The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-09-09
A Talk With Thackeray.
The Great Novelist's Views Of His Char.
acters and His Liking for America.

LcoHh HsteH Coohe III a AppietoHS oouiHttJ
To come to my "talk with Thackeray,"
which the reader may consider too slight a
matter for so long a preface. 1t certainly was
not my purpose to interview" Mr.. Thackcray
on this or any other occasion. met him in
private or at the houses of friends, who gave
him entertainments, and listened with great
interest to his opinions of men and books; but
/ had no intention to make a record of any
thing which fell from his lips in these unre-
served talks. There is no harm in doing SO
now when he is dead and find no difficulty
in recalling, aided by some chance memoranda,
what Mr.. Thackeray said in one of these inter-
views-to which shall now proceed.
Having no business to engage me one morn
ing 1 went to call ON him at his hotel, and found
him in his private parlor, lolling in an easy
chair and smoking. This good or bad habit, as
the reader pleases, was favorite one with
him. He was dear lover of his cigar, and L
had presented him with a bundle of very
good small plantations" which he after
ward spoke highly of, lamenting that his
friend G. P. r. James, then consul at Rich
mond, would come and smoke them all. On
this morning he had evidently nothing to
occupy him and seemed ready for a friendly
talk. Smoking was the first topic, and he
said:
81 am fond of my cigar, you see. 1 always
begin writing with one in my MOUTH
After breakfast, suppose. mean that
you probably write in the forenoon?"
''Yes, the morning is my time for composing
that l cannot Sleep
May 1 ask if you ever dictate your books to
an amanuensis?" / said. 81 ask this question,
Mr.. Thackeray, because our friend G. P. r.
James says that the power to dictate is born
with people. If it is not q natural gift, he says
it cannot be acquired
Il don't know" Mr.. Thackeray replied. 81
have dictated good DEAL The whole of 'Es-
mond' was dictated to an amanuensis''
II should not have supposed so-the style is
so terse that would have fancied you wrote it.
Esmond is one of the greatest favorites
among your works in this country 1 always
particularly liked the chapter where Esmond
returns to Lady Castlewood, bringing his
sheaves with him, as she says
II am glad it pleased you. I wish the
whole book was as good. But we can't play
first fiddle all the time"
''You dictated this chapter?"
'sYes-the whole work. / also dictated all of
'Pendennis.' L can't say Il think much of
'Pendennis'-at least of the execution. 1t GER
tainly drags about the middle, but L had an
attack of illness about the time L reached that
part of the book, and L could not make it any
better than it is.
Another allusion to "Esmond," and his por-
trait of Marlborough brought from Mr.. Thack-
''Rascal!'' and he then inquired in a very
friendly manner what l had written. / in
formed him, and he said
'.Well if L were you, would go on writing
some day you will write book which will
make your fortune. Becky Sharp made mine.
al
VANITY Fair was my first successful work.
/ like Becky in that book. Sometimes think
have myself some of her tastes. / like what
are called Bohemians and fellows of that sort.
have seen all sorts of society-dukeS and
duchesses, lords and ladies, authors and actors,
and painters-and taken altogether, / think L
like the painters the best. and 'Bohemians'
generally. They are more natural and uncon-
yentional; they wear their hair on their should
ers if they wish, and dress picturesquely and
carelessly. You see how l made Becky pre-
fer them and that sort of life, to all the fine
society size moved in. Perhaps you remember
where she comes down in the world toward
the end of the book and associates with people
of all sorts, Bohemians and the rest, in their
garrets."
like that part OF the book. think that
part is well DONE"
Gas YOU speak of Becky Sharp, Mr.. Thack-
eray," said, there is one mystery about her
WHICH SuOulu Inv W hesN . NiO"iOV up'
'What is that?''
NEARLY at the end of the book there is a
picture of Joe Sedley in his night-dress, seated
"a sick old man-in his chamber; and behind
the curtain is Becky, glaring and ghastly,
gaasping dagger"
81 remember"
Beneath the picture is the single word
'Clytemnestra.
''Yes.''
''Did Becky kill him, Mr.. Thackeray?"
This question seemed to afford the person to
whom it was addressed material for profound
reflection. He smoked meditatively, appeared
to be engaged in endeavoring to arrive at the
solution of some problem, and then with q
secretive expression--a ''slow smile" dawning
on his face-replied:
81 don't know!"
A desultory conversation ensued on the sub
iect of Becky Sharp, for whom, in spite of her
depravity, it seemed very plain that Mr..
Thackeray had a secret liking, or, if not pre-
csely liking, at least an amused sympathy,
due to the pluck and perseverance with when
she pursued the objects she had in view. And
then, from this lady and her sayings and do
ings the conversation passed to Mr.. Ihacke-
rays other nauUdiS SujetS, male and female;
and 1 said that l considered the old earl Of
Crabs, in the sketches relating to MIR. Deuce
ace as the most finished and altogether perfect
scoundrel of the whole list. To this Mr.
Thackeray was disposed to assent, and l asked
if the earl was drawn from any particular per-
son.
II really don't know was the reply. 81
don't remember ever meeting with any special
person as the original"
"Then you must have drawn him from your
imagination or from general observation"
81 suppose SOL don't know-I may have
seen him somewhere"
And after smoking for several moments,
with that air of silent meditation which his
friends must often have observed, Mr.. Thacke-
ray added, in the tone of man indulging in a
soliloquy,-
Il really don't know where 1 get all these
rascals in my books. 1 have certainly never
lived with such people,
1t did not seem to occur to this profound anu
subtle observer of human nature that daily as
sociation with the class to which the Earl OF
Crabs Lord Steyne and others belonged, was