Evening star., 1962-09-16
By LINDA BISER
Contributing Writer


Contributing Writer
Abraham Lincoln is like an
uncle to WaShington's Helga
Sandburg. That's because
Carl Sandburg, great Ameri-
can poet and Lincoln biog-
rapher, is her father.
"He's done something which
hasn't received as much at
tention as it WILL" she pre-
dicted, referring to his Ruta-
baga series of children's sto-
ries. Presently he's at work
on the second volume of his
autobiography.
Her father is a favorite
subject of Miss Sandburg's,
not only conversationally
but artistically. She has done
numerous paintings of him
on wood with his white
shock of hair contrasted
against a brown background.
HE was looking at his mail"
she explained.
The 84-year-old Sandburg
makes a good subject when
he's reading his mail be-
cause he often sits for hours
in one position on the porch
Of their Flat Rock, N. c.,
home.
Called Lazy
"That lazy Mr.. Sandburg!"
his daughter recalls one Of
their former Michig n
neighbors saying about her
father as a young writer.
He sleeps all day." the
neighbor said.
But he didn't, she defend
ed, only until about II am.
because he could work better
at night.
Money doesn't mean any
thing to him." said Miss
Sandburg. HE just wants to
stay out of Jail and get what
he writes published"
OF Swedish descent, Mr..
Sandburg started out as a
lecturer. by that ruse, he
was able to travel around the
country getting informa-
ton" his daughter said.
He belonged to a writing
club when he was young and
like many people, he wanted
to write.
His Lincoln biography
started out as a children's
book but her father became
so interested in Lincoln that
he put in everything he
knew about him" and is
years later the much ac-
claimed six volume finished
product emerged.
Raised Goats
my father didn't care
where we lived just as long
as he had a place to write"
Miss Sandburg said. When
the family moved from Long
Lake, Mich. to Flat Rock,
N. c., where they raised
goats, it took two freight
cars to haul their library.
When Mr.. Sandburg writes
he uses an orange crate for
a combination typewriter
perch bookshelf. He uses
panel boards to put his notes
on and tacks up what he's
going to do, she said.
His advice? Pace your
self"
She and her father are
Just as different as day and
night when it comes to writ
ing, Miss Sandburg says. She
thinks by the time she has
written her tenth novel she
may have developed a style.
An original writer doesn't
consciously strive for style,
she thinks.
Currently she's working on
her fourth novel. an auto
biographical book entitled,
"Blueberry." which is about
q girl and "a horse I had
once"
Miss Sandburg doesn't
want to build her writing
reputation on her fathers.
she emphasizes.
Write until you're
ashamed Of yourself" her IA
ther once told her. She sur
prised him with her first
novel which he didn't know
she was working on.
Song Book
She is also writing a song
book for the guitar composed
Of songs that have played a
part in her life.
Like her father, Miss
Sandburg plays the guitar
and sings folk songs. Most
Of the songs she sings are
"just things she learned at
home which her father was
singing"
However, she also COM
poses. One song about the
recent stock market drop
Mice kAckIcpoor1