Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-02-06

has gone back to his mamma in EnRS
land, but it is not too late to tell Of the
romantic friendship that existed be.
tween him and Mary Anderson. AS
tar as know, the world is as yet in
ignorance OF this romance-at least Of
the details of it. Tie poet and the
young tragedienne met each other at a
fashionable reception in this city.
where The aesthetic posed aud simpered
n his small clothes. Miss Anderson
gaEed upon his velvet Jacket and his
angular legs and admired. Her ad
miring glances were returned by the
poet, and an early opportunity was
taken TO improve her acqaintauce.
The mother Of the young tragedienne
looked upon this attachment with
some alarm, for it should be known
that the long haired young man early
came to be regarded as dangerous. He
played the part oi lover without
being serious in his intentions, being
a gay deeelveF, you might say. So she
delled him access to her daughters s
society. But Miss A. has of late be-
come self willed, and one day last
summer arranged a quiet meeting With
her friend at Long Branch. 1t was a
romantic spot in the grape arbor--just
such place as Juliet wOnld have de.
lighted to meet her Romeo. The
tragedienne no doubt enjoyed the
transition OF love making in real life
The poet came at the appointed time,
and happy hour was spent in this
leafy trysting place. Our boy Oscar
talked mostly of himself, and when he
was not flashing forth his borrowed
ideas on decorative arts, he discoursed
OF poetry, chiefly that of Shelly, which
Miss Anderson made a note OF. Be-
fore this meeting the actress had not
so much as heard Of Shell
ley's transoeadental metaphsi.
cal raVings, but she had not taken
cues on the stage for years without
being able to take one in real life. SO
the next day she hunted aver Long
Branch for volume of the poet s
verses, until she ran one down in a
parsons cottage. This she not oply
perused, but studied with Che assid,
pity that young girl whom | once
knew, who was being eourtod by n
student Of divinity. did dry works on
theology. When Oscar made his next
visit she was standing at the garden
gate in a tragic attitude, with her
hands elasped behind her and her
head alOft. She was a pretty figure
one must admit. In her hands she
held the volume which she had bor-
rewed from the parson. When the
visitor had uncovered his struggling
locks and made obeisance, her face
lighted up with a smile:
"Oh, Mr.. Wilde" said she, 81 have
Just been reading Shelleys Ode TO
the Skylark. Here it is in this book
It's beautiful"
Her voice was sweet and sympa.
thetic, almost as gushing, in fact, as
that OF q young boarding s,hool girl
who is sentimental enough to sigh. at
the moon.
AW, II is bo0tiful, replied the
Wsthete, inclining his great head to
one side, and opening his wide mouth
until his big white teeth reflected the
sunlight; poor Percy, he was too
ethereal for she dull clods of earth. +"
After more twiddle twaddle about
the transcendental poet, she made bold
to take her friend into her cottage to
show him somQ souvinirs which
had been presented to her since she
hegan her career as an actress and
some curiosities which she had picked
| up on her travels. Her mother re-
straiBed her indignation until the
apostle Of the beautiful had taken his
densrture, but forbade her daughter
eveI allowing him to cross the thres
hold again. Moreover, she sent hey
disobedient child 10 New YORK or
somewhere, in order to prevent her
from having any more trysts with
her admirey. AS far as my knowl
edge goes, the two never net again.