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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (May 7, 1899)
TUB OMAHA DAILY 15EE : SUXDAV , MAY 7 , 1800. 1 ! ) Discount Early Midsummer G USUA.L CUSTOM has been to hold Midsummer Sales in July and A.ugu st when what was left of spring and sum- / morsuits were \Vhileourspringtradehasbeensatisfactory-the backward spring weather has made its impression Some lines of suits are almost complete \vhile others are badly broRen in sizes and our best judg ment leads us to believe that instead of waiting and malting this offer in July that we had better give you this grand op- porlunity J\T/ ' \ TXf'at the proper season \vhen you have an actual use for it and the chance to purchase the famous clothing of JBrowning , King c Co manufacture at cost and less at this time or the year is an opportunity not to be dispised Our two front tables are piled high with several hundred suits for you to select from and all have received this great out of C EXAMPLES OF OUR CLEARING SALE : $5.00 Bulls 33J- per cent oft. . $3.35 812.50 suits 334 per cent off $8.35 § 20.00 suits 83iJ- per cent oil , $13.35 $6.50 suits 33i per cent off. . $4.35 § 13.50 suits 334 per cent off $9.00 § 22.HO suits 33j- per cent oil. $15.00 § 8.00 suits 33 per cent off. . $5.35 § 15.00 suits 334 per cent off $10.00 § 25.00 suits 33 r per cent oft , $16.75 810.00 suits 33 per cent off. $6.65 § 18.00 suits 33J per cent of ! $12.00 § 28.00 suits 33i per cent oil. $18.65 Sixes 84 to 0O S.AZ,13 COJ\IJUJSATC.BS JUCWVDAl" S. W. Cor. 15th and Douglas St * . 3 Discount. R. S. WILCOX. Manager. Discount. SUCCESS WON BY THE TITLE How the Author of "Tho Ohoir Invisible" Torced His Way to the Piont. PERSONAL STUDY OF JAMES LANE ALLEN Pierce Uuttle for I.Hcrnry nccoisnl- Alioiit Kcn- AVrltcH lloii Wliy H tucUj AVlicre He AVorUw in nvery afternoon , whether the sun shines or not , a tall , dignified gentleman walks down the stone steps of a plain-looking private residence nt 1421 K street , In Washington of the adjacent ington , and disappears along one jacent avenues. Ho Is erect and almost Boldlorly In appearance , his hair is gray and his mustache shows the white marks of Is . kindly but fearless look V ' * tluio. Thcro a. I Cf In the ejes that twinkle behind the gold- 3- * \ rimmed spectacles. The dlgulty of demeanor meaner nnd Innate charm of manner strongly suggest the southern gentleman of n typo fast passing away. This tall gentle man is the most celebrated Kcntucklan in Washington , and one of the most successful writers of llctlon of the last decade of the nineteenth century. Ten years ago James Lane Allen was tasting the Hist fruits of a hard-earned literary success , and was emerging from a struggle with poverty such ns few Ameri can authors have known. With his own hand and brain ho has made for himself a way that Is now ono of distinguished ease. lie has probably reached a wider uudlenco than any living American writer , nnd In etrango contrast vvlth the scope of his hear ing Is the absolute lack of knowledge con cerning his life. A vast clientele knows him ns the author of a book that has passed , the hundredth thousand , but It Is quite 'another thing to bo In touch vvlth the tem perament of the man who created John Gray and the sweet sisterhood that has for its ornaments Sister Dolorosa and Amy Fal coner. A certain reserve has characterized James Lane Allen , precluding the encroachments of n curious public , ills own llfo has re mained the thing apart fiom his success , and as that success has crowded him more and moro into the world's gaze ho has rcmulned the same dignified gentleman as when In the years ago ho walked hand In hand through the Ulucgrass Holds with the children of his fancy. Ho Is thoroughly Identified In lifo and letters with Kentucky , and bis triumph 1ms not meant an ullcna- tiun from the original "localo. " Years have passed since ho last lived in Kentucky and far from his own people drew their pictures and opened his gallery to the reading world. In the Avondale hills of Cincinnati , where the hills of Kentucky were only a misty blue across tbo Ohio , he wrote the Id ) Us of that commonwealth , and in Now York and In Washington ho has done the work that