she was here the proof-sheets of "Tenting at Stony Beach" passed through her hands, and out of this visit came the inspiration of numerous attractive letters to the New York Tribune, and, later, of "Dally," up to that date her most important work.

Her studies of the poor white type of mountaineer are most perfectly realized in the slight sketch of Dally's miserable brother, whose dwarfed soul had a single noble attribute — his love for "thur mountings." Dally herself is indebted for her gifts and graces mainly to her creator's imagination. Like Miss Murfree's

heroines, she was made, not born.

Following "Dally" appeared in surprisingly rapid succession, "Roweny in Boston," "Mrs. Keats Bradford," "The Two Salvinis," "Katharine North," and "Out of Step," all of them testifying that Miss Pool is at her best when her foot is on her native heath and her types are of her own New England.

This is not meant as ungracious criticism. This world is not a microcosm, and whoever takes it for his field must inevitably miss some of its most notable and splendid details — those salient details which the specialist eagerly appropri

ates.

Miss Pool's genre pictures of New England have an honored niche of their own in our literature. They are not like the work of some of the older writers, but they are like New England. They may not have that subtle, elusive grace which we call the literary quality, but that skill which selects from the great mass of common-place, humdrum living that which is individual and characteristic and photographs it with such startling vividness that the secret of itself stands revealed — what is it but the highest literary art? Surely this must be genius which thrills us with interest in the fortunes of persons whom in actual life we should dislike, which moves us to smiles and laughter and to tears as readily, which enwraps us and penetrates us, without and within, with the atmosphere of New England, which renews for us the breath of her pine woods, the pale beauty of her late spring, the sense of her thrift, her comfort and faculty," her shrewd commonsense, with its twinkle of humor, her kindly, warm heart under its snow of reticence and

silence, her straight-laced morals, so alien to this generation, and unpractical ideals yet more alien, and so strangely incompatible with the rest of the New England character! You can tell your friend of the West or South that if he wishes to know New England, he may read Miss Pool's stories, and his future personal knowledge will not belie you.

I think it is their very veraciousness which has made some home critics lukewarm or indifferent. Possibly, New England does not like to see herself "as in a glass," for the picture is not wholly flattering. It has the merciless truthfulness of the photograph. The high cheek bones and stern visage of the old Puritan are there. The outlines are too hard for beauty sometimes, too severe, too literal. We thought we had changed all that, comfortably outgrown it, become quite modern and gracefully conventional, and, behold, here comes one who shows us that blood tells, tells for all time and under all conditions, and can by no means of sophistical draping ever be permanently concealed.

Verily, Praise-God-Bare-bones and Miss Sargeant, of the Browning club, are blood-relations. New York loves New England, and smiles at her whimsies, and reaches out a cordial hand to this delightful artist, but the soul of cautious New England doubts. Let us wait awhile! Do we really look like that? In the mean time, is it possible that we have, right here, the great American Novel—and not one, but several?

It almost goes without saying that such stories as these of Miss Pool's are not done as tasks, or primarily for financial rewards. She is a natural writer and has always loved her work, and, most fortunately, she has had no tastes incompatible with a whole-hearted devotion to it. Though not unsocial, she is indifferent to society in the popular sense. Most of her life has been spent away from great towns and their distractions. Such seclusion, indeed, has been essential. The exactions of a peculiarly nervous organization were early recognized and the needful concessions were made not unwillingly. Always a lover of the country, she has found in the retirement of the old farmhouse, where, until recently, she has dwelt for many years, not

only a happy home in the company of the friend of her heart, but also the leisure and quietude suited to nourish her genius.

The devotion of her faithful friend, intelligent, sympathetic, unselfish, tender, has been an important element in Miss Pool's life and a factor in her success. By her, all troublesome worries have been kept at bay, all vexations deprived of their sting, and the common cares of their dual life cheerfully assumed. The friendship of these two women, cemented more firmly as the years go by, adds a touch of romance to their dignified and noble lives. May it be long before the unkindness of fate breaks the tie.

For

Miss Pool's life has not been marked by vicissitudes. It has been full of congenial work, varied only by simple diversions. some years she kept a riding pony for her use; later an afternoon drive with the horse that was "not a woman's horse" was wont to brush the cobwebs from her brain. Though a true lover of fine scenery, she is a bad traveler, the incidents of the journey making havoc with her nerves. Lovers of dogs will be pleased to know that she is one of that unnamed guild, and, as she says, "proud to have them for friends." Two beautiful terriers are distinguished. members of her family, and never to be long separated from her without grief.

