The sun., 1916-12-17
ERNEST POOLE SEES CHAOS IN
OUR AMERICAN LITERARY WORK
Writers, Publishers and Reading Pub
lie Seeking to Find What Is Wanted,
Says Author of THE Harbor'
I'M literary world continues to
De ag.tated with varied emo

HE literary world continues Il
be ag.tated with varied emo
tons over william G. Brown.
ellis recent address before the Insti'
tute Of Arts and Letters, in which hs
hurled pointed remarks at American
authors who are not striving to pro.
duce books that will live. but seem
entirely c%ontented to be merely clever
and smart In their stories.
Several writer's Of note already have
expressed in print their opinions Of
Mr.. Brownells remarks. With thu
purpose Of obtaining the ideas on the
subject OF one OF the younger novelists
who has made a success with serious
Action, a representative Of THE Sun.
DAY Sun undertook the task OF inter.
viewing Ernest Poole. author Of "Tht
Harbor.'' who. by the way. has JUS
been elected an American Academiciar
b. the body before which Mr. Brownel
delivered his address.
A telephone to Mr.. Poole's uptown
apartment brought word that he wal
out: that he would be in at 1890; that
II q representative Of THE SUNDAY Str
desired to see him 1t would be well t.
cali close to 1890. because at 12:4S
Mr.. Poole was starting out Of town. II
was 1929 1-2 when the visitor stepped
out Of an elevator and into Mr.. Poole's
large. square. private hallway.
On a rug exactly in the centre Of
the hallway rested two s~uitcases-
bulky. evidently weighty. On a chaiI
near by was an Overcoat. % the
0yercoat q hat: beside the hat a pail
OF >vloves. and close to them a silker
mufiiAr Of black silk upon which were
superp6yed\ polka dots Of distinct or.
ange hue. Mr.. Poole, be II remem
bered. Is a Princeton man, class Of
Naughty-two.
A glance beyond wide open doors re.
vealed a dining room In white and sof,
blues. with sunshine playing through
the windows. and ivy. with leaves Of
deep. dark green. clambering from the
floor up one side OF the fireplace
across the mantel above 1t. and de-
scending toward the floor on the
further side. The table was laid fol
luncheon: initial steps for serving II
already were in progress. From q
room at the left came a warning voice
"You have twelve minutes left
And then a slender. wiry young mar
appeared TO greet his visitor: a youne
mai smooth of face. with keen eyes
brown hair anf tenss expression.
'Come right in he said, leading the
way toward the dining room. Isl,
down and have a cup OF tea-K YOU
use II. How about this chop? Excuse
me for being a little hurried. but I'm
on the way to Stamford, where my
play has its first performance to.
night.'
"Your play"
"Yes," Mr.. Poole replied. I'm of or
the 1909, and don't dare miss II. FOL
we have a rehearsal called at g O'Clock
and on the train I've got to go over q
couple of scenes with Miss Harriet
Ford, who is collaborating with me-"
How long will the rehearsal last?'
An unhappy expression fitted across
Mr.. Poole's face, then vanished. 'Oh
II will be over by 8, | guess. And by
that time I'll lie ready to sit dowr
somewhere and stay right there until
the time arrives for the performance
W4'ye been doing n lot OF rehearsine
lately-and I know what's coming"
"THE SUNDAY Sun" remarked Mr.
Poole's caller, would like an interview
with you regarding the apparent
change in literary standards. II Is q
subject Of particular interest jus. now
when Mr.. Brownell--"
do have another chop! No? Well
excuse me a minute. We're or now
and can have a good long talk all tn,
way TO the Grand Central Terminal
He arose from the table, adding. "Il