Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-09-10
Charles Reade at Home.

ca aud its people is remarkable, consider
ing he has never been amongst us. He
is entirely free from that prejudice which
turks in almost every English heart and
drops from every British pen.
lie contends that our faults are those
Of youth, which little time will mend /;
aud the tribute he pays our countrynen
deserves TO he recorded
He asserts that, whenever he gives a
new book to the world, letters pour in
upon HIM from England, France. Ger
,Ianv, the British Colonies, and the
length and breadth of the United States
from maids aud lnatrons. young men
and Il ID; that for genuine appreciation of
his works, keen analysis Of character,
quick recognition Of pathos, wit, plot,
passion aud language. the American la
dies excel all his readers Above all, he
Tvs they are fresh in their criticisms aud
fearless in the expression of their Gonvic-
,ions-and. finally siga their names, Civ
ing their addresses-and that they are
the only women who are candid enough
To- do 50! All others write under fic.i
iiou> "r Anonymous signatures.
We NAV say what we like" he once
remarked 10 me- 4" but there IS something
>uhl,y intelligent in the Americans as a
body which exccls MI other masses of
peo;,l and were it not that INV engage
mcnl, bind me TO England. | would
uladIv visit The United States for the
positive enjoyment | should experience
among SO Young, fresh, warm hearted
aud intellectual a nation"
In reply to this | ventured TO say he
would be welcome; anl cited in support
of my conv clion, the recent reception OF
Charles Dickens. | said that our admir-
alton of genus is national; that, in the
case of the latter author, it even went SD
far as not oulv To pardon but Ia Worship
the pen which bad been used against US
that we are republic of readers, aud
that ich aud poor, high and low, knew
the works. and felt deep interest in the
life of Charles Reade.
"Liirr" he cchoe /. 3 what interest can
the life of quiet EngIis', author pos
sess. Ii | were highwavman. now,
whose every hour is full of adventure, it
might he different"
Charles Re4de avoids what is called
''society = nevertheless, four or five guests
are nearly always to he found at his re
nial table. They are, usually, p ople re-
markablc in some way or other-in let
tiers, science and The MINING art. Genuine
talent invariably meets with cheering
word from him.
One evening he was persuaded to sea t
himself at the flower shaded piano. and
Lee burst forth intn the p;aintive, quaint
old English ballad that Griffith Gaunt
forced Mercy tint TO sing" The Song
that Won the jealous Henrt."
The following anec'iote has. | think,
been told before: but it will bear 10 DO
Repeated. if only TO show Charles
Reade's love of America, even in small
Ih!Dgs.
lie had invited few friends to dine,
but was prevented returning home until
bis guests had assembled. Some weeks
prior to this he had requested an Amer
lean friend 10 send him some bay rum,
which arrived st the dinner hour. The
w rds " Bay Rum" on the case made his
guests inquSitIse. and relative of the
author. supposing it was some new liz
uor which the absent host had ordered
for that very dinner party, had the box
opened, and they all tossed off modi
cum of bay rnml At this stage of the
proceedings the missing man appeared,
heard the story, and quietly determined,
to note the effects Of bay rum as bsyer
age. 1t did hot suit the general palate,
and disapprobation was expressed. They
liked brandy sma.h, sherry cobbler, mint
julep; bu this was" really -yop know
quite nausty!"
Hereupon Charles Reade revealed the
secret, and the disgust on learning they