The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-27
NELSON PAGE
DROPS AUTHORSHIP

OF tho two or three cities IN the world
10 which every one may go and feel In
II a personal posseSsory interest"
Or PAGE reads Italian. and every
morning nowadays goes at the task Of
acquiring tho language Coilouuial
italian. he thinks. is easy enough TO
acquire. but he declares that IL is diff
. cu!t to speak tho Italian language
with ease and grace.
Not TO Write While ibrond
lie VAS asked about tho possibility of
MS writing u book on Italy. or with the
scene Of one laid there. during the
'hree o. four years lie is 10 remain in
That country
Il feel pretty well satisfied" he an.
s"efed. that q residence in Italy, un-
der such conditions as will surround
me VIII add 20 any mans experience
ahd deepen his appreciation Of what is
fundamental in literature, because
Ital% is land OF romance
While am there. however. expcc,
TO 1--WE all my attention and apply
cEeFE energy I possess to the proper
uses OF the embassy. want to try
as fai AS can to Justify the confidence
the President has reposed in me, as
we'll as that Of my friends
u do not expect to write while am
hassador 10 Italy. | have three books
now substantially ready to be publish
ed-onc volume Of essays already
\
ether is long story almost "A novel.
~ which have for the first time tried
my hand at mystery plot II is with
IN few chapters OF being completed.
The other is a history Of Washington
which ] have been 1T for a couple of
years. on which the chief labor is al
ready done Maybe shall be able TO
put these books to press soon have.
however. laid them entirely aside and
90 not expect 10 do anything with them
for the present"
Or Page was asked about the diplo-
matte post at Lisbon and the report.
made public yesterday. that the novel
ISL Mefedith Nicholson has declined II
because Portugal would not. in the
iatters opinion. be desirable place
him. and he did not think he ought to
comment on 2 declination Of a diplo
matte post by another writer
charle- Page Bryan, my kinsman,
and man of letters he said how
ever. was minister 10 Lisbon. and he
found the climate splendid, and LIS
bon wonderful. beautiful city. as
did when visited there. one asso-
cation Of literature with that cit,.
TO mo is that Henry Fielding died and
Was buried there when sent south
from England 1, try and recover his
health That English novelist was
only thirty-sevcn At the time"
stntc Department Conferences.
hr. Page, SO Tar as his approac ching
departure for Rome is concerned. is in
the hands OF the Department of state
n. has not yet been informed rs 20
"hcn the department thinks ne shouLl
leave for his post
u have no, vet done enough" he
declared. 80 ask for holiday from
the conferences am having at tbs
department."
Or Pages attention was called to
tho fact that President Wilson has
appointed nImbc, of newspaper
men 10 diplomatic positions. among
them Major I: Hale. editor Of the
Farettevlle q. CT Observer. as min
is'.r u Costa Rca: William :. Con
2aleS. editor - th9 Columbia Sc.
state, as minister 10 cuba and Colcrgl
T. =. y stovan. edition OF tho ga
Nannah Press as minister TO Switzer-
land
What have said about nove,is,s.
/ historians and other literary men"
he said. applies win equal force Ia
newspaper mon Troy are usually OF
good, sound training familiar with
the world through contact with men.
: and nave the literary instinct and
/ training which ought 10 make them
/ successful diplomats. They are not
dilettantt"
Dr. lasc is himself said TO be one
OF tn" best fitted men for a diplon,a.ic
\ post ever sent abroad bv the United
states II" practiced law for eigh-
teen years after gladuatinc at the
/ University Il Virginia ana supported
MS family ny Z. and has always kent
UP his interest In the legal profess
sion and retained hts nembcrship al
INC bar. although NJ is best known
as an author