New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-24
IEFFERY FARN0L
A Sketch of the Author of THE
Broad Highway.

There will begin on october l in the
Sunday Nagazine Of The Tribune a new
serial called The Money Noon by
Jeffrey Farnol, author OF THE Broad
Highway" The scene IS laid in Eng
land but the hero is an American. II Is
story Of the present time. Its opening
Will he awaited with nvelier anticipa-
tions. for the reason that the author has
shown himself 10 he q man Of unusual
canacitv. OF all the novels Of the last
wear none has had a greater vogue than
that achieved by The Broad Highway
This story of the open road in Kent
was written in Englewood, y. j., where
the author was staying with his father
in-law An Englshman, writing Of his
native land. he nevertheless had his first
literary adventures in this country.
They began some seven years ago IN
New York. He wrote industriously, but
with not very encouraging results. \
few OF his short stories were printed and
he succeeded in publishing a short novel,
called MY Lady Caprice" but he gained
no serious repute, and when he finally
connleted THE Broad Highway" he
offered II in vain TO one publisher after
another. one firm said that II was too
long" so he shortened it by twenty thou
sand words. Another characterized II as
too English" and a third asserted that
the time was not ripe for romance IF
the sort. But Mr.. Farnol could not make
his work less romantic or less English,
and so had 10 turn TO some other means
of support.
He made an odd choice. Temporarily
ne gave up literature to take a position
AZ scene painter IN the Aston Theatre.
But even there ne sought 70 push the
fortunes Of his book. after a fashion, on
which ne himself has this to say:
While painting side scenes and drop cur
tains / made the acquaintance Of one Of the
leading actors. He became quite friendly.
and when j could not dispose OF The
Broad Highway I'm New York ne offered
10 take IL over 70 Boston 70 some or his
publishing friends there he was about
10 play an engagement In that city. !
thanked him most heartily, gave him the
manuscript. and waited, eeks lengihehed
into months until finally ! learned that he
had returned 10 New York. / sought him
Without DELAY. only 20 find 20 my chaErin
that ne had been 10 Boston, visited his
publishing friends but had forgotten 10
sneak 10 them about my manuscript. It
lad been safe In the bottom Of one Of his
trunks ell the time. lie was duly apollo
getic, OF course.
The author was so discouraged by this
incident that he lost all confidence in his
literary ability and at one time was on
the point Of consgning the manuscript
10 the flames. Returning with his wife
and child 10 the English home Of his
parents. he remained for some time dis
beartened. but one day a friend who
asked 10 read the novel urged him u
offer II to a London firm Of publishers.
This time there were no objections 10 its
length or 10 It's English character. and II
had scarcely passed into print before it
had won the exceptional success which
still attends it on both sides Of the At
lantic
Mr.. Farnol d man OF short stature
hut strongly built and athletic, with
etoadv dark ewes. was born in War
wickshire thirty years ago, but settled
in Kent. where he now resides, In early
boyhood. He knows his adopted county
u love every inch Of Kent" he says,