Miss Pool's hours of work are always in the morning. Her characters are, she says, “real folks" to her, and if she keeps their company late in the day, she is apt to be up with them till

the small hours. But from nine to twelve she is nearly always busy at her desk.

She has not reached her present distinction at a bound, but, like others, has found that the majority of editors do not hanker after manuscript from any one upon whom the world has not set its seal of approval. She confesses to having "a fine collection of the printed forms of refusal from publications." The form of declination that pleased her sense of the humorous most was that of the magazine which thanked her for the opportunity of reading her manuscript, but “preferred to publish matter that its readers liked." She is, at present, taking an enforced rest on account of impaired health. Her large circle of readers will warmly hope that this recess will not need to be long, and that the future will be affluent of successes for one who has so bravely earned them.

So far as the present writer is aware, Maria Louise Pool is the only New England storywriter who has not been helped in her career by birth, position, friends, or influence. She may well be proud of her fame, for she has won it solely by her own gifts and industry. Her heart beats warm and strong with the life-blood of the people. So born and so nurtured, she has become their best interpreter and is, in the truest sense, a writer of that great To-day, which so boldly lords it over the fast darkening Past. Amanda M. Hale.

ROSELAND, La.

For the information of those who may be discouraged by the assertion that it is impossible for the young author to subsist by the fruits of his pen, I wish to say that, without any previous effort in that line, I took up that very task in January, 1894, and since then have supported a family of five comfortably without any aid from other sources. Therefore, I say

that what I have done others can do, and that young writers who have ability can subsist on pen efforts if they combine with it an idea of the value of time and the use of business methods in disposing of their articles.

A woman is said to be greatly handicapped when she attempts to dispose of literary material. I venture to dispute this, for a woman

who can write well is welcomed and receives her full meed of praise. In a newspaper office it is hard to convince the city editor that a woman can do the work usually given to a man, but if the woman has "a nose for news," courage, and does n't mind wetting her dress and burning off her overshoes getting a good description of a few fires, she can conquer even the city editor, and comes in for praise. If she takes a man's work, and does it "man well," there will

not long be discrimination against her. News paper work, except the insignificant average society work (which is not real newspaper work), is hard for a woman, but it is the best training the literary worker can have. Never can she forget the terse phrase: "Get the meat ax!" or see the lopping off of her superfluous phrases and numerous ill-placed adjectives, without learning to be careful in composition. CINCINNATI, O. Elizabeth Cherry Haire.

**THE WRITER is published the first day of every month. It will be sent, post-paid, ONE YEAR for ONE Dollar.

***All drafts and money orders should be made payable to The Writer Publishing Co. Stamps, or local checks, should not be sent in payment for subscriptions.

**The WritER will be sent only to those who have paid for it in advance. Accounts cannot be opened for subscriptions, and names will not be entered on the list unless the subscription order is accompanied by a remittance. When subscriptions expire the names of subscribers will be taken off the list unless an order for renewal, accompanied by remittance, is received. Due notice will be given to every subscriber of the expiration of his subscription.

***No sample copies of THE WRITER will be sent free.

The American News Company, of New York, and the New England News Company, of Boston, and their branches, are wholesale agents for THE WRITER. It may be ordered from any newsdealer, or direct, by mail, from the publisher.

Everything that may be printed in the magazine will be written expressly for it.

***Not one line of paid advertisement will be printed in THE WRITER outside of the advertising pages.

Advertising rates will be sent on request.

Contributions not used will be returned, if a stamped and addressed envelope is enclosed.

THE WRITER PUBLISHING CO.,

the magazine, and will be sent, postpaid, to any address on receipt of $1.50.

Subscribers whose subscriptions may expire with the present number are respectfully asked to send in their renewal orders as soon as may be convenient. It is the rule of THE WRITER not to send the magazine after the term of subscription has expired, unless a renewal order, with remittance, is received. It is hoped that every present subscriber will renew his subscription, and if renewal orders are sent in as soon as the current number is at hand, some inconvenience in the publication office will be saved, and delay in the receipt of the magazine will be prevented. Friends of THE WRITER will greatly help the magazine if they will recommend it to others, or send in new subscriptions together with their own renewals. THE WRITER needs many new subscribers to enable it to attain the development requisite for its greatest usefulness. Those who know the magazine and find it helpful and will recommend it to their friends will by so doing help themselves, the publishers, and those whose attention is directed to the publication.

