ROOSEVELT AS AN AUTHOR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 182, 28 April 1919, Page 7

ROOSEVELT AS AN AUTHOR

AN IDEAL CONTRIBUTOR

ALWAYS ON TIME

(By Robert Bridges, Editor, "Scribner's Magazine," in tho New York "Evening Post") Colonel Roosevelt, as a contributor for twenty years to "Scribner's Magazine," was one of the most thoughtful, considerate, and, efficient authors. When he promised a manusoript for a certain datethat promise was kept <% absolutely, no matter what intervened.' When he returned from the Spanish war" and landed at Montauk, he sent word to tho magazine that lie wanted to talk about his proposed story of "The Rough Riders." Just before he started on that expedition he had said in a brief interview: "If I come back, you shall have the first chance at anything I write." It was, therefore, on the first afternoon after he returned to his home at Oyster Bay that, on the lawn at Sagamore Hill, we talked over the book which developed into "The Rough Riders." It was all perfectly clear in tho colonel's mind. He knew the grand divisions of his story, although he had not written a line. There were to bo six articles, and, the date was set for the delivery of the first one so that tho serial could begin in the magazine promptly.. Very 60on he was nominated for Governor of New York. I said to him one day: "I suppose this will interfere with your date 3 for "The Rough Riders." "Not at all," he replied, "you shall have "the various chapters at tho time promised."

Aβ everybody knows, he made a vigorous campaign for Governor of New York and was elected, and inaugurated in the following January. Notwitlistanding this arduous and exciting time, he fulfilled overy promise and the book was delivered on time. It was the eanie way with his "Oliver Cromwell," which was written while he was Governor of New York. He was ai busy man, but his literary work was just as complete as though he had devoted hie whole time to it. When he was President he sent , for uio, and, taking me into his library, opened a drawer in liis desk, lifted out a complete., manuscript, put it on tho desk', and said in effeot: "It isn't customary for Presidents to publish a book during office, but I am going to publish this one." Wβ then went over together the complete manuscript of "Outdoor Pastimes of an American Hunter." Some of these papers had been yritren. before. Other chapters were the product of his hunting trips in Colorado and Louisiana while President. Tho book was ready for tho printer, title page and all. In all. the long find busy years of his Presidency, if you wrote and asked him a question one day, the reply, almost without exception, would be received on tho third day, just' as soon ns the letter could ■ got to Washington, be answered and returned; and nil liis letters had a personal touch, with characteristic corrections, or thoimpulsive postscript written with hie own hand.

To him the making of a book was a delight. f He knew all the machinery of it, and he read his proofs with tho accuracy and industry of an expert. But the literary work that he best enjoyed was writing his "African Game Trails." The whole book, even the preface, was written "by his own hand, word for word, in triplicate, in the very heart of Africa. One of the men who was with him said that no matter bow arduous the day in the hunting field, msht after night he would sec tho Colonel seated on a cf.mp stool with a feeblo light 'on the tnble. writing the narrative of his adventures. Chapter by chapter this narrative was ,sent by runners from the heart of Africa. Two copies were dispatched at different times. When ho pot to the head-waters of the Nile one of the chapters was sent from Nairobi and the duplicate was sent down the Nile to Cairo. These blue canvas envelopes often arrived uracil battered and stained, but never did a single chapter miss. ■ '

It was the eame way with his "Bra. zilian Wilderness," and tho Colonel used a. part of the same 6tock of paper that he had taken to Africa. Each book consisted of three shades arranged in OTder. White, blue, rnd yellow, so that tho original and two copies were distinctly-.marked. Only a few weeks ago the Colonel eaid: "I have just used the last of those pads that 1 took with mo to Afrioa." A special watertight and ant-proof case had been made for that trip, and loaded with enough paper, as it proved, to; write half a dozen books.

In civilised countries the Colonel generally dictated Ms articles and books, but made a most thorough revision of the type-written copy. The stenographer who took his dictation for "Oliver Cram, v/ell" when Roosevelt was Governor said that ho would appear in hi.s study with some hooks of reference and a pad of memoranda. Then he would start to dictate, and with hardly a pause would complete a chapter of historical narrative which demanded a very careful knowledge of dates and places. This was not ae easy ns a narrative of personal experiences. Nevertheless, I once read a chapter of it before tho Colonel had 6een the stenographer's transcript. It could have been printed as it stood, with mere inocliaaicsil proof-reading correc tions.

Colonel Roosevelt took a great interest in tho illustrations, the type page, and the cover of his books. Ho came in one day with a painting made by a friend of one of Wβ hoys, and said. "I think tbat will mako a first-rate frontispiece in colour for 'A. Book-lover's Holiday in tho Open.'." It was tho painting of a cougar in a tree on the brink of the Grand Canyon.