A Master of Craft.

New Zealand Graphic, 6 April 1907, Page 49

A Master of Craft.

Mi;. W. W. JACOBS AND HIS STORIES. ■ V ’ ’ r,leo,,s ’ father was a wharf,,«vr ‘’t "j'Pl’ing. a,,d U ,)ia y hi,Vft b <™ this that led the novelist to see tho humour m those who man our shins iM om his earliest Jays Mr. Ja,eobs. loved ie sea, and it was his original intention to be a sailor. So one day he went on an experimental voyage, and was so frightfully ill in consequence that he vowed then and there that he would be a land Übber” . after all. And that is how W. W. Jacobs camo to take to writmg instead of being a sailor, and tbo public- will bo.grateful that chance led linn to adopt a calling which enables him t~ use his talents in the interests of ot hers. It was some time after Mr. Jacobs had decided that he would not go to sea that he decided to adopt literature In those days he did not know ho could write—had no suspicion of it, in fact No he entered the Post Office and spent some years counting other people’s money in the Savings’ Bank Department I he first thing he ever wrote was an article for a magazine published by the Post Ofliee. But it was a gratuitous contribution, and “W. W.” felt at that time encouraged that they would take it even as a gift. So he wrote another article, and sent it to an outside journal which gave him five shillings for it. Then he grew' bolder; lie wrote a story. He sent it to Jerome K. Jerome, then editing the “Idler,” and the result was that it was not only accepted, but the editor asked for more. It was this that caused Mr. Jacobs to think of story-writing seriously. It is only seven years since Mr. Jacobs left the Post Office, though his first book came out ten years ago. This was Many Cargoes,” a collection of his short stories, and it is rather curious that though it has since run into more than eighteen editions it was declined by five publishers before the sixth saw its merits. But this is often the case with those who arc destined to become great authors. With the single exception of Hall Caine. 1 believe there is no living writer who had his initial effort

accepted by the first publisher it was offered to. It is rather curious, .too, that, although Mr. Jacobs used to spend much time on the river watching sailors and bargemen in his younger days, only one story he has ever written was modelled on a story he actually heard a sailor tell. This story he managed to write in a day as the result, but as a rule it takes him a month to write a short story. His usual method is to write in the evening, for the daytime will be given up to gardening or some other similar pastime. Then about seven o’clock he will go. into his study, lock himself in, and begin to write. He writes slowly, and sharp to the hour pf ten he stops. He is not in the habit of burning the midnight oil. His plots,' he says, come from nowhere, they form themselves. “ But,” he says “ I generally begin with a man and a girl. They are pretty certain to lead somewhere.” One thing, however, he is very careful about, and that is the name of each character. A great deal is in a name where the novelist is concerned. He does not invent names, but has kept a list of curious names which came to his notice whilst he was in the Savings’ Bank, and on these he draws when he wishes to name his characters. A short time ago this led to a rather curious episode. A lady living in Somersetshire wrote to ask .where he got a certain name from, as it was her surname, and she had never heard of it anywhere else. Perchance, the good lady is one of the Savings’ Bank clients. The human panorama of the river always impressed Jacobs. The men he met there, rough diamonds most of them, but good fellows at heart, and often generous to a fault, always linger in his memory and thus aid him in his work. Jacobs'has a great admiration for these seafaring folk, in spite of. their.bluntness. and that is why he is. so happily inspired in introducing them ’"to stones. Of his voyages on colliers and barg . tells many stories. Here is one . m of his literary friends were one day discussing the forcible language a certain sailor used, when Jacobs broke in with: “The worst language T ever heard wa. was good for him. At all events, they ■were lively crew. 4-1.« “The mate was in charge and on the bridge during the whole voyage He began swearing not very, long after left Cardiff and he continued until we “VX'".n U» ■ write one. Here is one be s very fond

° f “ Bittie Johnny is busily enßage^ doing his home lessons when his big bro ther enters. He pats him on the head, and says affectionately: “ • Well Johnnv, my boy, what are you at work at now? Is it geography? “ If it’s upstairs I’m not ' fetch it.’ says Johnny, without looking up.”

Mr. Jacobs shares with many other authors a love of writing for the stage. The great success that attended the production, by Cyril Maude, of “ Beauty and the Barge” at the Haymarket, makes one hope that ere long another such treat may be in store for playgoers.

INCIDENTS IN KING EDWARD’S BUSY LIFE.