The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-21

In looking over these letters of long
ago, find myself taking great inter-
est in them. Mark Twain wrote with
a pencil; stenographers didn't seem to
be common then. Twain wrote:
You may have caught the only
fish there was in your pond-it's
thing that has occurred before--but 1
am not able to think SO. And so I
talk; otherwise I would remain silent.
Still, it's the first time l ever DID talk.
Out of the six and thirty million times
I have been asked for an opinion
about book. believe this is the first
time / have ever furnished one-not
that 1 am loathsome and unsympa-
thetic but because the books were
worthless. I'd rather hear Big Adam
draw an imaginary cork than another
man a real one-eVen at my thirStiest.
You ought to write a play at once,
and make Big Adam the central fig
ure-keep him on the stage all
through the piece-there's dollars in
it if you get the right mana NEW
actor-because a celebrated one would
have to have the bulk of the cash.
like your book so much that l am
glad of the chance to say so. Your
style is so simple sincere, direct, and,
at the same time, so clear and so
strong, that 1 think it must have been
born to you, not made. Your pictures
of that arid village life, and the in
sides and outsides of it's people, are
for I have seen it all, lived it all. By
the small space you gave to Big
Adam, I judge you did not perceive
that you were contributing mighty
figure to the procession of originals
that is marching out OF the ark OF
American literature to possess the
land. Your other characters are good;
they are well done, and worth the pa
tient art you lavished upon them, but
when Big Adam strides by, it is Gull
liver in Lilliput When l read pas
sages about Big Adam to Geo. W. Ca
BILE, he forgot himself. and shouted:
He is colossal;he is superb" Hope of
stirring up some of the big theatrical
guns with the play, as I stirred up
the big literary guns with the book, is
the hope that has inspired me lately.
Mark Twain's letters to me are literary
curiosities In one of them, he gives
me good advice; he picks out my
faults This is for your eye alone"
he wrote; you may use the other as
you please.
Mark Twain sent me his auto
graphed picture; so did W. D. Howeils.
So did many other noted literary men.
Mark Twain and Howells both urged
me not to rush into print again quick
| ly. But that's exactly what 1 did;
hadn't sense enough to realize the i'm
portance of their advice. So I've had
my chance. and didn't take advantage
of it. I've always thought it was pos
sibly because I was too busy If 1
fail again, now that have more time,
| laugh at me. 1t will be all right to
laugh at me; 1 intend to laugh at my
self, and take my failure with good
nature, though with good deal of 81
/ lent regret deep down I do not intend
to show. For q quarter of century,
when a new play or book has made
| hit, 1 have thought: Maybe l could
have done that if 1 had time to work
carefully and be bothered with moth
ing else 1T is pitiful when a man
has once had the public attention, and
been forgotten" Barney Macauley,
noted actor in his time. wrote me
when he was old and neglected. II
was Barney Macauley who, on one OF
his tours through the country, rar
across copy of "The Story of {
Country Town. as printed in news
paper type on job press, in The Globe
office in Atchison. He was enthusiastic
II about it. Or his return to New Yorl
he carried the book to H. G. Crick
J more, horse editor of the World. but {
literary crank. "Crick" liked it.
y The Worlds literary editor wrote al