New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-23
GEORGE MEREDITH AT HOME.
HOW HE LOOKS. TALKS AND LIVES.


Box Hin, where mr. Meredith lives; Is Just d far
enough of London No wrauh OF me L 90 tSa
a inst h0ysS oyeG of England SUFFERS here DO
ono living here up to London, IL one wills; 10
et,Irn to ones own fresde with the consciousness
that II is Just far enough from the centre Oh rnsLsh
life prevent sudden and iodscrlInDSf hnd
Mr. Meredith met me with bis nervous ne ddcnshuna
at the station lie had his stout waldngstick ana
bis ghgray English wa necR a s he 90 was evidently
in the midst of tho afternoon laint "hch II - n
orr from under his round cloth hat of the same
material as his coat bright eye snd nerson
hs S:sad n all b Ss and
strong step upon the earth thout touon -.
Ssan IN to s sna s m a he "
bucyant stride and chatted on to me s"Insns VI rt
sa a, was Nv Was Certainly striking The last
Impression, when at the hre' hsaa Iess strng
But until / saw him thus did not discover now
exceedingly handsome well as animated iace Is:
hestbv tone and superabundant life OF the There
was vgor and sanity in his way Of looking at tSipgs s
Meredith TO discover his hatred Of sham and seItmen.
tality this is prominent keynote OF his WORK but
carried with it at the time all the force of irrefutable
rat % he sbare out Of the shadows into tho
fun stream OF conversations and in that delicate opera;
ton l. when It came my turn had done goo m, aJst
obvious and commonplace reference to the changing
leaves and the sombreness Of their color IN C, com,
tho naples and finished with a plattude about
the English hues being more pleasing as they %eT9
meant tho nckering Of one more series Of candles on
another Christmas night that would never return But
nov Mr. %eredth had no pace-and Justly, too for
mad sad what had said with only h a; s ,
Mr. Meredith had no place for sentimentallty Of this
sort he ssd the as on s m @
fuller for which should be ever seeking. to be
BIT IT.. saS u mot to ta b a and q e Whining Rshs
men must look up bravcly, planted on the honest
present to tho problems OF tie passing ntnre never
activity and making use Of moments as they came
So Se Tito hl Sc sa on not OF
left behind to haunt you like soughed n s OK
oSentiy he did crush my poor thought. which was
altogether unworthy to be the Sponsor ior sncs
ser@on from stones to hit the stars refresh
breeze that had always found blowing through tho
pages of Mr.. Mcredith's books.
Going up the foopsth across the slope we got
upon the subject Of M James ana Mr n, TceSih
has a very warm regard; but Mr. stevenson VINO was
undoubtedly sort Of proese Of Mr. Meredn he
said long before he wa; known 70 yon All M saw
what was In him and he HS a rc ne egUeS vo
at the Box Hill cottage; where Mr. ste rye sons
v9 rS Point 81 the OF doop Their. are s
photographs Of HIN in the home and they evdghy
HAI It y was verging toward chill twilight when
turned into the gateway Of tho little place. and walked
by the high dark hedge to me doSr c sSacs m
as we entered and sat down with Miss Meredith
and yonng friend Of hers before the e neop
Joined Us. taxing R the place the father retired
NJ Mr. ms Meredith ss%Sy b0r took kew the Place said he viii
not lay up against me If say that he dd not Gil
dinner. however, was very pleasant, and would have
been pleasanter, like every moment Of the visit 4
to return to London that night
The house 3 quiet and humble as can be; There
are not than half dozen rooms, shOld say, n
all. But Mr. Meredith's own day is passed IN small
cottage which he has built Just back of the house,
ner up ON aS 's s I'D e vo rsrsy @
His daughter is the mistress Of the little home. and
ightfl seclnsIon From the windows Of the sitting
room into which came looked ont the high.
SoEered With the evening mist ard hc soft light Of
young moon. Behind was the freight and the
paintings book or two by the vase Of flowers on the
table, several photographs OF personal friends. ard
pleted the adornment OF the room But here n front
Of the fire was charming figure Of young woman IN
fathers Never comparatively humble surround
ings so lifted into strange. rare atmosphere thai
master stands before the FIRE with his family abous
him and opens his lips and speaLs. Ia.
dominating among friends The talk. and out Of which
ns ha gone Is IKE TSs e snG a drama
and has lost the voice OF the pn'ason ani he chorus
an Se a. at ss0 o sa' without stretch Of re It O IS not
an uncommon hing to say Of an author that be ais
Meredith. II one will recall any OF the familiar pages
OF those novels II will he evident what and how
very remarkable N Is thai this statement may DO
made. But mor even than this must be SAID. because
the light sparkle on the foam OF his chatting. and the
broad CLEAN OF the blue sky reelected IN the clear
expsnse Of his deeper nterancos. when tho converse
ton Is serious and calm, tho tcrsnt nsstenco OF an
idea by gesture repeated lo0k ell these qualities can
be only face 10 face with this of eloquent
aud spontaneous expression These the appropriate
most wonderful Gothic structure In England Mr.
Mrrcdth's style. Mr. Mcrcdiih's elOqucnec Is simply
eNhaustlcss. His memory IS capac Gus De
Qulncey's. and his fund OF ideas IL almost beyond
measure splendid Drolleres, humors. witt cismS he
has and wonderful unique trick OF high eoliks
chatting but these nothing in compar. son with
his fancy and play Of ideas.