New-York tribune., 1910-01-15
BOOKS AND AUTHORS.
Talk Of Things Present and
to Come.

CT tn6 ldSt OSCduS Was MIS- t1Slel H.
Martins |Tillie: A Mennonite Maid"
Therein she revealed a fresh background
and characters but little known. On
those pages did actually live and move
a group of the Pennsylvania Dutch. She
has again gone to that region for the
characters of a new novel which the
Century Company will publish next
month It's title is THE Crossways"
'"Tillie," we are told, has. been reprinted
eleven times,
DR.. David Starr Jordans new little
book, The Story of Matka,'' was written
on the island of ST. Paul, in the Pribyloff
group. while, as president of the Bering
Sea Commission, he was investigating
the habits OF the fur seal A sprained
ankle restricted his movements, and ne
sought amusement in writing out the
story of the mother seal, "Matka"
Mr.. Stanley J. Weyman, writing in the
jubilee number OF 1.-THE Cornhlll' of that
notable editor of the past, James Payn,
quotes the advice which Payn gave him,
a beginner in authorship. You cannot
live by short STORIES he said TO the
young man: "at any rate you cannot
live we'll. To every short story plot
and plot is a most precious thing. A
good plot is the greater part of Il good
book. y really novel plot is a perfect
treasure. When YOU are as old as / am
and have written as many stories you
will know Its value. No, give up short
stories and write long one--write a
novel;
1 told him that I did not think could;
that the length frightened me, that / had
never thought of it.
From what | have seen of your work
I believe you can" he answered TRY, at
any rate" And, turning to o taIl desk
beside a window, he explained frankly and
without reserve his own method of work
which he set out the plot: and a second
card on which he wrote. each at the head
of column, the names of the dramatis
persona, and under each name q brief
analysis of the character. Then returning
TO his seat. Go to work slowly" he said
Put into it the best you have. Remember
in this it is the first step that counts. Make
one good hit. make yourself known, and
you Will be well paid thereafter. one good
piece of work and the game is won. But
take little trouble, DO anything short OF
your best, and YOU will earn but laborer's
pay all your life"
have not the art to reproduce the sea-
soning of pun and pertinent Instance with
which he favored his advice; nor the gay
laugh, nor the winning manner. But the
counsel l can set down, and | do so; be-
lieving that IL as true and as much TO the
point to-day as IL was when IL fell on my
ears, and that 1t may prove as valuable
to others as to myself. From my own
lower pulpit, and within the narrow range
OF my voice / have preached it consist
entity.
Give year 80 the book" were Payn's
parting words, come and see me at times
and when il is done I will read It,"
went out from him with a full heart
grateful beyond words.
Payn's generous kindness was q thing
delightful to see. Weyman says that the
mans pleasure in the triumphs of others
was real vivid, from the heart 1T
beamed through his glasses and thrilled
in the clasp of his hand. Beyond doubt
he took an honest pride in the work he
had himself done-with his pen and In
the chair; but in his latest years his
deepest and purest pleasure was drawn
from unselfish springs"
In volume entitled Anna Van schur-
man, Artist. Scholar, Saint u1onenosns
Green 6. Coz. Miss Una Birch has se,
down the history OF one OF the fA,y
learned ladies' Of the seventeenth zen.
tury. Anna was one OF the most ,n+a~
esting figures Of the Dutch Renaissance