The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1874-06-18

London Newspaper Man.

by London Newspaper Man.
Considering that Lord Lytton occupied
himself in composition only for four hours
every day, it is surprising the amount of
work he tried to get through. He never
had, at any time during my acquaintance
with him, anything like good health;
he was always placing himself under the
care of some physician, and If he heard
of any new remedy which he thought
might be applicable to his own case, he
was sure to avail himself of it. Like his
brother, the distinguished diplomatist,
he became in later life nearly a con-
tirmed by pochondriac, although his intel
lectual power did not seem in any way
diminished.
was on a visit to Sudbrook Park, near
Richmond, about twenty years ago. 1t
was then a hydropathic establishment,
presided over by physician of eminence.
To my surprise, l met Lord Lytton
stroIling up the avenue one morning,
carrying his pipe in one hand and small
travelling bag in the other The London
season was at its height, and Parliament
sitting; but he remained for at least
month, taking his meals at the public TIA
BILE; walking much in Richmond Park,
and occupying himself with his papers
and his pipe. The tobacco he smoked
was not very strong, but the incessant use
of it must have been highly injurious to
nerves so finely strung as his. He seemed
to me to have scarcely any appetite for
food at breakfast he seldom ate more than
a moutbful of toast, and having swal-
lowed a cup of tea, flew off to the solace
of his Beloved pipe. There was, l re-
member, a space of tangled brush wood
Immediately behind the house, where |
have seen him sit and saunter for hours
together, apparently absorbed in thought;
and no one, although the house was full
of people, ever thought Ofinterrupting his
solitude. He arrived without any servant,
and never had visitor during the whole
period of his sojourn.
At Knebworth, which is the hereditary
seat of the Lyttons, his mothers family,
the novelist did not, in his latter life,
reside much A friend of mine, the late
Lady Murray, lived at Andelbury, only a
few miles distant, and while on visit
there / had frequent opportunities of
hearing of her famous neighbor. He
was extremely popular ana beloved by
the lower orders in all that part of the
country, and his hospitality was appa-
rently without a limit. People came
from all parts of the world, especially
from America, to see him. The house at
Knebworth was often full. but l don t
think the host always knew who his guests
were. l recollect being struck by the ap-
pearance of remarkable looking man,
bearded like the pard, and | inquired Of
the late Mr.. Tennyson D'Eyncourt II
he could inform me who he was. 81 dc
not know" he said, ''but will ask Ed
ward.
He made the inquiry, but neither Sir
Edward nor any one else in the house
could supply the required information
1t appeared that many foreigners FIRE
quently came with letters of introduction
a few from Barren Tauchnitz, of Vienna
they were invited, as a matter of course
to remain for week or so; and then tn
host, too often confined to his own apart
ment by illness, would forget all abou
them, and they departed as mysterious
as they came.
1t is we'll known that in his early life
Lord Lytton wrote a novel called eth
Last of the Barons." He was the frs
noble, the first baron of his own race, an
it was to me the most affecting part of tn
melancholy ceremonial of his funeral to Sc
the coronet he had SO nobly Won placed 4
the head Of the senseless clay. Vdnito
UGnitEten.