The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-05
win Attempt a Play.

Later [ intend to attempt a, play,
which Mark Twain recommended more
than twenty-five years ago. Lose no
tirne,'' he wrote, in connection with a
letter of nineteen pages, Sin making a
play around Big Adam. " I have the
play completely sketched in my mind,
and some of it written, but have been
a long time about it because 1 have
been so busy with the Globe. This play is
a dramatization of 1.-The Story of a
Country Town." a book I wrote more
than a quarter of a century ago, and
which is still selling modestly; my re-
ceipts from it last year were larger
than in any other year in the past ten
or twelve. If 1 cannot make a play out
of it, / shall at least enjoy trying it,
and failure will not greatly disappoint
me. I also have on hand a new book
which will attract my enthusiasm. /
have long had an ambition to have
ample time in which to attempt the
new book. which 1 have sketched, and
into which I will put the best there is
in me. Just how much there is in me,
[ do not know. 1 want to try, under
favorable circumstances, to write d
book, and if 1 fail, shall not be less
content than 1 am now; indeed, shall
be more content if 1 fail, for ambition
will bother me less, and I will be able
to do my farm work at Potato Hill
more steadily. One of the most noted
literary men in American once wrote
me that I should make the attempt,
and have a fair trial. The Country
Town" succeeded. Following it came
several others that were wretched fail
ures. My nina was on my newspaper
work; that was an excuse, anyway.
Since the Country Town,''I have done
nothing that seemed to strike except
Daily Notes of a Trip Around the
World" That has been praised by
many noted critics. and has never had
a bad notice. True, I wrote it while
travelling; three to four newspaper
columns every day. But I was thou
sands of miles from the Globe office,
and had none of the daily routine work
Chicago News that while on that long
trip, did two ordinary mems work
every day, as newspaper work goes,
but it was never task What I can
do at all, 1 can do quickly and easily
The letters were familiar letters to
readers of the Globe, of whom I am
very fond, and 1 enjoyed writing them
The success of the letters has caused
me to feel that possibly 1 may be able
to do something worth while in the way
of a new book, if 1 have more time
and freedom from business cares.
Friends Knew of Intentions.
I haven't a friend, probably not an
intimate acquaintance, who hasn't
heard me express my intention of re-
firing some day to Potato Hill. More
than five years ago, offered to make
an arrangement to retire from The
Globe with Miss Garside Mr.. Rank,
Mr.. Coleman and Mr.. Tennal But
While they were apparently satisfied
with my terms, something came up
that convinced me that the arrange
ment could not be carried out success
fully. Later, three of those named left
the paper, one by one. and my retire
ment was delayed Six months ago, ]
again offered the paper to my princi-
pal associates, on terms that they re-
garded as satisfactory, but again some
detail came up that could not be ar
ranged. So my determination to re-
tire is no new thing; 1 had studied it
out in all it's phases. It is very COM
mon for a farmer to retire. and move
to town. 1t should be equally common
for a town man to retire, and move
to farm. A farmer becomes tired OF
a lonely life, and welcomes a change;
a town man becomes tired of hustle
and will welcome quiet. on reaching a