Later, Kid asks girl to supper. Not wildly anxious, but very evident that he asks her because he likes her. Girl accepts; goes to supper. Kid very good comrade and kind. Girl begins to think that here at last is a man who understands her. Details ambitions—long, wonderful ambitions. Explains her points of superiority over the other girls of stage. Says their lives disgust her. She wants to work and study and make something of herself. Kid smokes vast number of cigarettes. Displays and feels deep sympathy. Recalls, but faintly, that he has heard it on previous occasions. They have an awfully good time. Part at last in front of apartment house. “Good night, old chap.” “Good night.” Squeeze hands hard. Kid has no information at all about kissing her good night, but don’t even try. Noble youth. Wise youth. Kid goes home and smokes. Feels strong desire to kill people who say intolerable things of the girl in rows. “Narrow, mean, stupid, ignorant, damnable people.” Contemplates the broad, fine liberality of his experienced mind.
Kid and girl become very chummy. Kid like a brother. Listens to her troubles. Takes her out to supper regularly and regularly. Chorus girls now tacitly recognize him as the main guy. Sometimes, may be, girl’s mother sick. Can’t go to supper. Kid always very noble. Understands perfectly the probabilities of there being others. Lays for ’em, but makes no discoveries. Begins to wonder whether he is a winner or whether she is a girl of marvelous cleverness. Can’t tell. Maintains himself with dignity, however. Only occasionally inveighs against the men who prey upon the girls of the stage. Still noble.
Time goes on. Kid grows less noble. Perhaps decides not to be noble at all, or as little as he can. Still inveighs against the men who prey upon the girls of the stage. Thinks the girl stunning. Wants to be dead sure there are no others. Once suspects it, and immediately makes the colossal mistake of his life. Takes the girl to task. Girl won’t stand it for a minute. Harangues him. Kid surrenders and pleads with her—pleads with her. Kid’s name is mud.
March, 1902
[Last Words. London: Digby, Long & Co., pp. 258–262.]
STEPHEN CRANE: A CHRONOLOGY
1871 Birth of Stephen Crane on November 1 at 14 Mulberry Place, Newark, New Jersey. The fourteenth and last child of Reverend Jonathan Townley Crane, graduate of the College of New Jersey (later Princeton University) and presiding elder for the Newark district of Methodism; and his wife Mary Helen, graduate of the City College of New York and daughter of a well-known Methodist minister, George Peck.
1876 Family moves to Paterson, New Jersey, where Dr. Crane is appointed to Cross Street Church.
1878 Dr. Crane is appointed pastor at Port Jervis, New York. In September, Stephen begins his public school education here, the locale of his later Whilomville Stories and “The Monster.”
1880 Death of Dr. Crane in Port Jervis on February 16. Mrs. Crane supports family by writing for Methodist papers and the New York Tribune and the Philadelphia Press.
1882 Mrs. Crane moves to Asbury Park, New Jersey, where Stephen attends school until 1888.
1885 Stephen writes his first story, “Uncle Jake and the Bell Handle,” never published during his lifetime.
1888 In January, Stephen enrolls at Hudson River Institute (Claverack College) in Claverack, New York, and remains here until 1890. Publishes his first sketch, “Henry M. Stanley,” in school magazine Vidette (February 1890), and is promoted to captain in military drill. Probably hears Civil War tales from history teacher, retired General Van Petten. During the summer months (1888–92), Stephen assists his brother Townley who operates a news bureau at Asbury Park.
1890 Stephen enters Lafayette College in September as engineering student. Poor class attendance.
1891 Transfers to Syracuse University in January. Correspondent for the New York Tribune in Syracuse. Presumably sells sketches to the Detroit Free Press; publishes his first story, “The King’s Favor,” in May issue of the Syracuse University Herald; and begins writing Maggie. Spends little time in the classroom; ends college career in June. During the summer, he meets Hamlin Garland at Avon-by-the-Sea and reports his lecture on William Dean Howells (August 18). In love with Helen Trent. Mother dies in Paterson on December 7.
1892 First substantial publication of his short fiction; five of his Sullivan County Sketches appear in the New York Tribune (July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31). First of his New York City sketches published, “The Broken-Down Van” (July 10). Fired as reporter by Tribune for writing sardonic article on parading Junior Order of United American Mechanics at Asbury Park (August 21). In love with Lily Brandon Munroe.
1893 Maggie: A Girl of the Streets is rejected by various publishers; Crane publishes it at his own cost under pseudonym Johnston Smith. Receives encouragement from Garland and Howells. Begins writing The Red Badge of Courage.
1894 Sells abridged version (18,000 words) of The Red Badge to Bacheller-Johnson Syndicate for ninety dollars; it appears first in the Philadelphia Press (December 3–8). Short stories and sketches on social issues appear in The Arena and New York Press.
1895 In January, meets and falls in love with Nellie Crouse. This same month he begins his trip to the American West and Mexico, writing special features for the Bacheller-Johnson Syndicate. Meets Willa Cather in Lincoln, Nebraska. Publishes volume of free verse in May, The Black Riders, which influences later Imagist poets. The complete version (50,000 words) of The Red Badge is published by Appleton in October and becomes a best seller and wins a large following in England.
1896 George’s Mother and revised version of Maggie published in June. In September, Crane defends Dora Clark, arrested for “soliciting”; this incident makes him continual target of New York City police. Publishes his first collection of stories, The Little Regiment and Other Episodes of the American Civil War, in November, his “last thing dealing with battle.” Meets Cora Taylor (Howorth) in November in Jacksonville, Florida, at her establishment, Hotel de Dream.
1897 Shipwrecked off Florida coast on January 2 on Commodore, carrying contraband to Cuban insurgents; this incident is source of “The Open Boat,” which appears in June. With Cora Taylor he covers short-lived Greco-Turkish War (April–May) as war correspondent for New York Journal and Westminster Gazette. Publishes The Third Violet in May (serialized the previous year). Resides at Ravensbrook House (Oxted, Surrey) in England with Cora; no evidence that they were ever legally married. Friendships with Joseph Conrad, Henry James, Ford Madox Ford, Harold Frederic, and others. Travels to Ireland in September.
1898 To Cuba and the Spanish-American War as correspondent for Pulitzer’s New York World and later Hearst’s New York Journal; first dispatches in April, and last in November. Richard Harding Davis names him the best of the war correspondents in Cuba. Publishes The Open Boat and Other Tales of Adventure (April). At the peak of his short story craft, with the appearance of “The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky” (February), “Death and the Child” (March), “The Monster” (August), and “The Blue Hotel” (November–December).
1899 Crane returns to England and to Cora in January; resides at Brede Place (Sussex), legend-filled castle. Publishes second book of poems, War Is Kind; The Monster and Other Stories; and Active Service, a novel based on his Greek experiences. Writes at feverish pace to pay off many debts; plans a novel on the American Revolution, never finished; and starts The O’Ruddy, his last novel.
1900 Recurrence of earlier tubercular attacks in January and periodically until his death on June 5 in a sanitorium at Badenweiler, Germany. Buried at Hillside, New Jersey. Appearance of Whilomville Stories and Cuban war stories, Wounds in the Rain.
1901 Publication of Crane’s non-fictional historical sketches (researched by Kate Frederic), Great Battles of the World.
1902 Publication of Last Words, which included much of Crane’s earliest work; at least two stories, “The Squire’s Madness” and “The Man from Duluth,” were completed by Cora.
1903 Publication of The O’Ruddy, completed by Robert Barr.
Stephen
Crane, The Complete Short Stories and Sketches of Stephen Crane
(Series: # )
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