has put him lu tbo front rank of American literary tnen. In a pleasant room on the third floor ol tbo house at 1421 K street Allen Is working on what ho calls his 11 ret novel. It U n cheery apartment with n large window faci Ing the northwest and absolutely bare of ornaments. There are no books around , not even a photograph. Through the win dow there Is nlevr of house tops , with hero and there a patch of green and an occasional clump of trees. livery morning at 9 o'clock finds the author at his desk , which BtunJu alongside tbo window. From 9 o'clock until noon Allen h hard ut work All hUs work is done with a stub pen. U is later copied by his stenographer. Ho writes leisurely and with great care. Ho never allows hlnibelt to be hurried and is ana o tbo few authors who are absolutely blind to the beck of tbo publisher. Tbo lirst draft of his work In manuscript Is a mere mould n which the remaining thoughts are cast and reshaped and from which the story GSUC3 In Its complete form. Allen spends every afternoon out of doors. : Io Is an enthusiastic cyclist. Ono of his avorlt'e rides is aiound the capltol and down the brord avenue in front of the congres sional library. When he Is lu New York , and ho lived there until the winter of 1S9S , 10 Invariably dined out. In Washington , low ever , ho Is applying himself more stren uously to his work and dines at his boardIng - Ing houeo. At night there Is a theater , vaudeville , concert or opera. Ho Is a lover of music. Ho caught the first melody in ; ils childhood when the note of the cardinal reached his car In the Kentucky forest land. of working models. "King Solomon of Kentucky" was based on an actual Incident In early Kentucky life. The only clew to the celebrated parson In "Tho Choir In visible" was a slab bearing his name in the Episcopal church at Lexington , Ky. Once in Kentucky I asked James Lane Allen why ho had written BO much about his native state and ho said : "I know that the two elements underljlng tbo success of any writer are these a love of his subject and a knowledge of It. Some write with the necessary knowledge and without the love ; others , with the requisite love , but without the knowledge. " Allen believes that all literary work whether Imaginative or otherwise must have the basic element of goodness. No writer has enjoyed his works more. His success JAMES LANK ALLKN ( from most recent photo. ) Individually , James Lane Allen personifies tbo gentleman. Ho Is cordial in his wel come , but never demonstrative ; enthusiastic without being effusive. There la sincerity In his greeting and warmth. Ho talks with grace and dignity His voice is rather low , but his enunciation Is admirably distinct. Ho is one of the most accessible of really famous men of America , He abhors super ficiality and is outspoken In his sentiments. The author of "Tho Choir Invisible" has taken all of his characters from life , or , rather , from the elements of experience and observation as revallied and made con crete by the Imagination , Contrary to the general Impression , there are no originals for the pttiplo of his Imagination , Only \\ith bis short stories is there any semblance has been built on genuine happiness , grow ing out of love of his work and Its mis sion , James Lane Allen created a now southern literature , Impressing upon It his own per- bonallty. Ho believes that the first era I In southern letters is past , having spent Its ' force mainly on the literature of the negro tbo Creole , the mountaineer , the cracker am' ' the Anglo-Saxon tjpo of a lower degree or civilization. Eventually , ho thinks there will be absolutely now growths In the uouth- urn literature forced Into existence t > y the outburst of new Ideas representing new stages of progryis , Allen deprcHtea the notion of the author reading from hit , own works. He was on the platform from 1S90 until 1S53 , but it wa practically necessity that placed him there. He Is of the opinion that it Is an American custom , without precedent. "In the German , Husslan , Scandinavian literature's , " sild Mr. Allen , "there ore no Instances. In England theie Is very little. Englishmen who ha\o read from their own works ha\e done so In this country. It Is the American way. The author