The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1880-03-13
THE CHEVALIER WIKOFF.
Arrival Of the Distinguished American
on the Geimanio.
"Reminiscences of an Idler"-Lady buiwe or
Fanny Elssler. Yates, Labouchere
and other Gossip.
INV yort Herald. March ~


sengers for this season of the year, number
ing not less than l35-Chevalier Henry
Wikoff, that veteran American traveller
author, diplomatist and citizen Of the world
When the Herald's emissary boarded tn
Germanic at quarantins the tall and sturd.
figure of the chevalier, encased in a hand
some blue overcoat and his neck encirclet
by bright blue handkerchief, was easily Il
be picked out from the rest Of the passengers
For a man whose "reminiscences of an ACTIVE
aud even prominent part III the world dat
back nearly 40 years the chevalier look
wonderfully youthful and vigorous. AT 4
casual glance he would be taken for a re
markably well preserved Englishman of 90
His face is entirely smooth, with the excep-
ton of very short, trim, close-cropped, half
suppressed whiskers lin which even a soup
con of "mutton chops" has been carefully
nipped in the bud); his gray-blue eyes give
bright and penetrating glance, and his
large boldly cut features, and the ruddy hue
of his countenance are still expressive of ami
nation and energy. The chevalier's speech
and manner are those of an American who,
by long residence abroad and contact with
people of all countries, has lost all native
peculiarities; but if he may be considered as
belonging to any particular class at all it Is
to that Of the Anglicized American, whose
style and accent show that, while he has ac-
quired something from John Bull, he has not
ALTOGETHER forgotten Uncle Sam.
"A GLORIOUS SHIP
"Have you had pleasant trip, chevalier2"
the writer asked.
"Delightfulr Chevalier Wikoff replied
with an expression of pleasure; "this is a
glorious ship, you know, and everything
combined to render the trip agreeable"
"What is the special object of your visit to
New York;" was the next query.
81 have come heie principally to bring out
my new book, "reminiscences of an Idler.'
1t is an attempt at an photographed re-
view of what has certainly been very active
life, and shall venture to bring out the first
volume by way of an experiment. That will
lead up to my first experiences, travels and
intercourse with well-known historical per
sonages up to 1910. If this first volume
succeeds-and, repeat, it is purely venture
shall follow 1t up with second, embracing
the period from 1910 to 1860, and then posi-
bly, with a third, covering the last 20 years
up to the present. 1 have already secured
my copyrig htin England"
GLIMPsEs OF THE BOOK.
"Can you casually mention some of the
topics of which your first volume will treat?"
Il shall give light sketches Of the various
countries.ln Europe through which travelled
and of the many noted perscnages and Incl
dents belonging to my "reminiscences of that
time. 1 shall have a good deal to tell about
the birth of the Herald and its first start into
prosperity and greatness, with all the cir
cumstances of which was personally fsmil-
lar. While attached to the American en-
bassy in London-when Mr.. Andrew Ste-
venson was minister was present st
court ball ordered by William LV. on the
occasion of the Princess Victoria attaining
her majority, and / attended the first levee
held by her.
What impression made she at that timer"
"She made already, then, the impression
of young woman of great dignity and
considerable force of character"
''And your parliamentary "reminiscences"
81 was present when Disraeli made his
first speech in Parliament in 1888, and when
the radicals, or whigs, as they were then called,
tried to put him down because he had gone
over to the tory party. l also witnessed
Gladstone's first appearance in the arena of
Parliament. No one would have though.
then that they would have become the prime
ministers of England"
LADY BULwERs TROUBLES.
"You knew, also, many literary and ar
tistic celebrities of that time, chevalier, did
you not2"
eyes, knew among others intimately Sir
Edward Bulwer, the novelist, afterward Lord
Lytton, and Lady Bulwer, his wife, and
quite chapter in this volume will be de
voted to their matrimonial troubles. You
know they lived unhappily together, then
separated, and there was much trouble and i'll
feeling between them; so much so that Lady
Bulwer, after the separation. being herself
gifted writer, of no mean ability, published
a novel-'Chevely; or, The Man of Honor
which was supposed to be a satire on the
character of her husband. She complained
that he had given her a very small and in
sufficient allowance and in her manifold
troubles at that time placed her cause in my
hands and looked to me for guidance and
counsel. A curious incident occurs to me in
this connection set forth fully in my book.
While was in Paris 1 learned from Lady
Bulwer that man had approached her maid
and offered her a handsome bribe if she
would allow him to enter her lady's boudoir
with a view of searching for any compro-
missing letters that he might find there. 1t APP
peared upon investigation that the man acted
under instructions from Henry Bulwer, a
brother of the novelist, who was n secretary
of the British embassy in Paris at that time
Upon my advice the maid was ordered to
feign consent to the detectives proposition,
and while searching among the letters in
Lady Bulwer's boudoir he was arrested. He
was afterward tried, but the case was drop
ped beforea verdict was reached. / shall
publish some of Lady Bulwer's letters to me
on the subject of her troubles, which will be
found highly interesting and piquent."
FANNY ELssLER.
"What other celebrities will you touch
upon?"
"Well, | shall have q good deal to say
about Fanny Elssler and my trip with her to
| this country. There has been much misun-
derstanding as to my true position to Fanny
Elsslar. Some thought that brought her to
this country as manager, and that the trip
war speculation, while others have tried to
represent me as her lover. 1 shall for the first
time reveal how / happened to become SO
intimate with her. and what was really my
true position to her."
"And may l ask what it was?"
LET me pique the curiosity of the public
a little to find out what it was, the chevaliel
replied with a smile and the keen instinct Of
an author. "Fanny Essler was not only the
greatest dancer of her time but most beau
tiful and accomplished woman, of angelic