New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-10
THN WLTTY GILBERE


MISS FORrEsCUE's RENITIsCENCEs OF THE ING
LISH AUTHOR.
As much interest perhaps is taken in this
country W. Gilbert IN any living foreign dram
atisL His witty sayings are almost as well known
and the oddities OF his peculiar disposition almost As
frequently discussed here in his own country But
false est.nates have probably been formed OF man
original as his literary work. aud
thus 10 was that Of Miss FOrtescues visitors found
much to interest him I'm wnat said the other day
about the author OF Broken Hearts and nafOre'
She has intimate friend OF Mr. Gilbert for long
time and talks OF hiD with great adm ration.
The idea # Mr. gilbert" said she. which fear is
entertained by ans only know him Dy name that
he is a nard brutal Is absolutely
false as are most IDEAS OF people whom W.
Of the kindest hearts that ever beat hut
clever biting sarcasm is 80 irresistible 70
brain sometimes In advance OF Ais heart
and he says a cruel thing only regret a moment al
terward HIS bright savings co ne a. quick as a ntsh
and apparently unconscoisy. As have said however.
he Il a. kindly man as imagine HIS love for
children ana their attachment 10 MIN arc wonderful
Nothing affords him mucn pleasure as 10 give biz
hdreu's party his house, AMI he Is IL MS element
wien half score or more OF tiny creatures are
c.amDerirg over him. palIns his whlskers and
making hin OF OvergrOwn dOu generally. re-
member AT one OF these parties little XIII
who now ed disnaly ani would not be cOmiorteL Gil
bert the he ads OF the 81 mpathZng crowd
who mad around tue wOeD gono infant picked
her up as one would puppy by the back OF her little
froek, and IN two minutes sue was fast asleep on MS
shoulder For OF the evening she renamed
there slumDerug peacefully and he would not consent
10 lay down for "a moment
HIS way OF working is peculiar all
else he does. Descended from line OF seamen
(for he Is related to the SIR Humphrey Gilbert
who a companion OF Rlegnj. he is devoted 10 the
sea. and better than wnen cruising IN AIS
Yacht OueG and solitude essential 10 him. anu he
therefore prefers TO WORK at night Formerly he
used TO smoke proiigOusy AMI some OF his ceverest
tnngs are saturated as 1t were Lat
tery however he has become quite a moderate smoker
He is errstic application his desk 'Pinaiorc
was written in cOu pie OF weeks. while Broken Hearts
cost months Of application. Bat then tue lat
ter aud Gretchen according his own idea, contain
the best work ne has ever done. Not that his
operas sighting treatment at his hands but ne
feels that they are different plane from his serious
WORK. and he hates TO be talked OF only as COMIC
opera writer. Ia preparing his work for the stase
there never more indeiaSsaD worker. He mas
III his study little model theatre and here he studies
out scenes arranging little MOCK, Tor pnncipds and
supernuueraries Then cones u tue theatre with
the nusiuess firmly fixed III his own mind ana never
hesltates moment "a ne assigns TO edch as or her
pace situation or tdDieau tie acis edcn part Nun
sell geueray saying: fnere can't do 1t ny sell but
you'll eaten my idea and d" u aver 50 much neItrI yoe
self He often adds That's only my idea, II you don
II don't do ~ need Il srdIy al that ms way 10
aw~y- the rlSht way. H. ntS 40 oar ior nslc, "'
metre always correct He gets sir Arthur sullivan
air and then with cODical re- tuin-
mistake his lyric. lie a good scenic designer
too AMI always gives the ldeAs for tne costumes. lie
has TACT made study Of historical costume and col
everything which mas b-arng on tnr subject On
stay inside Inc thFare Tor Ten hlnutrs tog-ther IN
fact trrrIb lie that after the first night
OF the bat stands IL the wings when he wants TO
see how piece is goins.