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Show NEVER AGAIN. Some time ago, says the New York Herald, George Ade made a promise to W. D. Howells that when he had made sufficient money by writing writ-ing slang or any trivial sort of work he would revert to a higher class and a more serious consideration con-sideration of his talent. That particular time has now arrived. Mr. Ade has by books and plays amassed a competency. compe-tency. Mr. Howells and Mr. Ade met again a few days ago. "When," asked Mr. Howells, "are you going to keep your promise to me?" "Now," replied Mr. Ade. "From this time forth I shall write no more slang." "Thank you," said Mr. Howells, "you have done yourself and the rest of us a favor." Ade's original promise was made to Mr. Howells after the latter had read "Doc Home," Ade's first story. "If you keep on in this line of work," said Mr. Howells, "and write real character studies, real pictures of American life, you some day will write the great American novel. It has yet to be written. We are all looking for it." "Thank you," replied Mr. Ade, "but the great American public, and especially the publishers, do not seem to care for my efforts in that direction. direc-tion. They like slang better." "But while you are wasting- your endeavors on this foolish form of literatuts," persisted Mr. Howells, "you might be doing some thoroughly good and lasting work. Good writing is not a thing of mushroom growth and, of course, slang under no condition is good writing." I Then Ade promised the veteran novelist that I he would quit writing slang as soon as he could afford it. |