began as a lecturer and out of It grew the modern lyccum. Oilglnally the purpose was Instruction , Now It has come to bo amusement. " AVIicn AIIiMi WIIH u Hoy. Allen comes from Virginian ancestry with Scotch-Irish antecedents. His grandfathers on both sides were soldiers , and ho Is re lated to many of the most distinguished families of the south. Ills father was Richard Allen and his mother Helen Foster. Doth had consider able fortunes , but the recklcMncsa of the father resulted in a gradual shrinkage of estate. James Lane Allen was barn in a handsome two-story brick country homo on the Versailles pike , seven miles from Lex ington , in the far-famed blue grass lands. H Is a most beautiful country , with rolling lands and picturesque woods. Hero the boy spent his early childhood , alonu often with nature. When ho was 4 years old the fam ily estate passed out of their hands , and his mother moved to n email area of land , which came to her in the division of her father's estate. The new homo where. Allen was to ompleto hla youth and begin his early man- lood was only two miles and a half fiom 'CXlngton. His mother was a woman of rare charms and gracious manner. From his earliest hlldhood Lane Allen was much In her coui- iany. fcho was his first teacher. The cn- orccd solitude when n child directed the \holo course cf Allen's life In ISts Allen matriculated nt Transylvanli university ut -exIiiRtoii. Ho entered tinder a serious Inanclal handicap. His father had Just ailed in business , and ho was forced to w.ilk to Lexington c\ery day and leturn. Often ho was insufllclcntly clothed , and ono winter ho was without underwear. He suf- crcd much from exposure , and his health n later years showed the results Allen's Irst college distinction was the fact that 10 was the tallest man In his class. Ho Is remembered today ns a finished classical scholar , and was the best student In Greek n the history of the Institution , He detested - tested mathematics , but was careful and lainetaklng in his studies. It was while at college , when ho was 21 jears of age , that his father died. The ibsoluto care of his family devolved upon him , and It was to remain many years , In 1872 ho graduated with honors , Kor the next twelve years ho was cither a school teacher , a pilvato tutor or a col lege professor. In student dojs at Transylvania ho had written considerable verse , and had trans lated some of Schiller's poems Into English. Prom his earliest manhood ho had enter tained a profound dlsllko for fiction. Ho detested a novel , and looked even with disdain upon the modern standard romanc ers. Upon his return to Lexington ho felt an Irresistible impulse to write. IllH rii-Nt AVrllliiHT. In 1S84 Allen had yet to read his first novel. During that > ear some ono placed In his hands a copy of Henry James' "Por trait of a Lady. " Allen read It with the critical mind of a pedagogue. To him the work fairly bristled with Incongruities. His criticism took the form of a paper entitled , "Tho First Page of the 'Portrait of a Lady , ' " his first prose production. Ho sent the paper to the Critic , and to his inexpressible delight it was accepted. Ho received a check for ( S. In the fullness of his Joy he resolved to devote his first literary earnings to art. Ho took the flrat train to Cincinnati and heard the production of "The Messiah" Thrilled by the music of the great Handel oratorio his fancy took wing In verse. Ou the train homo he wrote a poem , "In Mid-Winter. " He sent H to Harpers , and It was accepted. In 1S84 , with ? 200 In his pocket , ho went to Now York. He was without Influence , because ho sought no Influence , being de termined that whatever happened he , and ho alone , should be responsible. Allen lived first In a wretched room at 140 East Thlrty-flist street. It was a top floor room , miserably furnished , and there was seldom a flro In the winter. Up to the time of his arrival In New York ho had not written - ton a line of llctlon. His calm resolve to make n way to litera ture startled and even amused the New- York magazine editors. But ho was sincere In his determination , and confident of eventual success. One of his first aitlclcs was "Tjpes of American Women In Henry James , " It was taken