The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-11-12
AUTHOR. ACTON. POLITICIAN.
Some of the varied Activities NJ 4. y. v.
Masnu.

Nassau.
A. T. ". Mason the English writer
whose Al the Villa Rose is among recent
publications. has tried his hand success
fully not only at writing novels hi' also
n writing plays and acting IN them. and
PLAYING notifies At that he IL bat Is
Mr. Mason took his r 4 At Oxford
wher. he was one Of the universItv's
amateur actors Later he rock 20 the
professional stage. touring the provinces
and playing IN London as one 81 the sol
diers IN Shaws Arms and 'he Man
In 1895 he decided To leave the stage
10 write a novel and \ Romance Of Ne,'-
dale was produced that wear. well re-
C.lyed Ivy the critics hut not en'hused
over bv ne public But when only the
next wear hiss second effort. The Cont
ship Of Morrrce Bucsler.- appeared. ~ AZ
once became he hooS of the day. running
through MANY EDITIONS. and pvt is author
III tho first ranks Of popularity I's sal"
continues hk. most Of Mr. Masons
stories IN a popular srxp.nny series
Tn" author proved himself industrious
az we'll a. versati. The Philander-Is
came IN sa7 then Laurence ClaverinE
-Parson Kelly written IN collaboration
WIN ND'HfN i'tnE' va VI NH'-
Baftony. Tho Watchers -Ensign
knigntlv.- collection Of short stories
-CI.m.n-tna.- rom nisc.nt Of Dumas:
The Four Feathers. Running Mater
The Broken Road and AT tho villa
Ro-. In collaboration with Miss lsaheI
Bateman h. drarnatIzed -Th. Court-nrp
Of MorrI"e BuCklar.- winch was -ucc"-s-
fully produc.d. h. drama,lzad Miranda
III the Balcony winch was staged IN Nav
iorn. and IN tn" last year saw the pro-
dIctinn ~ his So plays Colonel Smith
and Mar ,nTIs STROBE
All this would sNen 70 have been -,If,
fiCiant 20 keen a man busy but IN ira
Mr Mason was seeking a new outlet for
hi- energies IN tn" political world and
vas ei-c.rsd Member Of Parliament for
Coventry
He -ignalizad hi- advent in Vha House
Of Commons with a notable maiden
sp.sch saws the current BDOknGn lion.
dom proved himself -hr.wd and elo.
ulsnt in debate and II h" rad not escaped
w.. might IN due season have been tho
richer by -agaciou- and -ympathe
Cabinet Minister and ono brilliant novel
i-t IN" poorer. But fortunately the fa-c,-
nations ~ 'h. Mother of Parliam.nts
were not 80 potent a. me harms II iha,
all good noyallst- and at tho Last genera
election Mr. Mason was not 10 he per-
sund.d Ia offer himself a. candida-.
again.
fortunately. | say. because IN. AIR ~
the Hous. Of Commons j. not healthful I
breathing for poets or for nov eli-t- ~
j. for them -oporifiC and -IToca,ing
air Whatever may he IN" explanation
the fact remains that when writer Of
una Ginaiivs literature mas -Ii in thar
for IN n var f,tt a<l,,
an obese dulness settles down upon his .
faculties communicates itself to his pen
and irnps-ies the fine fow ~ his ink {
What plays did sheridan write after h- I
took his seat there'
And who shall saw that I.v-'nn migh, .
not hav. written with fewer capital :
letters and less 81 the facIls big howvow I
IN his tones " only he had not yen'ured |
into that fatal atmosphere Anyhow
I am for nv part relieved that Mr. Mason .
has come out of danger in good time.
and - far his sojourn in the House has ,
had n" Influence a. all On his novels
Inia-s = his stay there that turned 4
hl- thoughts toward INDIA and that grave
problem Il the education ~ ito native /
princes IN England and resulted IN his i
writing one Il .ha most impressive and
intensely Interesting ~ his books. Tn.
Broken Road, and IN that case he has
brought more good ont II " than any .
novelist ThD s'er went into u except
perhaps DlsraelI and Dirraeli was really ,
a politician IN his romanceS and a To-
rancis' IN his politics. 80 he can hardly
no 0pUntei
Among the auihOr's other activities )
ar" ~N'.n-Iv" trav cling sailing and noun. I
tain climbing. he - lover ~ tho open
air which blows through all his ~ oriea
Egypt Italy, India their people and
.gen"ry ''Sur" IN The Four Feathers
-Th. Broken Road and Ar the Villa .
Rose; the spirit ~ the Alps Dominates
Running Water