Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 August 1895 — A Mistake of Young Authors. [ARTICLE]

A Mistake of Young Authors.

Mrs. Margaret Deland says that she often has manuscripts placed In her hands by would-be novelists who wish her criticism on what they have written. Not long ago a young girl brought such a one to her, which was a story of life among the English nobility. “The first chapter opened," Mrs. Deland continues, “with Lady Arabella seated in a rocking chair on the front porch of her castle residence. I mildly suggested to the youthful author that, although my information regarding noble ‘tricks and manners’ was a trifle circumscribed, I was quite certain that' It was not a habit to sit in rocking chairs. Moreover, I very much doubted the existence of the front porch. In the same book was one sceno which was life-like and natural—that was a description of some children playing in a barnyard. I said to the girl: ‘You were brought up on a farm, I suppose?’ She seemed surprised at what she regarded as a happy guess on my part, and answered:‘Yes. We used to have such good times playing In the barnyard!’ And. yet I don’t suppose anything,” Mis. Deland concluded, "will make that girl see what she can do and what Is beyond the limit of her powers, nor that, for successful work, It Is absolutely necessary that one should only write about what is familiar to one’s experience.’’—New York Times.