Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-03-08
MISS N. Z. i B "a
Tho English Novelist Talks to Jos
''.se Hatton OF Her Work |
And Method of Writiug---APen-Pieture o
the Most Prolific Writer Of Modern
Times - Her Husband John
MaxwelI---Lich6ield House. Q.
"Let Us Talk ofBOoks ~
and Plays"


each other nearly twenty years," she said,
"You were one of the contributors to the
FIRST number of Belgrayia, and If you want
to write about me l am sure you have
material enough without making a formal
advance upon so poor a subject. :.
"Bnt want to interview you, something
in the fashion of stranger, IS II did not
know you, as il my editor had directed me
TO drir ssom London to Richmond for the
express purpose" -.
hAnd do you dc that kind OF work when
you are directed by your editor, as you say
she asked, smiling. $3.50 =,
when it pleases me and know the LADY
or gentleman am to ell upon," | said.
"Ah, forgive me. l thought there was
something of the aping of humility In the
DE- struction o. your mission, she said.
"But, seriously, do wish to interview
you, and in a business.like way for the ,pur-
pose OF publication in America and IN Eng
lard"
Very well, then" she replied. II have
never been interviewed yet, but l an will
ing TO submit to he ordeal after luncheon,
and in the meantime here comes Max, who
will be glad to have chat with you while
give some household orders"
A pleasant, mstron-ike woman, Miss
Braddon Mrs. John MaxwelD above the
medium height fair, with complexion that
suggest more of horse exercise and the open
air generally than pens and ink and hard
work in a library. Fer eyes are small and
look triae tired; her mouth large and char
acteristic, firm lips, strong chin. The
expression Of her face suggests an amla6le
Temperament and kindly nature, and, like
all authors who are at work on an engfo5s-
ing book, there is in her eyes an occasional
vacancy OF expression which means that
tLeir owner for the moment is thinking OF
her work, taxed unexpectedly with a sud.
den idea or worried with the vagaries OF
one of the fictitious characters she has Gre
ated and cannot altogether control.
| ALWAYS hesitate about entering into
these personal details when engaged upon
this kind of interview sketch, but always
write them down, nevertheless, feeling that
it is the right thing to do as well as you CAP,
whatever you put your hand to, and an in
,tryiew is an interview. 1t looks to the
re.der, believe, the easiest form of jour
nalistic work, but it is not.
The gentleman Familiarity spoken OF as
Max" is her husband-hale, hearty, breezy,
in spite of his sixty years. Akeen business
man, newspaper proprietor, publisher, print
er, he has been everything in connection
with the journalistic history of Fleet street;
had hand IN starting the Standard, and
was TO- years the proprietor OF the BelFraVla
Magazine; he is known as well tor his gen.
eroHs hospitality as for his smart clever
business operations.
WELCOMED Glad to see you" he says,
and we sit down to talk over the events OF
the day, until turn his thoughts into the
channel that is most useful for this article.
An inveterate collector of pictures and
bic a. brac, have no difficulty in making
him call my attention to some OF his recent
purchases. They include David Cox, a
Clarkson Stanfeld and two examples OF
Linrell.
1t is a noble room in which we are talk
ing--the drawing room, with its three great
bsV windows. But l have omitted to say
what may set down very appropriately in
this place, that Miss Braddon, her husband
and family live at Lieh6eld House, Rich
mond, and that it is here where l am re
ceived as an old friend and your represen-
tative.
Lichfeld House was originally built for
the first Earl of Abergavanny. 1t afterward
became the palace OF the Bishop OF Lich-
field, and hence its name, one of the bish-
shops using it as his episcopal residence.
The drawing room has curious history.
Having been used for ecclesiastical exam.
nations and for consecrating serious stu
dents to the service Of this church, it passed
into the hands Of Katalam, the famous
vocalist, who, at the height Of her POPULAR
ty, gave receptions here, The house is in
the style OF Queen Anne. Sala says Sir
Christopher Wren must have built it. The
drawing-room is a picture gallery, and in.
deed the house is decorated throughout
with many fine examples Of the best Eng
lish masters. In the breakfast-room among
other curiosities is the little table used by
the Duke of Wellington during the Peninsu-
lar war and on which he wrote the dispatch
that recounted the victory of Waterloo. 1t
is a curious table, so constructed that it is
either dispGtch-box, c-rd-t.ble, a chess
table, dining-table or a writing-deTk.
"Sir William Hamilton Maxwell" says
my host, "also wrote the tales Of Waterloo
on that table; but there is another thing l
believe have invested in and filled since
you were here last"
He directed my attention to a magnif-
cent bookcase of English marguerite work.
Opening it there was displayed collection
of large volumes handsomely bound in mo-
rocco.
THE Braddon novels" my host exclaim.
cd with undisguised pride. THE original
manuscripts. 1t might be said one day that
no one pen could have written so much and
so we'll Here is the anwer."
"Show me the manuscript Of Lady Aud
ley's Secret" 1 said.
The only one / do not possess; it was
burnt in fire at the publishers Office.