Omaha daily bee., 1888-03-04

status Mr.. Haggard is not at the apex
not one OF those artists in the drama,
weilders OF the brush, spinners OF verse
who have sons at EtOn, houses in fash
ionable quarters, villas on the Thames.
a moor rich in grouse, and river
abounding in salmon on the other side
OF the Tweed. horses, carriages, visiting
lists, find friends-whateve in fact,
lends distinction and financial respect
ability to life.
When he deigns to reveal himself in
London drawing-room he is recOg-
nized and pointed out as Rider Hag-
gard; one who has become q parsonage
by right OF superior gifts and the i'm
portant place he has suddenly leapt into
among famous men of letters. Never,
be it recorded to his honor, has he sug-
gested the exclamation, "Who is that
erratic personw He is man without
personal fad; possessing nature free
from the taint OF that pernicious species
of grotesque advertising, so generally
resOrted to by genius in these days,
when to wear the crown of eccentricity
points the swiftest and surest method Of
pleasing the fancy and impressing the
memory OF society.
He has not appealed to the vision by
cultivating the Whistler lock of hair
sprouting like q silver feather amid
dark tresses, nor has he sought to cre-
ate sen sation by endeavoring to give
some professional beauty the golden key
to those cipher black-letter inscriptions
of Amenartas. After the fashion of
Oscar Wilde, who made considerable
reputation by teaching Mrs. Langtry
Greek, before he founded the worship
OF the pining lily or the leonine herb.
1a nj Ia 90 1,o
daily entertain discussion of his theo-
ries and their successful results yet is not
invincibly silent on the subject Of him
self. Nor is he one of those who, when
| once detached in conversation from his
| special subjects, his methods, his SUI
! perior revelations, and himself, have
nothing to say. He places fair esti-
mate upon himself, and his adorers pay
homage accordingly.
Barely cordial to strangers, he cannot
be classed among those brilliant recon
teurs whose epigrams we are won't Ia
associate with the names Of Fox, Sheri-
dan, and DR.. johnson In London's social
annals OF the past, and with Labouchere
and Yates to-day. But when Mr.. Hag.
gard is the nucleus Of an appreciative
few at dinner he Is oornucopia TEEN.
ing with plums Of curious anecdote.
| AHoSC toi0S ORC TcpUCIS VI pcFSOsldl cA'
perience gained in those bizarre coun-
tries where he has travelled and laid the
groundwork Of his romances.
He himself is as different from Sir
Edward Arnold MIR. Browning or Philip
Gilbert Hamerton, as his work differs
from the poignant paragraphs of those
editors have named. He is not only g
facile scribe-he is priest of mighty
mysteries. A writer by profession, he
is also teacher and a preacher. He
sin literature what Edward Burne-J ones
Is in art. His work Is an evangelism
which it Is given only to select minor
lty of initiated votaries OF Oriental lore
to understand Alright. There is subtle
symbolism in every romance he submit:
to the public. How many Of its readers
I ask, have penetrated the rare gospe
80 deftly wrought out IN ''She?"
He has been particularly fortunate in
not having those domestic embarrass
ments which handicap the most exag
gerated genius in man or woman. While
Mr.. Haggard's productions may appear
inspirational and visionary to the super
hcial reader, In reality they are the re-
suit OF painstaking labor and studious
research. From early boyhOod he pos
sessed intuitive ken of eastern knowl
edge, and the current circumstances il
which he soon found himself placed IA
cilitated his studies of medieval dia
lects and the vast and secret tradition.
! OF Arabia. He is profound student o