St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-07-25
DIR. HOLMES LoNDON.
A Picture of the American Autho
in England.

Mr.. Mackellar was a traveller and an art
list before he took to bookkeeping, and the
soft carpet and tall eght-day clock i'll his
entrance hall SAVIOR more of some sleepy
country house than Pieadilly, says writer
in the London Times, describing visit to
DR.. Holmes. The suite of rooms to the
right are dedicated to Mars and Valentine
Baker, while those to the left are tenanted
by Literature and Oliver Wendell
Holmes. A lady secretary sits hard at work
at a baize- covered card table in the little
antechamber: her task is a formidable one,
but she is dlligent and methedical, and is Ell
gagged just now in sorting a vast pile OF let
tiers and arranging them, in drab-p paper bags
neatly labeled ''lnvitations to date" Con
CALCULATIONS" ''Autographs.n Newspaper
cuttings" and "Miscellaneous."Sh smiles as
you enter, pauseS an instant from her la
borS, assures you that 1.-The DOCTOR will be
at liberty as soon as an American lady-cor-
respondent takes her departure, facetiously
describes her attire as Sackcloth trimmed
with ashes. and Apologies for the ink-spots
which are her appropriate badges of office.
The door OF the adjoining room opens pres
entity, and Oliver Wendell Holmes welcomes
you cordially to his pleasant pied-a-terre.
The walls are adorned with Mr.. Mackellar's
pictures OF Italian scenery, a Turkey carpet
is spread over the floor, a great screen half
hides the din!ng-table, the peacock blue vel
vet upholstery is here and there concealed
by bright covers of lowered chintz, and
Mrs. Sargent, DIR. Holmes daughter and
companion, is busted in arranging butter
cups and blueoells anmong the family
photographs and imposing French Orna-
ments which crown the monumental man
telpiece of gray Griotte marble. The table
in one window has been appropriated by
Mrs. Sargent. Here she keeps her own
writing materials, portrait of her brother.
already, at 40. judge of the supreme court
OF Massachusetts, and neat volume III
scribed Visits P'd and Rec'd'; and it is
here-when she has done with the flowers
she will sit down to answer the notes which
have just arrived from Ladies ROSeberry and
Harcourt and Mrs. Max Muller a wicker
work Tyre filled with primrose roots-a pres
ent from Chester--fnds a place on the
neghboring tabouret, and pots Of tulips
offer picturesque contrast to the Times,
Murray'S guides, The Indicator Map of
London" London of To-Day" THE
Sachel Guide to Europe" and dozen kin
dred aids to travel -l
We are almost at the end of, May; the
Derby carnival is at hand, and the sunshine
steals cheerfuily through the panels OF col
| ored glass in the windows; but a fire burns in
the broad CRATE, and DR.. Holmes wears thin
overcoat as he sits and writes at Chippen-
dale table. with flaps, in the lightest corner
| of the room. Zone does not make blood
quickly at &C." he remarks, as he once more
| sits down in the vicinity of heap of I'M
fathomable correspondence which has not
yet been passed on to the lady secretary,
| Close to the inkstand lies gold pen fast
ened firmly into a giant swans quill. 1t
attracts your attention. and The Auto
craft tells you that it is his most priced
| possession. and that he has constantly used
it for Extraordinarily years. 1t has only
recently been supplanted for literary work
by the stylograph.l which Dr.. Holmes en-
ployed exclusively while writing his Life
of Emerson" and believes to be the great
est possible boon to authors and journalists.
A wel-worn black notebook in the half
open table drawer claims also high place
i'll its owners affections. In it Dr.. Holmes
has for many years been accustomed to jot
down analysis of books worth remember
ing, quaint epitaphs and impressions of
men and things.
Oliver Wendell Holmes is soon IN the
midst of narrative bristling with keen
observation, quiet humor and Opigram.