The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-04
oBEnT W. CHAMBERS is a pleas

NIX ant gentleman, but he doesn't
know the first principles Of being
interviewed. This may sound strange,
written OF the man Of whom . much
has been written, but so II Is. he hasn't
q single useful pose. not even the pose
Of not having any.
:, And 80 while interviewing Mr.. Cham
'bers is rather a heartbreaking Job for
the reporter. with his minds eye focused
on the pages OF white paper that must
be filled with what the author said or
thought or thinks about this and that. II
10 something OF relief to meet . man
who has no doctrine Of art to preach,
no cure all for human or literary Ills.
and no message" for more or less walt
ing world.
When THE SuN man was detailed TO
Interview Mr. Chambers he consulted with
the authors publishers. Appleton 4 Co.
and they promised to capture and hold
the prey until the reporter arrived. The
hour set was Q 40 A. NJ, which broke
records for an early start. 80 far ~ the
reporters experience was concerned. The
representative of Appleton Co, ex-
plained that Mr. Chambers keeps bus'-
ness hours: and that ne wanted to be
interviewed and have 1t over before getting
down to the days grind. Apparently
Mr. Chambers has been persuaded that
Interviews are necessary evils. and plans
Tor them when his publishers Insist much
as one would plan for a session with
the dentist.
So for a time the talk was OF anything
except the writing OF novels. Mr.. Cham
bers was intere sted In the letters Of Thack-
cray to Mrs. Brookheid, which TIL. Sun
had recently published. He spoke OF the
picture Of Victorian women limnsd In the
letters and OF how similar In type All
the women OF that time seemed to be-
The letters. he thought. told a fine human
story OF self-control. He wondered what
sort of a man the Rev. Brookheld could
have been. but most Of all he wondered
how Thackeray found time to write 30
many letters.
that day managed so much correspond
snce." he said. mo one to-day seems
able to do It."
From Thackeray Mr.. Chambers switched
the talk to present day happenings.
Richard Crokers letter saying that
Murphy was Tammany's old man OF the
sea had Just been made public Mr..
Chambers ma rvelled at the hold that the
former leader, separated BY time and dis
lance from his leadership. still kept on his
followers He decided that II was the
mans fighting qualities, a thing which he
seemed to hold very high. Roosevelt and
Whitman had II, he thought, and he won
dered II the Democrats Of the State
would be able to find a fighting leader.
A young man In the outer ONCE OF the
publishing company had whispered to THE
Sun man that 1t might be a good Idea to
get Mr.. Chambers to talk OF the society
novel and of recent fads and fancies OF
society. ''the tango and all that, you
know"
So the reporter tried It Mr. Chambers
looked little bored. Society novels?
don't know much about them" he said.
II haven't time to read them. What ones
do you mean
THE sun man tr.d as dsllcately as
might be to intimate to Mr.. Chambers
that Ii was Mr. Chamberss own recent
writings which he had In mind. But Mr..
Chambers wouldn't have 1t that way. He
doesn't-take II from him-write society
novels" And as for the dance craze he
said it didn't interest him at all II might
form an incident In s.ory-why mott
hut Il was a passing fancy. when you
read history" said Mr. Chambers. you
find that all peoples in all times were
seised and obsesssd with fashions and
manias. There seems to be no reason for
them, but they come and 60"
And that was all that came OF the
kindly suggestion OF the young man In
Appleton 4 Co.'S outer ONCE.
II anything that has been written con-
veys the idea that Mr.. Chambers Is nip
pant person or that he doesn't regard his
work with certain seriousness IT'S all
wrong He does regard his work seriously
As does any other workman who depends
upon the la Dor of his hands for his daily
bread. but he isn't solemn about II.
Concerning later day fads and fancies
suggested by the question about society
novels and taking oneself seriously Mr..
Chambers says:
r'Life as II develops 10 interesting OF
course in any phase since man develops
with II. But the man who writes about
II must have sense OF proportion and
q sense OF humor. The moment he be-
gins to take himself solemnly he's done
for"
Some bromide imp prompts a question
concerning Mr.. Chambers's plans for the
future. Perhaps he will announce a Sc
ries Of novels embalmlng the life OF to-
day for future generations. Wrong
again.
Mr.. Chambers has no plans. Long
ago" ne says. IL planned a fourth In
series OF Indian stories l have written,
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