The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-28

understanding ISL t the highest understanding;
nevertheless the writer who stoops TO conquer
doesn t conquer.
Mr.. HARRINGTON went on to say:
Miss GLASGOW is sorry that there are so many
writers willing to supply the demand for sugary
philosophy, but these writers not only willing
to supply the demand they are inspired to supply.
They aren't superior people turning the trick for
money, as Miss GLASGOW seems to think; they are
giving the best that is in them They take their
art solemnly."
The truest word on the subject ever uttered and
most essential to be reprinted here. But to return
TO our Southern realst.
Biographical.
ELLEN ANDERSON GHoIsoN GLASGOW was born in
Richmond, Va, April %, 1874, the daughter
of FRANCIS THOMAS GLASGOW and ANNE JANE
(GHoLsoN) GLASGOW Her father belonged to
family of professional men-lawyers, judges, edu
Gators The child was of delicate health. She never
went to scholar admission she makes with
blush An aunt used to tell her SCOTT S stories at
an age when Mother Goose is the customary intel
lectual fare. At thirteen she read and enjoyed
ROBERT Browsing. He is still her favorite poet,
though SwINBURNE has great place IN her affec-
tiOns.
Quite unaccountably Miss GLASGOW showed
taste for scientific ubjects AT eighteen she began
"a systematic study of political economy and So
cialism." Her love for story remained strong.
The home was a strict Southern home, the women
in it were "sheltered: The young woman would
shut herself up in her room every day and later
join the family for such diversions they INDUCED
in. Finally she went to her father and said:
Father, have written a book.
ISAAC F. MARcossoN says that father was dunn
bo iuht boy haep
was published anonymously and was generally sup
posed to be the work of man of training and ex-
perience 1t was The Descendant and it has been
characterized as "a rather morbid exposition of the
development and life of an intellectual hybrid, the
offspring of low woman and highly intellectual
man."
Achievement.
The first book in which Miss GLASGOW cstab
lished her right TO serious consideration as an
American novelist-as a novelist picturng Ameri-
can life-was The Voice Of the People, published IN
1900. She has referred in after years to The
Descendant as "a mere schoolgirl effort" although
it was not received as such, not by long shot But
she could not so characterize The VOICE OF the
People, nor could any else.
1t is a competent picture of the Virginia of the
sos with its class distinctions and its political
manpuvring framing specific and dramatic story.
The novel exhibits a considerable knowledge OF
political machinery and characteristic tale relates
how Miss GLASGOW got some of the necessary " at
mosphere'' In 1897 she drove over twenty miles
in the hottest August weather in order to SIT
through two days of Democratic State convention.
An old family friend, delegate to the convention,
struggled Miss GLASGOW and her sister onto the
stage of the opera house in which the sessions were
held. They were the only women in the building
and the ordeal of listening to two days of Southern
oratory must have been severe the ordeal of
sitting obscurey and mncOmfOrtably, in sun
baked theatre.
II is also said of Miss GLASGOW that she remarked
one day to a frend-Mr MARCossoN if We are not
mistaken: 81 am going to write novel of New
York life
'But why New York life when you know Nir
gna and the South well?
For the simple reason that art has no locality.
1t is universal do not believe that any writer
should be confined to any particular locality.
reply which throws light on Miss GLASGOW
earncstness and seriousness of purpose. But she