Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-24
THE AUTHOR OF UNCLE RENIUs
Joel Chandler Harris and His West End
Homo.

From he Critic.
joel Chandler Harris is at home in a neat
cottage of the familiar Southern type,
which nestles near the bosom of a grove
of sweet-gum and pine trees In the little
village of West End, about three miles
from the heart of the southern Chicago
as Georgians delight to call Atlanta. In
the grove mocking-bird family sings.
Around the house are few acres Of
ground which are carefully cultivated. In
one corner Craze a group of beautiful Mi
nerVa-eyed Jerseys. AT one side Of the
house hives of bees are placed near
fiower-garden sloping down to the street,
which passes in front of the house several
rods distant. AT the foot Of the road is a
bubbling mineral spring, whose sparkling
water supplies the needs of the house
hold. a superb English mastif eyes
with dignitied glance the casual visitor
whose coming is apt TO be announced by
the bark of two of the finest dogs In the
country, one bulldog, the other white
English bull-terrier. The interior of the
cottage is simple and unassumlng. Brio
a-brac and trumpery "articles of bigOtry
and Virtuep are absent. The places they
generally occupy are taken up with wide
windows and generous hearths. OF lit
erary litter there is none. There are few
books, but they have been read and re-
read, and they are the best OF books. The
house is not library, a museum, nor an
art-gallery, but it Is evidently home in
which children take the place OF mani
mate objects of devotion.
In person Mr.. Harris has few peculiari-
ties. In stature he is of the average
height of the people of his section, rather
under the average height Of the people of
the Eastern and Middle States. The
Northern papers have spoken of Mr.. Ca
bic as little man. He and Mr.. Harris
are about OF a size, which is not much
eXcelled In their section except by the
lank giants Of the mountains. His fea-
lures are small. His face is tanned and
freckled. His mouth is covered by a
stubbly red mustache, and his eyes are
small and blue. Both his eyes and mouth
are extremely mobile, sensitive and ex-
pressiVe. There is probably no living man
more truly ditfident; but his ditiidence Is
the result of excessive sympathy and
tenderness. which cause the bright blue
eyes to well up at any bit of pathOs just
as they fairly sparkle with humor. His
amusements and tastes are few and sim
pie. His constant companions are
Shakespeare, job, st. Paul and Ecclesi-
astes. He is devoted to his family, which
consists Of his mother, his wife, four ex-
ceedingly bright boys and girl, and the
flock Of mocking-birds that winter in his
garden. He never goes into society or to
the theatre. He once acted as dramatic
critic, but his misery at being Obliged TO
see and criticise dull actors was so acute
that he soon resigned the position. The
small talk of society has no attractions
for him. His home is enough. When his
children are tired and sleepy and are put
to bed, he writes at the Preside where
they have been sitting. 1t 10 warm in
winter and cool in summer, and never
lonely; and so strong is his domestic in
stinct that, although he had room built
especially as q study, he soon deserted Its
lonely cheerlessness for the comforts of
his home, where his tender and kindly ma
ture makes him loved by every one.