ASTONISHING A NOVELIST.

Evening Star, Issue 10852, 9 February 1899, Page 4

A STONISHING A NOVELIST.

It is related of Mr F. Marion Crawford, the novelist, says the ‘New York Times,’ that when he was making a tour of America, and was travelling through a rich agricultural region to fill an appointment at a large town, a brisk-looking young man, with his hat on the back of his head, came into a car in which the novelist was sitting, held out his hand, and said, in a most affable and companionable way: “ I presume this is the celebrated Mr Crawford?” ’ “My name is Crawford,” renlied the novelist. “ The conductor told me you were aboard,” rejoined the other. “Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Higgs. I ato somewhat in the book line myself, and I know how it goes.” “You are an author?” said Mr Crawford. “I am glad to meet you.” “Yes, I have published a book regularly every year since 1890.” “ May I ask the name of your latest book?” asked Mr Crawford. “It’s the Premium List of the Jones County Agricultural Fair,” cordially responded Mr Higgs, taking a small pamphlet from his pocket and handing it to him. “ Allow me to present you a copy of it. I am the secretary of the Jones County Agricultural Board. We are going to have the best fair this year we ever had. Balloon ascension, Roman chariot races, baseball games, and trials of speed on tract till you can’t rest. Come and spend the day with us, and it shan’t cost you a cent. Well, this is where I get off. Good-bye, Mr Crawford. Glad to Have met you.” Wringing Mr Crawford’s hand again, the genial secretary of the Jones County Agricultural Board pushed his hat a little further back on his head, strode down the aisle, and got off the car, leaving the astonished author of ‘Mr Isaacs’ and 1 Ave Roma Immortalis’ qasping for breath.