The New York herald., 1922-03-12

may even Jump into an auto taxi
and take potluck In her delightful
home.'" OF course the day came
when the editor OF the remote paper
decided to visit Paris, counting on
Trieotrin introducing him to some
Of the celebrities of literature and
the stage. The poet, at his wits
ends, called on his friends for help.
They responded nobly, all except
Lajeunie. who selfishly refused to
shave his head in order that Tri-
cotrin might introduce him as Ed
mond Rostand. Without telling the
story, it may be said that Trico-
trims honor was saved and that the
visiting editor returned to Mont
bonne delighted and impressed.
THE life of Leonard Merriek has
L been reflected in his books.
He was born in London, and he was
destined for the bar. Several Of
his heroes we're in the same case.
His father encountered financial
reverses, and at an early age
the son had to face life ON his
own account. Another familiar
phase OF his stories. At the age of
Is he went TO South Africa, where
he worked first experimenting the
labors OF Zulus and Kaffirs in the
diamond mines, and later in the
local court house. See THE Lady
and the Laurels" and other stories
Of the same setting. Then he went
to Kimberley, worked in a solic-
itor's Office for two years. began
writing. and finally, at the age of
q. drifted back to England for
Grub Street and to ''go on the
stage" He had no theatrical con-
nections or aeQuaintances. and for
that reason was SO much the better
qualified to write about the ad-
ventures Of the heroes OF his two
most important novels of theatrical
life, "The Position OF Peggy Har-
per" and '"Fhe Actor Manager"
TN the American writing life OF
L the day the name OF Norris is
having its fair share OF attention,
Charles Norris's Brass" continuing
to provoke discussion, and Mrs.
Charles tKathleen) Norris's new
novel. "Lucretia Lombard" an
nouneed for early publication by
Doubleday, Page & Co. Mrs. Nor
ris's first story was written as a
direct result of the San Francisco
earthquake in 1906. She was living
in Mill Valley. about an hours trip
from San Francisco, at the time.
and after the earthquake friends
began to stream into the valley for
shelter. Some OF them were of a
literary turn. and it was felt that
the time had come to send descrip-
tive articles to the Eastern editors.
OF a dozen such articles sent that
OF Mrs. Norris was the only one re-
turned. So she sat down and wrote
story. What Happened to Alan
ma That, too. came back regularly
with printed slips. so she gave up
fiction and went into Red Gross
work. Years later her husband.
Charles Norris, found What Hap
pened to Aianna" and sent it pri-
vately to twenty editors. Then,
after due wait, he took the alpha
beted list and sent it out again,
this time in duplicate. Two editors
accepted it at the same time, the
story eventually appearing in the
A atlantic Monthly.
THERE was another member of
L the Norris family who should
not be forgotten, the brilliant Frank
Norris, who wrote "McTeague," !"
Moran OF the Lady Lefty The
Octopus" and THE Pit" and who
died almost twenty years ago, when
he was barely beyond his thirtieth
year The last two books belonged
10 q trilnn,, hut ha aid NOT Iiro 70