Conan Doyle (article 17 october 1894)
Conan Doyle is an article published in The Cincinnati Enquirer on 17 october 1894.
Article
Does Not Seem To Be Infatuated With Ear Corn.
Dr. A. Conan Doyle, the world-famed novelist, is at the Burnet House. He is as delightful a conversationalist as he is a writer, and more could not be said. Last night, at his room at the hotel, he was surrounded by a number of friends. Few men wear their honors so well as Dr. Doyle. He is an interesting talker, his massive frame and pleasant smile adding interest to what he says, answering all questions put to him in his good-natured, easy way with the flow of Irish wit that his grandfathers bequeathed him.
As to the writers who had influenced his style. Dr. Doyle thought that Dickens had done the most, although his readers will say that the author has a style of his own, not copied after any one.
As to his own works he stated that he liked "The White Company" best, although "Micah Clarke," in England, and "The Refugees" here had been the most popular. As to piracy he said that he guarded against it by copyrighting in this country.
"I like the American newspapers in many respects," he said. "It is certainly more interesting than the English paper, which presents dry facts without any attempt at embellishment."
"Are you going to write about America upon your return?"
"I think not. My knowledge will be too superficial. I have been well treated every place, and what I have seen I admired, but I am not prepared to write a book. I may give some newspaper articles, but nothing more."
"What do you think of American literature?"
"That is a large-sized subject, and I do not wish to go into a close discussion of it. I like many of your American writers. Howells is a great writer. Another who is almost unknown, Lafcadio Hearn, and who, I understand, was formerly a reporter on THE ENQUIRER, has done some of the strongest writing in many years. Riley is a true poet, reaching the heart of nature as few men have ever done. Referring to American hotels, he said: "Of course, the hotels are different, and, being my first trip to this country, I find some things that I am not accustomed to, but I am rapidly getting acclimated. Sweet potatoes were new to me. I rather like them. Ear corn was new, and I can not say that I have any particular desire for it. Egg plant also was a curiosity to me. I like the railroads of this country. The rolling stock is much superior to ours; the roadbed possibly not so good. But I favor your system in preference to our own."
Mr. Doyle will lecture to-night at the Odd Fellows' Hall.
