The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-01-26

he would retire to Versailles and give himself to solitude and his books. Tn this time he wrote the most of his first romance, Falkland" besides much else. While in Paris, too, he printed for i private circulation volume called Weeds and Wild Flowers made up for the most part of poems of no consid- erable merit. The following letter to Mrs. Cunningham gives an idea of his life at Versailles.
 VERSAILLES, Tuesday.
 My DEAR FRIEND: send my ser want to the great city," charged with sundry and manifold commissions, not the least important of which is the deliy- cry of this note to you. am delighted with my abode. took my horse at I2 o'clock yesterday and rode about the forest until ,, rejoicing in the air and sun like an escaped bird, and filled with the l most sovereign contempt for all encaged siarllngs, who have not the privilege of being as free and uncaressed as myself. With Rousseau's a Iulie," map of Flu. rope, Mills '' Political Economy and pen, ink and paper, assure you do not regret your gaieties in Paris, nor feel the want of that female society which. with your usual charity, you accused me of ! gong to enjoy. 50 much for myself Going into the country, as ii abstracts us from the crowd in which we are lost, re- calls our wandering feelings and thoughts into ourselves, and therefore it always makes us exceedingly egotistical. Tell me what you think. see and do. And yet suppose 1t is all exactly the same as you have thought, seen and done for the las, year. Life Tn cities fsee what airs of supenority the country gives us . is al- ways so terribly monotonous. The beet oi to-day says Canning, in one of parodies, "is succeeded by the mutton oi tomorrow; and from the soup to the cheese, all IS sameness and sa,lety." I called on Mrs. Bathurst before left. but did not see her. For this 1 was sorry. because we did not part on our usual terms of cordiality. She has been too kind to me for coolness to arise between us without any endeayor on my par, to remove il. have therefore rendered my adieus Tn writing, since could not do so Tn person. It IS more than likely that shall only return to Paris for a day or two. may, indeed, have to return to England for short time In eact. none of my plans are yet decided When they are you shall hear Adieu. Pray write 10 me soon.
 On his return to England he me, the hfst nigh, at d reception, te which he had accompanied his mother. a singu- laily beautiful girl. who was destined to become his wife. Her name was Rosina Doyle Wheeler and she was of Irish par ents, who had separated, so that her life had been filled with much unhappiness. The young people soon developed d strong attraction for each other. Mrs Bulwer objected 10 their marriage Ed ward was dependent largely upon his mother, his father having left him an allowance of only zoo Besides. he greatly loved his mother and desired. if possible. to defer to her wishes in all things. He wen, back to Paris and returned to the old lie so far as possible But he was haunted by Miss Wheeler's lace in gay Paris as we'll as sombre London Her letters, too, were a magnet of powerful force. He returned to London, me, her asain very soon, and in short time. de spite his resolutions and promises, de- spite the opposition of his mother. he was engaged to be married. That they were sincerely attached to each other at this time the letters show with unmis,ak- able force. At the age of twenty four he was married and took house near I.on- don. His only resources, for his mother would have no further intercourse with him. were his annuity and his pen He set bravely to work. His pen knew no rest: magazines and newspapers were the feeeptacles of all manner of articles, es- says sketches and stories. Before this " Falkland had been published and re- eeived with dsiavor by the English critics. But soon Pelham was finished. and for this the publisher gave him iSoo. ! It brought him great fame. But with all his increasing reputation and new works the hostility of the critics grew more in- tense and he was made the subject of the most annoying and outrageous attacks. 1. These iriitated his sensitive and over worked nature and he spoke back and the literary battle grew hot and heavy. But he kept getting on. He lived in inc style. \ little girl was born. then boy. 1 Hls wife was afflicted with sore eyes. the | opposition ot his mother remained un- yielding. Bu, he was through all coura- eeous, brave, successful. Novel followed novel, review and sketch chased each other 10 the periodical literature of the . day. while he kept working on with un- Tagging zeal. stopping for rest only when | his over-taNed powers gave WAY and de | manded season of absolute repose. At last he succeeded in being elected to par lament. a goal which his ambition had set for itself some years before He was twenty eight at this time. and had al- { ready turned of aninconceivable amount oi work For some time previous ,o this his relatioaS with his mother had been changing for the better, and now rapidly regained ,heir old character ef eordiality. though he maintained sturdy independ- enoe m pecuniaIy matters. \, this time. too. he assumed the editorial control of Colburn's .lf.. Honhiy .K.<a-ine. Bu, his capacity for work was equal to every