Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-28
A Talk with Readc, the Novelist.

'London Correspondence New York Times.I
called on the veteran novelist and playwright,
Mr.. Charles Reade, last night. He has let his
house at knghtsbridge for year He wanted
change of scene from the dwelling place where
he has been $50 happy and so unhappy" He
has taken a villa near the Uxbridge road. be-
tween London and Hammersmith, and there
found him, surrounded by few of his ''hOuse
hold gods" supplemented by some new furni-
ture. and reading the monthly magazines by
candie-light. He looked much better than eX-
pected to find him. He is not Well enough to go
out at night, as he is suffering from something
very much resembling chronic bronchitis. He
made all kinds of inquiries about America. eX-
pressed great interest i'm the progress of the in
ternational copyright movement. though he
said Messrs. Harper had always paid him hand
somely for his work, and therefore this in
terest is not personal. but covers the ground
of justice to others. both American and English
The two great American magaZneS-Hdrpef'
and Sc,'ibner (now the Cent,g.y) We're he
thought, marvelously cheap. Their contents
are so varied" he said. land they do not depend
upon leading story for their attraction. The
last lew numbers Of Harper are simply admira-
bIe." / asked him if he would not soon begin
new novel. He shook his head and smiled
sadly. He has no longer any inducement to
write-certainly not work of any great
length. Once or twice he had thought of con-
tnuing the series Of short stories which he
heart to undertake great work. He reminded
me of the great reading and research which had
always been in olved in his novel-writing
and now his method made fiction to him
serious and very hard work. He talked benevo-
ientiy o. men and events in general. and not re-
gretfully Of anything, except once to refer to
the loss which shadows his life in these latter
days. He was sorry he could not go to the the
alter and see The Lights O. London. which, he
gathered from the papers, is really bona
fr/}0 pprna III so
latest profitable revival of his own play.
1t Is Nerer Too Late to Mend which has
replenished the Golfer Of the Adelphi Theater,
where. believe, Drink is to follow. Mr.. Charles
Warner being the leading man at this old home
OF melOdrama. Mr.. Reade evidently thinks his
forte is the drama. He spoke with great mod
esty OF his novels. almost deprecatingly of HIM
self as novelist. His heart is more in dramatic
works than novel-writing. Many of my readers
who form their opinions of Mr.. Reade from his
strong epistOlary contributions to public contro-
versy would be surprised at his gentle and
unassuming manners. He has in company some
thing of that self-abnegatiOn which makes men
so much at home with Mr.. Gladstone. The
premier listens as if he valued your opinion and
accepts information with sort of pleasure that
Is emnently f1attering to most people. Charles
Reade is an equally good listener and always
seems to find instruction in anything you have
to tell him. | asked him about the prospect of
the reproduction of his idyllic play of Dora and
| found that it had been under consideration at
the Court Theater, the management how
ever, taking MIMI in preference. without any
breach OF confidence or departure from good
taste L send you these few notes about Mr..
Reade, concerning whose health and whose re-
tirement many inquiries are made and many
suggestions offered He may sit down to his
desk again and with great results, but at pres
ent he appears to consider that his mission in
life has had its chief fuliiment though his in
tellect is still fresh and vigorous