Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-30
The Witty Gilbert.

MISS FORTESQUES "REMINISCENCES OF THE EN- g
LISH AUTHOR.
From the New York Tribune
AS much interest perhaps is taken in this
country in WIS. Gilbert as in any living foreign
dramatist. His witty sayings are almost as well
known and the oddities of his peculiar DISPOSE.
ton almost as frequently discussed here as In
his own country. But false estimates have
probably been formed of man whose charac.
ter is as original as his literary work. and thus
it was that one OF Miss FOrtesques visitors
found much to interest him in what she said
the other day about the author of "Broken
Hearts and "Pinaiore.'' She has been an init
mate friend of MIR. Gilbert Tor long time and
talks OF him with great admiration.
"The idea of Mr.. Gilbert" said she, which !
fear is entertained by many who only know
him by name, that he is a hard and sometimes
brutal cynic is absolutely false, most ideas
of people whom We do not know. His is one OF
the kindest hearts that ever beat, but u clever
bon-moJ or a biting sarcasm is so Irresistible tn
him that his brain is sometime in advance OF
his heart, and he says cruel tn ny only TO re-
greet IL a moment afterward. His bright sayings
sciously. AS l have said, however, he
is as kindly man as one can imugine.
His love for children and their at
tachment to him are wonderful. Nothing affords
him so much pleasure as to give a big children's
party at his house, and he is in his element
when half a score or more OF tiny creatures are
cambering over him, pulling his whiskers and
making OF him sort OF Overgrown doll gener-
ally. l remember at one of these parties there
not be cOmiOrted. Gilbert reached over the
heads of the sympathiZing crowd, who had
gathered around the woebegone infant, picked
her up as one would puppy by the back OF her
little frock, and IN two minutes she was last
asleep on his shoulder. For the rest of the
evening she remained there, slumbering peace
down for moment.
His way of working is as peculiar as all else
he does. Descended from IL line of seamen dor
he is related to the Sir Humphrey Gilbert who
was companion OF Raegh), ne is devoted to
the sea. ana never works better than when
cruising in his yacht. Quiet and solitude are
essential to him, and he therefore prefers to
work at night. Formerly he used to smoke
prodlglously. and some of his cleverest
cigar smoke. Latterly, however, he has
become quite moderate smoker. He is erratic
in his application to his desk. 'PinaIure'
was written In couple OF weeks, while Broken
Hearts cost him eight months of application.
But then the latter and Gretchen according
TO his own idea, contain the best literary
work he has ever done. Not that his operas
receive sighting treatment at his hands, but
he 1eeis tnat they are on different plane
from his serious work, and he hates to be
talked OF only as comic-opera writer. In
preparing his work for the stage there never
was more indefatigabe worner He has
In his study little model theater, and here he
studies out his scenes, arranging little blocks
Tor principals and supernumeraries. Then ne
comes 10 the theater with the business firmly
fixed in his own mind and never heSitates IL
moment as he assigns To each his or her place
In situation or taDeau He acts each part him.
Sell, generally saying: There, L can't do it my
Sell, but you'll eaten my idea and do ii ever SO
mGcn better yourself He often adds: That s
only my idea; il you don't like it don't do it..
l need hardly add that his way is al ways the
right way. lie has no ear tor usIc, but his metre
is always correct. He gets Sir Arthur Sullivan
To mum an air over, and then with comical
're-tumte tum-te tuIn he gets the rhythm and
never makes IL mistake with his lyric. He is a
good scenic designer too, and always gives the
ideas for the costumes. He has in TACT made a
study OF historical costumes and collects every
thing which mas bearing on the subject, On
IA first night Gilbert is intensely nervous and
cannot stay inside the theater tor ten minutes
together. In TACT SO terribly nervous is he that
alter the first night he cannot bear to see Il
piece OF his own from the front OF the house,
but stands in the wings when he wants to See
how a piece is going.