For a young writer, or in fact for any one interested in literary work, a subscription for THE WRITER, or a set of bound volumes of THE WRITER and THE AUTHOR, will make a most attractive Christmas present. The seven bound volumes of THE WRITER, from 1887 to 1894 inclusive, will be sent, prepaid to any part of the United States or Canada, for $10. If ordered separately, the seven volumes would cost $11.50. For $11 the seven bound volumes of THE WRITER and a subscription for 1895 will be given. A complete set of THE AUTHOR — three bound volumes - will be added for $5 additional. The bound volumes of THE WRITER and THE AUTHOR together make an invaluable encyclopædia of information about authors and the methods of literary work. The books are attractively bound in cloth, with gold lettering on back and side, and will be a useful and ornamental addition to the shelves of any library.

Speaking of libraries, friends of THE WRITER will do the magazine a service by asking libra

rians to order the bound volumes and enter their subscriptions for their libraries, or by sending to the publishers the names of libraries where THE WRITER is not catalogued. As a magazine of practical information about authors and the methods of authorship, THE WRITER ought to be in every public library, and experience has shown that librarians are quick to order it when it has been recommended to them or asked for by their readers. The publishers do not hesitate to ask such favors of their readers, for the reason that from the beginning the main purpose of THE WRITER has been to be helpful to those to whose attention it should come, and so it may rightfully ask reciprocal help in extending its circulation and its useful

ness.

THE NATIONAL AMATEUR PRESS

ASSOCIATION.

The National Amateur Press Association is a unique literary organization. The association has quite a large membership of young men and women who write merely for the pleasure it gives them and for the educational value of the work. The editors and authors of the "N. A. P. A." make writing a recreation rather than a vocation. With some other source of income to make existence sure, they write with their minds at ease, undistracted by any anxiety regarding cruel editors, for their productions are sure of publication in some of the various amateur magazines.

The amateur writer is not a competitor of his professional brother. In fact, many professional writers are members of the "N. A. P. A," and contribute to its literature.

The "N. A. P. A.," as it now is, is a boon to the educated invalid, or the ennuyé, or the lazy littérateur. The literary empiric, the dabbler, the indolent writer of society verse, finds much amusement in the institution. But there are also connected with the association many young men and women who write for the amateur press for the practice it gives them. Many ambitious amateurs make the "N. A. P. A." a stepping stone to professional literary work.

There are, in many of the towns and cities of America, local clubs that are off-shoots of the

parent society. These local clubs publish official organs and other papers, and greatly assist in keeping the national association in a flourishing condition. Franklin C. Johnson.

BOONVILLE, N. Y.

QUERIES.

[ Questions relating to literary work or literary topics will be answered in this department. Questions must be brief, and of general interest. Questions on general topics should be directed elsewhere.]

(1.) If an author, after copyrighting a novel, wishes to change the title, what must he do?

(2.) Does a short article have on the whole as good a chance with the monthlies at one season as at another, or are there times to be avoided? When is the best time to submit a serial? How long beforehand are magazines "made up" for the coming year in detail?

R. R.

[(1.) If it is desired to change the copyrighted title of a novel before the book is published, all the author need do is to copyright the new title and proceed as if the earlier copyright had not been secured. It is seldom advisable to change the title of a book after its publication, but if such a change is made, both the new title and the old should be used on the title page, and the new title should be entered for copyright, so that the copyright inscription for instance, 66 may read, Copyright, 1882 and 1894, by John Smith."

(2.) It does not matter, as a general thing, at what season of the year a manuscript, either long or short, to be published serially or otherwise, is submitted to a magazine, excepting that a "timely" article must not be submitted so late that the editor cannot by any possibility include it in his forms. The main features of the March magazines the leading magazines, that is to say are practically settled now (December 1). The January magazines are mostly printed, and the February magazines are practically in type, with most of the illustrations made. In each case there may be forms left open for late matter which must go in, and which cannot be obtained far in advance, but the casual contributor has no interest in such pages. Of course, the smaller the magazine, the later it can hold back its forms, and some of the big periodicals, like the Forum, the Review of Reviews, and the North American