The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1882-01-21
The Veteran NOvelist's Views on Plays
Magazines and His Own Work.
London Letter In New York Times

LOuuOu LtlteT Ill NEW lOIk lllutn
/ called on the veteran novelist and play
wright, Mr.. Charles Reade, last night He
has let his house at knightsbridge for year.
He wanted changs of scene from the dwell
ing-place where he has been $50 happy and
so unhappy" He has taken a villa near the
Uxbridge Road, between London and Ham,
mersmith, and there. found him, surround
ed by few of bis "household gods" sup
plemented by some new furniture, and read
ing the Christmas ANIMALS and the monthly
magazines by caudle-light. He looked much
better than expected to find him. He is
not well enough to go out at night as he is
suffering from something very much resemb-
ling chronic bronchitis. He made all kinds
of inquiries about America, expressed great
interest in the progress of the international
copyright movement, though he said Messrs.
Harper had always paid him bar dsoinely
for bis work, and therefore his interest is
not personal, but covers The ground of justice
to others, both American and English. The
two great American magazines-Harper and
Scribner, now the Century-were, he
thought, marvelously cheap. "Their con-
tents are so varied, ;" he said sand they do
not depend upon leading story for their at
traction; the last few numbers of Harper are
simply admirable" l 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 a work of
any great length. Once or twice lately he lad
thought of continuing the sc ries of short sto-
ries w hich he began some time ago. But he
had not the heart to undertake great work.
He reminded me of the great reading and
research which had always been involved
in his novel-writing, and now his method
made fctien to him serious and very hard
work. He talked benevolently of men and
events in general, and not regretfully of
anything except once to refer to the loss
which shadows his life in these latter DAYS
He was sorry he could not 90 to the theater
and see 1.-The Lights o. London" which he
gathered from the papers as really a bona
fde success. He is greatly surprised at the
latest profitable revival OF his own play,
at is Never Too Late to Mend" which has
replenshed the Golfer of the Adelphi
Theator, where / believe Drink is to fol-
low, 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 mcdesty of his novels
almost deprecatingly Of himself as a novel
list. His heart is more in dramatic work
than novel-writing. Many of my readers
VINO form tnelr opinions OF MI. Reade, from
his strong epistolary contributions to public
controversy would be surprised at his
| gentle and unassuming manners. He has
in company something of that self abnega-
| ton 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
eminently fattering to most people.
Charles Reade is an equally good listener,
and al ways seems to find instruction in any
thing you have to tell him. l asked him
about the prospect of the reproduction of
his idyllic play of"Dors." and found that il
had been under consideration at the Court
Theater, the management, however, taking
"Mami" in preference. Without'any breach
of COL fdence or departure from good taste
1 send you these few notes about Mr.. Reade,
concerning whose health and whose re-
tirement many inquiries are made and many
suggestions are offered. He may sit down
to his desk again, and with great results,
but at present he appears to consider that
his mission in life has had its chief fulfill
ment; though his intellect is still fresh and
vigorous