River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-05-31
s0IE FAMOUS PEOPLE.
Pen PhotograT--~~ scr by Sarah Il.
Barton in Harper's Bazaar.


The reception room where we awaited |
his coming is hung with satin striped in
pink and red. The mantel is of red vel |
vet, with gilt embroidery; the chairs of
tapestry corresponding in color with the |
walls. The chandeliers are of exquisite |
" coIored Seyres china, arranged for |
candles. Victor Hugo enters from the |
dining room where he has been at dia-
ner with some friends ON Sabbath eve
ming, as is discussion. A lady is on each |
arm. One with white hair is the lifelong |
friend of his deceased wife. He greets |
us cordially, kissing the hand of each of !
us three ladies' Though an exile i'll the |
island of Guernsey for nearly twenty
years.by reason OF. his hatred for the Bona
parties, he has learned almost no English
though he said TO US, 9 ! must speak
little English" but imme-
diately began to converse in
French. He stood much of the
time by the mantel, with his hands
folded behind him. He is of medium
size. his snow white hair cut rather
close, standing up all over his massive
head, and his eyes are piercing and
strong. He impresses one as a fearless
man, who would willingly die for liberty.
All present treated him most defer
entialv. One young man said to him,
"Great master"-ior thus they all adj
dress him-"you are the leader OF the
nineteenth century" He replied: Per
haps | am one of lis representative men.
| came in with the century, and | shah
90 out with it," He is a tlreless worker,
rising regularly at five or six in the,
morning and writing all day at his desk,
standing.
Robert Browning, living at Warwick
Crescent, London, has all he kindness
of manner of Whittier or LOngiellow.
He is seventy years old, with white hair
and mustache, but with all the vigor OF
man of fifty. He pleasantly asked my
husband to take the arm chair, saying,
81 am not old enough for it," His beauu-
full home is full ofrememDranc sol Mrs.
Browning, whose memory lie tenderly
cherishes. Her writing table, next his
own, her chair, her books, her portraits,
are all of touching interest. Being asked
if he would not come to Amel,a, he
said, 81 dislike TO cross the sea, aud |
have many friends here, 50 | fear |
shall never come" He is a liberal in
politics, Judge from his admiration of
Mr.. Gladstone, and practical, earnest
thinker.
John Ruskin, the noble apostle of
AIT IN England, lives at the head OF Con-
istone water-a beautiful Lancashire
lake His home, Brentwood, is a large,
rambling brick house covered with vines,
set on hillside III the midst of a forest
of spruce, holly, chestnut and oak.
Close to the walls are beds of yellow
peoples, which seem to welcome one to
the place. A walk back of the house
leads to Il mountain where Prof. Ruskin
revels in geological research. The house
itself is treasury of art and science. In
the drawing room, whose prevailing TINT
Is blue, are pictures by Burne-Jones,
Turner and MIR. Ruskin, The library
Ia, indeed, the workshop OF master.
Books are on every side; some old, with
Michael An2elo's autograph, and some
very valuable from their choice illustra-
tons. Here are some OF waiter Scout 5
novels in manuscript. One desk
has a beautiful collection of dla-
monds, agates and other precious stones
each laid on crimson or purple velvet
Here is a circular table, covered with
green cloth, where he writes. His seal
is craven on the end of fine piece of
chalcedony five or six inches high.
Above is his bedroom, furnished IN high
chintz, simple, but the books and pct
ures are worth a fortune. The absence
of pipes is noticeable. Mr.. Ruskin,
| believe, is much opposed to
smoking The Turner's hung all aboutthe
room, are covered with blue cases, lest
the light fade the exquisite colors. The
view of the lake, Conlstone Cid man "a
rugged old Mountain 563 feet Highland
the ivv covered house where Sir Philip
Sidney once lived, are inspiring. Mr..
Ruskin is a constant worker, studying
one subject carefully for month, and
then another He has great love for
working people, and is always trying to
help them by such publications as ''Fors
Clavigefa" or the Society of st. George,
which proposes a model village and
museum. TO this Mr.. Ruskin has given
paintings and books, one of the latter
costing five hundred dollars. He believes
and rightly, the poor can appreciate
beautiful things. Mr.. Ruskin is a slight
ly butt man, with modest manner. kind
blue eyes, and admirable power of con-
versation.
Mrs. Dinah Maria Mullock Craik lives
in Kent, in house in the Queen Anne
style, cue of the most charming which |
saw in England. She seems to me tG IL
lustrate in her own home life. with her
husband and only daughter, Dorothy,
the ideals she has drawn in her books.
Her first novel was "The Oglivies," pub
lished in 1919, since which time she has
given to the world over 80 volumes. She
has written comparatively little since
her marriage, about sixteen years ago.
She ia queenly woman in manner,
loved by all for her many ind acts.
Mr.. Holman Hunts little golden-haired
daughter, Gladys Mulock, whose picture
was admired by everybody in the Royal
academy last year, held Mrs. Cralk,
her grandmother, by the hand, as we
walked about the grounds.
Jean Ingelow and her two brothers
live in a lovely London home, full of
flowers, as one might expect from one
who so loves nature. Great lunches of
yellow primroses (no one can be in Eng
land in the spring and not love these
tiny things thta make the fields yellow
with their hoom) and blue forget me
nots we're about the house. The grounds
too, are perfect flower garden. Miss
IngeloW is most intelligent on all great
questions She knows American lltera-
ture well, and speaks highly of many of
our writers. She is not strong, going TO
the south of France usually in the win
ter, while in the summer, in the Lon
don season, from May 10 July. her pres
GnCE LIS Ot tOuI5ts EdSEiAg EBu1iit. IIGA
''Songs of Seven" not a great favorite
with her, viii be iavorte with the
world as long as there are women to be
wives and mothers. Miss Ingelow makes
her writings secondary to her devotion to
her home, and the comfort of those who
are dear to her Though she has written
several books, she is best known among
US by her poems and her two novels,
Don John" and "OH the Skelligs." She
is in the prime of life, though her hair is
turning gray, and will probably do much
more work. Her name is household
word on both sides of the ocean.
Christina Rossetti, whose poems are
pure, strong and finished, lives quiet ly
in the heart of London with her mother
to whom she is devoted. Her own
health has not been good for some years.
Her hair and eyes are dark, the latter
very beautiful. Their home has many
of Dante Gabriel Rossetti's pictures. one
showing the face Of his young wife,
whose death, two years after their mar
rage, cast a shadow over his lie. He
must have been a patient worker as well
as creator, SO fuli of exquisite details are
his paintings. Miss K is-etti has writ
ten at least .iz volumes Of poe ss prom
iBent among which are Goblin Market
and the The Princes Progress" She
is woman If zraQt puifnre a nnbla