The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-09-01
ONLY TWO BASIC PRINCIPLES.

Don't you think these experiments In
eugenics will change life, and love and
novel writing. and most everything. In
| tLne?" / queried somewhat vaguely.
, think you have 10 be vague about Gu
genie ideas as things are nowadays.
| Mr.. Locke was quite definite and seri-
Gus. though. His goggles looked into
mine as he expounded soiemnly:
There are only two basic principles
of life-love and hunger. One is the in
| stinct TO perpetuate the life OF the species;
the other is the instinct to perpetuate
the life OF the individual, and no matter
how superficial conditions may be modi-
fed, these two instincts will be left un-
touched. The answer TO the eternal ques-
ton is-the man, the woman and the pos
sible baby"
My dramatic instinct took me further.
What about the other woman"
Mr.. Locke swept her a long way into
space with one arm.
She's just a part OF the embroidery II
life" he replied. lightly and cheerily.
Hazy sort Of classification, wasn't il?
''ThereU always be novels" he con-
tinued. thoughtfully. ''or what literary or
dramatic form corresponds to the novel
or drama OF the future. Yes, the novel
will remain as long as these PRINCIPLES
exist"
Isn't taste in novels changing"
Il don't think so. believe that is Just
an invention OF the critics"
What do you think OF the English
critics?''
Mr.. Locke smiled as he said:
CRITICISM THAT TOLD A STORY.
Just before you came. I was copying a
cutting from an old Saturday Review
1t is a criticism OF one of my first novels.
Perhaps 1t may help TO answer your ques-
ton"
Then he read aloud as follows:
"A novel it cannot be called. since II
wholly lacks the novelist's art of con-
struction, and as study of lie and char
acter 1t is extremely stiff and unsympa-
thetic. But it possesses some interest for
the student of human nature, IL he views
It as an alIegory Of the life of the woman
who wrote II. Here she has poured out
her heart, her philosophy of life ian hon
est philosophy. however mistaken. is al
ways Interestingly and the long, hardening
struggles of her mind
/ oplned after hearing this effusion
that he might have a grudge against the
critic ilk. but he FASTENED to add:
Reviewers on the whole have been ex-
ceedingly kind to me, especially American
ones"
What do you think Of our novelists?"
You have some splendid ones and some
remarkably fine short story writer's. Your
magazines are Of greatest literary value.
We have nothing TO compare with them.
Pictorially. too. they are very remark
able. And the newspapers! 1 did enjoy |
their comic sections tremendously. l was
interested, too. in seeing how many 9TH |
ers in America also enjoyed them"
ANOTHER DIRECT QUESTION.
looked at his length and his goggles
and his very straight hair. and l asked |
apropos of nothing:
DO you mind caricature?"
He looked at me doubtfulIy.
''Well-er-no. I suppose l don't" Then
a hot flush mounted to his cheek, IF only
my hair isn't mussed," and he laughed a |
little nervously and gave its shining !
sickness an approving pat
I'll have to be very careful not 10 trem-
BILE when ! draw his locks. because I |
know he'd never forgive me IL the slight |
est kink crept into the picture.
do you ever put real people into your
books?" inquired, as l studied the four !
teen works of w. ]. Locke in his book !;
case.
No. almost never" he answered. The
one exception is tn little girl in the
Glory OF CiementIna Wing She was
Drawn frcm the cn.Io OF friend OF nine.
where do you get the fasc.natip
names of your heroes and heroines?"
..Oh. those l build up myself 1 like
doing that