Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1922-11-30
ALL ABOUT "MAsTER sKYLARK'
Its Author Writes Miss Margaret
kiIbourne n Letter

heCtlltiy MISS huIEuitN NlbouihN
daughter OF Prof. ii. Il. Kilbournc
principal of the junior high school
wrote review of Master Skylark'
by John Bennett and II was publish
ed In the book review column Of the
Topeka Capital This is what sh,
said:
"In Master Skylark,' John Bennett
has been very successful In portray
ing something Of the old English life
lin the Elizabethan period. The
story has u historical basis with a
well drawn, natural characters Of the
middle class and lower nobility.
'.Nicholas Atwood is the son Of a
harsh and unresponsive village tan
ner. His mother is kind and gentle.
Nick goes to a neighbOring town to
see a play by group Of London
players and on his way meets GER
tain CASTOR Carew,. the masterful
player of the company. who is 50
captivated by the boys voice that he
Immediately nicknamed him, Master
Skylark,' and gives him n part In
the play. After the play, Nick
wishes to return home but Carew
keeps him by force and takes him
to London where he gives him must
cal training and forces him tofake
small musical parts in the cOmpany's
plays. The story is pathetic, absorb
ing and fascinating narrative of
Nick's unsuccessful attempts to es-
cape In which he Is always thwarted
by Carew and his cruel servant, and
Of his final return home after Carew
has been imprisoned for murder
"The book, which is very natural
and realistic Of boys love for his
mother, is especially valuable be-
cause of its interesting characters and
unusual settings. would recommend
1t to anyone who wishes to read a
refreshing bit of good, clean fiction
with a historical basis"
Miss Kilbourne has just received
an appreciative letter from the
author who lives at Charleston,
South Carolina. After thanking her
for her review he says:
II am sending by this same mail
a copy of silhouette. called
Spring which I designed, I think
with the purpose Of expressing some
thing of the same youthful happi-
ness in Spring that is shown in the
'Skylark Song sung by Nick Att
wood and Cicely Carew at the inn in
Oxford. Some Of my friends think
hat it does express spirit. And may
be you will. At all events hope it
may express to you part Of my pleas
IRE in seeing what thought and kind
ly appreciation you had devoted to
my book.
"As a girl you may be interested
% know that the story of Master
was suggested to me by my
sister, Martha Trimble Bennett,
who now is, and has been for a good
many years, head Of the English de-
,artment of Dana Hall School,
Wellesley, Mass; so that you owe
he original inspiration of that book
o her. had. also. her constant in
crested and critical assistance from
,oint to point, rs l worked upon the
story, building up the scenes, devel-
ping plot and character, and casting
he tale in its final form on paper.
You may, perhaps, also he in
crested to know that the twentieth
'dition of the story has been made
nto a special holiday edition by the
publishers, with colored illustrations,
md an increase in the books size
o a quarto volume.
and l wonder If you would care
o know that, not many years ago,
actually had letter from many
ines great granddaughter of one of
he very actors and play managers
Who were companions Of Shakespeare
n this story (Henry Condell) whose
ather had been an officer in the
British Indian army. and who, her.
elf, at the time, was living in Cana
a and Chicago. Her name, Lucy
Ondell. and her ancestor the very
ondell of the theatrical firm of
[emynge & COndel referred to in
Skylark"? Does not that
lake it all seem nearer and more
ctual? 1t did to me. l had at first
rinted his name as Jack" that
aving been his nickname among his ,
CLOVIS; and she wrote to ask that .
e change from the nickname to his ,
ue name, Henry; which. of course, 4
e did at once, having been utterly ]
navarro that there was anyone alive !
} think Of it, or to care, as one [
Kin might, for accuracy such as i
lat represented t
"And I wonder again IL it would
muse yOu to know that the first
aft of the story was in part writ
n on the backs of the 4th of July i.
bills. issued in 1895, by =
e Norfolk & Western railway, for