The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-07
A PUBLISHERS TALE.


A PUBLISHERS TALE.
Mp j. ID. LIPPINCoTT's EXPERIENCE WITH
GREAT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF UNKNOWN
UNDERSTANDINGS OF DICKENS, rHAcK-
ERaY. rRoLLorE, ouIpA AND oruEns-DCcAL
HOSPITALITY.
PHILADELPHIA. Dec. 4. 1872
II have known all tho famous authors of my
time-Dickens. Bulwer. Thackeray. Carlyle. Troll.
iope. ouida. Miss Braddon." Tho speaker
man OF medium height. well built with bright
animated expression. wearing white mustache and
chin whiskcrs; frank IN his manners. simple in his
dress. entirely devoid OF the ostentation Il in
who have risen from small beginnings to command
ing positions 1t was Mr. J. b. Lippincott. the great
Philadelphia publisher. We wero sitting in his pr-
vate Office. in tho centre of the mammoth establish
ment. he. alone. M the head of the firm, enjoying
tho distinction OF enclosed apartment. Two
chairs. sofa and desk comprise the Office furniture
Of man whose note for any amount would be gladly
discounted by any bank in tho country.
DICKENS AND rHAcxERAY.
How did you like Dickens personality
Dickens was naturally . good hearted jolly,
pleasant fellow. But his early brilliant success
turned his head. Like Napoleon. he was intoxicated
by his own glory. To horsey expression, he
felt hts oats little too much. He was good deal
Of top and little of . snob in his dress and man.
ners. 1t pert. II not impertinent. for Dickens
young OF thirty. to call Washington Irving. an
old man OF sixty and the most famous living writer
My dear Irving But his snobbery and foppery
were forgotten in the presence OF tho man h,mself
In hearty. fresh and jovial.''
do hts novels still sell wellY'
s.Oh. yes; they sell; but rcsction In favor Of
Thsckeray hss set in. Thackeray won his way slowly
TO recognition aud he all the better for It. He
was thirsys seven when he wrote Vanity Fair the
novel which established his reputation. After that
his right onward. Thsckersy less
elusive than Dickens, but no Was moro genuine.
He was delightful at private dinner party. but not
ready rs Dickens IS public speaker. Tho latter
Vas particularly happy upon such OCCASIONS. Once.
at a meeting OF tho Authors Fund Society. Tom
campbell. the chairman. could not preside. and
Dickens was called upon. st . moments notice.
10 take HE place. He made . brilliant impromptu
pccch which surprised and delighted all who heard
10. Thackeray enjoyed good dinner. He was par.
ticuisriy fond Of American oysters and canvasback
ducks. In fact. no wss too much OF club mamie
ate too many good dinners. His literary fame,
though less splendid than Dickens during lfe will
probably be more lasting"
DUKE AT A vxEp.
lyon have entertained the Duke Of Buckingham
have you not. mr. LirpncoftF
Yes; II happened this way. When Robert
Chambers visited The United states years since
gave q dinner in hts honor Tho Duke OF Bucking.
ham happened 10 he stopping ., the Continental
Hotel ct the time and hearing of tho affair that
20 come OF he sgnined 20 his desire to be pres
ent at genuine PhiladcIphis Seed OF course no
Was invited and Sat down. as he told mo atterwsrd
TO the most elegant entertainment he had ever en-
joycd.' There were present at tho dinner the Gov
crnor OF Pennsylvania. the Mayor OF Philadclphia
and the most distinguished men OF the day 20 the
number OF one hundred. when next visited Eng
land the Duke invited Mrs. Lppincot and myself TO
stowe. where my vile remained two weeks. stowe
Ia one OF the magnificent Great britain
the house 100 feet long, the grounds earthly para.
disc everything scale OF royal spcndor; In fact
doubt whether royalty itself has more sumptuous
domain than the princcly Duke OF Buckingham.
highly appreciated the honor Of being invited the
Dukes seat. where an Eaglisn publishers horse
would o. soon be invited himself
rBE EsoLIsH runIIsHfSG PRINCE.
"spcakine OF English publishers, o. course you
have met John Murray"
both IA town and az his country scat, about i've
miles from London. IL Ia pretty little place OF
nowors OF all kinds. He is the prince OF English
publishers.
his grandfather was with Lord Byron~'
"No; he IL invited 20 tho seats OF the neigh
boring gentry. In England the lines closely
was . democratic lord IN ms lifo. but Ia hs feel
ings he was ~ thorough aristocrst. and prouder of
being descendant of the Biron who came over with
'Manfret' aud Thilde Harold Murray IL q
fashionable publisher, but he H. not fashionable
Tho bobemcn invited me 20 their houses
bccsu~c l was an american and only temporary
sojourner In Eneland.'
puLwEa AND BIOGRAPHY.
"Dd you meet BulwcrY'
"My personal acquaintance with Bu'wer wss very
slight. lie not very approschable nancy
cessively arisocrstic. heightened and reserved
for an Englishman. In HIS last years he was very
deaf and this innrmfty made him avoid society.
Strange that his early name of Buiwcr should cling
90 him. although he bore n only for the irsf thirty
ivc years Of his life. A. Buwer he made has early
reputation. a. Dulwer he Will 10 down "a posterity.
though sir Edward Isuiwer Lytton he lived many
years ana ~ Lori I.ytton he dis~i "
why has has lii" never beca wrifsenF
His SON. Lord Lytt.n. the prsseat Gcvcrnor Con-
erai OF India IN writing the life of his father.
rather. writing a before no -onf 3, India.
but his onciai duties have been enrrossirr that
l am to he the American publisher OF The boob"
ut will b. looked forward 10 with great Interest
Germans D" an s,s an sss.,, ssI s.s se
historian. cssaytst draInsti~t statesman. orator.
nobieman. editor. society man aud dandy but a. .
novelist he will be remembered. Nv The gay. have
you met Dr. shelton Nackeaacr
mot yet"
wALKrxa ~rnoay.
,a - sDss,s. 81 ss y. ss
bach to the time of Charles Lamb. Csmptrii anf
Hood. Ho was introduced 90 Lamb 81 the India
House. where tho suthor ~ .Ella enc 81 the
chief clerks This was IN ls1s nscksnsis's brother
was junior clerk and calling there ons day he
taken Ia 20 Lamb ~ the crlsbrtie- ~ the
Ing over a ledger. when the elder nsrfsn1l. came in
with hts brother. and said Mr.. Lsnah. have ysu
any objection TO ,clnE insrpdac-a 20 ,ny broshrrr
~ the gentleman 10 present rsid Lamb. "a would
not lie polite % decline a. he insyoau~nI ~ htfa