by the Continent , which was then In the height of Its popu larity. With Infinite toll and after exhaust ive research Allen compiled an article on the "Early American Magazines , " but there was no purchaser. It went from magazine to magazine , but always came back. In later jears It was published serially in the Now York Evening Post. An essay on "Poo" attracted attention , as well ns a scholarly paper on "Literary Circles In Balzac's Time. " The latter elicited a f.i- vorablo criticism from the celebrated Eng lish reviewer , Edmund Yates. Naturally Kentucky was the homo of his first creations. Kentucky was always the land of promise. Disappointed over the failure of his classical and critical work to take , ho applied himself to fiction. Amid accepted , but his remuneration was doubled with each succeeding communication. It was the first time that the lowlands of Kentucky had been Invaded. It was a new field and a new writer had explored It. It was while traveling through the pleasant fields that his famous short stories sug gested themselves. The visit to the Trappist - pist monks had led to the conception of "Father Palemon" and "Tho White Cowl" paved the way for the succeeding stories that formed the contents of his first book. "Fluto and Violin , " -which was published In 1890. It was followed a year later by "The Bluegraps Region of Kentucky. " Then there was a prompt recognition of the Kentucky author. In the early 'OOs Allen lived for the most part In Kentucky , residing for two years at Cvnthlana. In 1891 ho moved to Cincinnati , where ho wrote "John Gray , " and the fol lowing year ho went to Europe In search of health. His next work was "A Kentucky Cardinal" in 1891 , followed in 1891 by a "Summer in Aicady. " "Aftermath" was written In 1895 and "The Choir Invisible" between tbo autumn of 1SOG and the spring of 1S97. In 1895 , as a matter of preference , James Lane Allen moved to New York , where ho resided until the winter of 1898 , when ho went temporarily to Washington. The fctnry of the naming of "Tho Choir Invisible. " his most successful hook , is In teresting. The book is a revision of "John Gray. " It was the original Intention of Mr. Allen , as well as his publisher , to retain I the first name. The agents of the house wore on their way to California and every JAMES LANE ALLEN'S OLD KENTUCKY HOME. the scenes of his earlier childhood , and with I characters whoso traits and temperaments he knew so well , ho made hU debut as a I story writer , with a sketch called "Too Much Momentum , " which was accepted by / the Harpers In 1887. His only other story , | written during the first > ears in New Yoik , was an Italian sketch , "Part of an Old Story. " TAPED joars that saw the first fruits of Allen's fancy were bitter years. Ho know what It was to be hungry and cold , yet Allen's spirit was never crushed , Almm KrntiirU } , Allen realized that the only place where ho could live and continue his work was Kentucky. Just at this time Charles Egbert Craddock bad made her first success and a now literary btar had risen over the Cumberland mountains. There was a tremendous Interest In the scene of her work. Before leaving for Kentucky Allen secured from the edltois of Harper's magazine the promise of their consideration of a contemplated article on the Cumber land mountains. Ho arranged with the Evening Post to write a series of letters from Kentucky. HU letters were not only arrangement made for a thorough adver tisement of the book as "John Gray. " Ono morning Allen received a message from the publishers. U was suggested to him that It would bo advUablo to change the name of the book.Vo can reach our agents by wlro , " It was said , "before they got to San Francisco. Wa must have the name , If there is to bo , i change , at once. " "Give * mo two hours , " replied the author Allen went to his homo at 88' Madison nvonuo and bowed his head upon his desk Suddenly the words of George Eliot's famous poem came to his mind : "Bo bh.ill I join the ihnlr Invisible Whobc miiflc la the gladness of the world. ' ' 'I have It , " said Allen. Two hour * later the title of the mos successful volume of American fiction in twenty-five jears had been telegraphed to San Francisco. ( IL'AI.VI * FKATUIIISS OF MVK. While tlto Ohio river was nt flood tldo the "backwater" filled a pond on u farm ii Washington township , Harrlbon ( ouiuy , O tome distance from the river. When the water went down the pond was found to h filled with fish of every vailcty native to th main stream and the people for miles around lad an abundant supply for several weeks. The waiters of London , England , hold a meeting iccontly , at which the unanlmoim pinion was cxptesscd that tipping showed 10 true gentleman , and that the man who of used to tip ought to have his food and nnk filed at him. At a fashionable party In AtchlHon , Knn. , ho other day , each lady guest was icqulrcd o tlucad a needle whllo flitting balanced on 10 slender end of a Jug with her foot rnlBcil roni the lloor and extended. Without mure ban icferrlng to the ncrobatlu nntuio of this erformancc , wo must turn with profound ratification to the knowledge that nt Innt Atchlson Is beginning to temper Its anuise- nents with a llttlo Intellectuality. It takes rains to thread a nccdlo under buch cir- umutanccs. Two years ago a Maine lumbering party , ot being able to find the conventional green sli for planking their shad , had recourse to green rock maple slab. The heat stalled lie sap In the wood , which bubbled nnd ilsscd about the fish , Imparting its dollcato aver to the dish when ready to bo served , ml lo ! it was discovered that a now table cllcacy bad been added to the world's enl ine. Now thcio is no more green ash Innkcd shad for the Malno people , but sugar inplo every time. There has not been a failure or a fire In ihuatlan , Mexico , for almost fifteen years , ml losses on account of bad debts amount. o very llttlo. There are three banks , nnd irco of the largest merchants have a bank- ng department connected with their fitorca. A firm of English tea merchants offorn o cveiy married woman who buys n i-ound of Its 50-cent tea lor five consecutive weeks a pension of $2.0 a week In case of the death of her husband , provided ho was In oed health when she began to buy the tea. 'ho ' pension Is to continue aa long ns hho cumins u widow. Eleven on Ono Limb at Ono.Timo With Excruciating Pain. All Remedies Tried , and Number less Physicians Little Benefit. CUTICURA Speedily Cures. My mother ban been n victim to ulccra from varlcoRo veins fur thirty flvu > eara. Klovvn of thoiio tcrrlblu HoreHhuvo c-xIMed nt ouotlmoon thu Iliul ) afftclul , Kxurncl itlug palu and InUnia tiffe ring w ore endured , with nil ourti of remedied on trial mid iiumluirlotH ptivalclntui' cilU and jircHcrlptlons npplU'U , but nil practically with" but llttla iH'iiillt. However , ut lu l tliu remedial agent vvnn found In Cimci'itA ( ointment ) , which niroiy proven it UCIKIII in gold , uiiuvmiinK pnm and cnutlng lirnllnj procenac to commence and a euro ejimllly effected , film ban , ulno , u cJ CUTJCUIIA wllli murUd benefit In rrjelpe-lai of the fueo unil eczema. Tliu Cl'TK ' uiu HOAI- , n ! o , hutt otaljlUlicd n recoid only u tliu beii K , purifying , nnd healing In U nature , ' jiroml Itself u most oxcillent and valu. nblo auxiliary to the CUTjomiA ( ointment ) . 1 w ould remark that thin ti blimonlul la i ntlrely unnollcltcd , bvlnu a voluntary contribution for humanity' * lake , uud tliu commendation of the CUTICUIU HEMKDIKS to the fullest confidence , It Intf aatltlled of their purity , gcuulnencen , and ulmoit mlraclei w rouicht. March 16,1893. W. T MO I18K , Cabot , Vt. CUTICURA Begins with the Blood and Ends with The Sklnjind jSoalp. That U tonay , U'ITICUII * HKSOLVKNT , ( fr atctt of blood purlren and humor rxpvllen , purlBn tliu blood and circulation fluids ul lluuuuiiKKtiii , and Unit remotea tlio mule , wlillu wurm tiutlm with CUTIUV A boAf , and gentle anolrttlnui with ( 'unouiu ( ointment ) . jrciitm ; ol emollle-nt tkln euro , cUanio tliu iklii am ! tcalp of cruitl knd tcalei , IUy Itchlny , liurnlni ; , and Inflammation , rootlio and ln'til ThuiiuruiiHeMllI.permanently , nnd economically cured thu mom lortiirliiK , lilt flKurliitf hunioriof iheiUn.ficalp. ami liloodwtU ! luM of hair , when all ol hurri medic t ( all 8ulii throughout Hie world. I'oiiml ) A O Corr , TrvpiUotlon llowtol'ui > loilurlngbkall ! > faicic SAVE YOUR HAN'DS ns&SW&s:111' :