The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-08-22
,ERMs $500 PER ANNUM IN ADVANCE.

for Thackeray. Quite different view, howE
ever, from that presented by Forster is given
of Boz.
As taste of the quality of the volume we
give
A CHILEs GLIMPSE OF THACKERAY.
So many years ago that do not care to
count them was taken by my guardian to an
evening party at the house OF a distinguished
physician in Philadelphia. Though too much
OF boy at the time to appreciate or under
stand thoroughly what was going on, there
were certain little occurrences which made an
impression on me then, and which have dwelt
III my memory ever since.
The agreeable occupation of munching
sponge cake in which spent the first part OF
the evening did not prevent my noticing
parsonage tall, large, spectacled, slightly gray.
leaning against one Of the folding doors, and
engaged in conversation with a number OF
gentlemen, among whom l recognized Mr..
Peter, then British consul. What it was that
attracted me l cannot exactly tell, but there
certainly must have been something to be-
guile me out from a ''coign of vantage" well
adapted both for seeing and eatiBg-a snug
ambuscade behind the piano.
''Who is that man ?" said to my guardi-
an, with indicating forefnger
THAT gentleman is Mr.. ThackeIay." was
the smiling reply as the torefnger yielded TO
gentle pressure and fell by my side; "and
when your mouth is empty wish TO take you
up and present you to him. Twill come back
for you in a few minutes.
Forthwith | retreated again to my fastness
to finish the cake and prepare for the ordeal,
curiously cycling the Transatlantic author all
the time.
1t seems strange, but even now-and baye
visited many scenes anG mixed with many
people since thai nght-I Can perfectly re-
member the tenor of my boyish cogitations.
They were about as follows: So, that was
MIR. Thackeray? What had heard about
him?
1 knew that he had written book called
Vanity Fair because charming lady THAT
is, she seemed charming to me in those hal
cyon days) hal talked about it in my hearing,
and said it was very clever. That was all L
knew. How the people pressed round him
and looked at him, while those across the
loom pointed and whlsperedl Was it, then,
so very hard to write book? How those
girls on the sofa were pointing, and my guar
dian lad just told me it was very rude to
point!
l wonder if the manner in which fame first
breaks upon him who achieves it is the same
in which the reputation OF another first looms
upon the mind of thinking boy? had not
power and position for their possessor compel
alike admiration fIom equals and obsequious-
ness from interiors. Before many years had
passed over me bad learned that lesson by
heart; but it is pleasant to recall those inde-
pendent hours when nv little mind INDUCED
in such unbiased speculations, as needless of
the future as the sponge cake had just de-
voured.
My guardian came back, and after due in
n olAt tool
me up to the chatting group between
the folding doors. The group separated and
stood face TO wastcoat with the great novel;
ist, he looking kindly down on me through
his glasses; |, after gazingup in his face for
moment, dropping my eyes and beginning a
minute inspection OF the watch-chain with
which his left hand was playing, his right
meanwhile holding my little pair tight in its
mighty grasp. What he said to me forget.
1t was probably more his manner than his
words that induced me to stay a, his side aud
listen to what Others were talking about.
1t struck me, from his languid position,
that, without wishing to appear so, h. was
fatigued, and sometimes a little annoyed by
the trivial questions so often put to him. At
last he took me with him across the room,
where he sat down on sofa, and soon made
me feel quite at home beneath his genial
sway. Some young ladies were sitting near,
with whom he entered into some little talk
about music and flowers and such things as
women love. Anon dashing young secreta-
ry of legation made his appearance-keen,
pert, sem-witty, just from abroad, perfectly
satisfied with himself, ready to show the lat
estfashions to all true believers. He lounged
on the other end of the sofa picked up the
thread OF conversation Immediately and was
soon in the middle of fluent speech, orator.
iealy instructing everybody. Mr.. Thckeray
waited patiently till he was through, rather
glad, l think, to be relieved from talking HIM
self, and then, in reply to some new and ex-
traordinary doctrine the young diplomat had
broached, laughed and said: Bravo, jeune
homme! la bonne heure! Vraiment, on iait
des progres dams ce pays cip
Then, somehow there coming little lull
in the noisy talk, he turned to me and asked
how old l was, where l lived, and what L
wanted to do IN the great world some day.
whether | had ever been in England, and
where L had learned TO SPEAK French; all
which | answered much to his apparent
amusement and TO the best of my small abil-
ity.
Then came supper, when lost him in the
crowd. If l felt any sorrow at losing him, it
must have been boyish sorrow, easily as
suaged by the sight of divers comfts and
good things on well spread table. | suppose
there must have been sense of gratitied
pride at being noticed by distinguished man
so publicly. Perhaps the sorrow has come
with maturer years. At all events, only
saw him again just as he was taking his de-
parture, when he turned and sail a few kind
words to me, and then was gone"