south, and the portraits
Of Theodore Roosevelt and Ethan Allen
Hitchcock look down upon him While he
works. On another wall is row Of heroes,
who inspire his historical novels. George
Washington's benignant face comes first,
and Admiral Farraguts is hung at the
other end. Mr.. Churchill Is at work on a
new novel, writing several hours day.
He does his work in the old-fashioned way
pushing a pen across a pad Of paper as
his thoughts furnish the momentum.
Mr.. Churchill is now a permanent resi-
dent of New Hampshire. He took out his
naturalization papers at republican con-
vention here last summer. when he made
canvass for governor, as you doubtless
read at the time. He put up very good
fight, and 1t will not be the last one. He
has determined to follow a political career
In connection with literature, and has hon
orable aspirations for the gubernatorial
chair, and even for a seat in the United
States Senate-both of which ought to be
within reach Of man of his tact and
talents. He wants to win his spurs, how
ever and will fight in the ranks until he
has earned promotion.
Criticism Of "Confston."
There is a sharp difference of opinion as
to the effect Of "Coniston,' his latest novel,
upon his political prospects. The hero Of
that story, called Jethro Bass, is rough
and random sketch Of Ruel Durkee, an &C.
centric and successful politician, who lived
in the neghboring town of Croydon, which
is the scene Of the plot and furnished a
larger part of the characters. Indeed, 1T
will be necessary for the Vindication of his
| tory for Mr.. Churchill to publish cast of
characters in the next edition of his story,
| because almost every one Of the Inhabitants
claims to have had a part or to have men,
her OF their family in the novel, and a good
deal Of jealousy Is 1nvolvedln the contentious.
Everybody agrees, and Mr.. Churchill adj
mits, that Cynthia, the heroine, and other
| women in the story, except Mrs Bass, were
purely imaginary; but the men can nearly
| all be recognized, and the political and per-
sonal friends Of Ruel Durkee, who IS carl
catured as Jethro Bass, are very indignant
because Of the freedom with which Mr..
Churchill handled him, and resent the lib
erty he has taken in attributing to Jethro
Bass acts, words and thoughts of which
they say Ruel Durkee could never have been
guilty.
Nobody denies that Mr. Durkee was pol
itician and a lobbyist. He was an illiterate
man of amusing eccentricities, keen sense
of humor and his witty sayings now d
part of the current conversation of the
state. He was also keen, shreWd wire
puler and possessed of extraordinary men,
tai resources, but his friends insist that
he never boss of the republican party;
that he never had such power as the novel
describes; that he was not corrupt or rich
or dishonest, and that he did not acquire
influence over people by securing mort
cages upon their farms.
Defense of "Jethro Bass"
Mr.. William E. Chandler has published a
vindica ton Of Ruel Durkees memory, and
has attacked Mr. Churchill in his usual
savage and incisive manner. He corrects the
false impression created by the story, and,
| among other things, shows that from the
records Of the probate court that Mr. Dur
kee when he died left estate of less than
$1,000.
We rode through the village of Croydon
and visited various places that de-
scribed IN the story-the old store and tim
merry the sawmil and the home of Jethro
Bass, which has not been painted for a
generation and is in a rapid state of decay.
There Ruel Durkee was born and lived and
died, and there his wife lived for about six
months after him. 1t now belongs to a dis
tant relative. The village is full Of his
memories. Every one of his neighbors has
a string of amusing anecdotes of his eccen-
tricites and they all seem to be proud of
the notoriety which Mr.. Churchill has given
to the town. In the old cemetery is a shaft
of polished brown granite bearing the fol-
lowing epitaph, which written by his
friend and political associate, William Z.
Chandler:
''Ruel Durkee
Born July IA, 1907.
Died July 2, 1885,
in syJp