New-York tribune., 1922-02-26

y some novelist who turns
out big sellers at the rate
or Two or more II year and still logs
along on level Of excellence. SO.
when We sat down tho other day COR
chat with +. Phillips Oppcnheim,
just arrived on this side after an
absence OF ten years, VIC had a feeling
That We were going to get the talk VIC
wanted-and We did. We weren't quito
sure at the start that Oppenhcim
would relish being quizzcd as to his
meth DDS, so VIC fenced for an opening,
with give and take Of friendly ideas
as to the joys of life in England, cspc-
cially London, for him who knows the
country and expects shrine Of liter
ary or historical meanings at almost
every turn of road.
The going was good and we soon got
to Dcvonshire, county VIC have not
visited. A happy trick of the mind
led US to ask a few questions con
cerning "Nobody's Man. Oppcnhcim's
recent story OF social and political life
in England. "rherc's film in that
book" we remarked.
"Yes, know it," replied Oppcnhcm.
But don't you think you'll have TO
develop the mystery of the secretary
who went over the edge of the cif?'
In reply he whipped out postal
card from his pocket. On the back Of
it was glorious view Of his home in
Dcvonsh,rc, stately house with walls
Of forest around it and with the sea
at ,hc base of cliff to the right
"That's the Cliff said he, pointing
with finger. "and there's the long
walk by tho house, that figures III tho
book"
1t WAS coming pretty close to tho
man when he confessed that his own
home is the setting for part Of his
latest novel. We felt We were in stride
and VIC blurted out our pct question
Of The interviews: "Do you plan your
plots in advancc?'
81 have three cs5cutials to begin
v,th--toc man, he's the thing. wo-
man. very secondary. and my first chap
tor. get the chap clearly conceived at
me start, aud permit tho woman 10
develop as an accessory, with The
croN tn Of the story
VIC remembered the long linc Of
fellows Who had strodc the stage ~
the moving forces Of practically all of
admission that for him, a. for Nergl,
man is the sole luminary among fomi
unc aud material satellites. "How
much Of your man do you see when
you begin novel
"lust that first chapter, and an
mixing Of something to follow. GU
know this was terestiug-''lfc can
not be plotted. You walk down The
street ono day and soU cSpcricnce
certain haps and ni4hapa. Oh SO
down The same street the noAt day
and you got into another ant Of Incl
dents I follow tlat truth. NJ man
gets ctarted right ~ that opening
chapter, and then he plods and pushes
ahead With nc at his elbow. If you
chart him all out on paper before sou
write q word about him there 8 no
hes sibility for you when your book Is
in swing. Hes got to be free, respon-
sirc TO my moods and my invention of
difficultiea and triumphs.'
"What's sour method III getting that
first chapter down in type
II dictate it to my secretary. She's
typed for r,e for oecr d dozen wears
and then ! 60 oYer it very, fery care
fully lie laughed merry laugh
Here's confession There are many
words I'm prone to repeat in dictation
Observe is one of them, and We have
printed list within range Of eye
giving synonyms. Frequently she
stops, shoots glance at the list, cuts