The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1888-03-24
A CHAT WITH HOLMES.
A Young Lady's Account OF an Interview
with the Autocrat,

A Young Ladys Account OF an interview
! with the Autocrat.
Somewhere in the works of Dr.
Holmes the interviewer is described as
''a long. lank individual with hungry
eyes, always on the lookout for news,
from one-leg:ed dog to the latest
thing in crime. And so mounted
the steps of his imposing dwelling Oh
Boston street. for the very purpose Of
having an interview with the genial
"autocMt These words seemed to
apply in a particularly personal man.
ner TO myself and the object OF my
visit.
was shown into handsome parlor.
Pictures, costly bric-a-brac, dainty
little tables and cabinets abounded on
ali sides. When the inner door opened
and Mr. Holmes himself stood before
me and extended his hand in cordial
welcome was entirely at my ease.
| lie led me at once to his study-a
room bright with sunshine and color.
The windows looked out across the
Back Bay. with the placid water in the
foreground and the tall spires of liar"
ward shining in the distance.
Seated before the fire we chatted for
awhile Of various triffes until the SUBJ
ject of tE!s;e Venner" came up. In
speaking of this, one Of his earliest sue
cesscs, DR. Holmes said:
This is the book Of which, q dear
friend spoke as & 'n1edicate<l novel.
Young as I was then, | could not
help being pleased with The critic
cism.
The real aim of the story was to test
the doctrine OF original sin aud human
responsibility for the disordered voli-
lion coming under that technical de-
yey was this: II elsie was poisoned;
by the venom oi Il rattiesnahe before
she was born was she morally respons-
il,le for the volitional alterations
which, translated into acts become
what is known as SIM tIt might be
supposed" the pleasant old man said,
''that the character OF Elsie was sug-
! gcsted by soma fabulous persnr in
classical history, but my story was
nearly finished before Hawthorne had
published his Marble Faun. y"
CDR Holmes, - said I, chow do you
enjoy being what people call a. 'cele}~
rity2' -
| "W- ell" said he, "as far as personal
vanity is concerned, it is we'll enough.
But self-love is cup without bot
tom, Praise tends TO egotism ard gen.
crates {, craving tor personalities.
Think Of the letters one receives each
day by post. One.tenth part of the
praise wouls; bring bushes if one were
not q scelebrity,' A. successful authors
life is not all E. blaze OF glory Or & bed
Of rose leaves In the first place he is
supposed, OF COURSE to be millionaire.
Does he not sell his boolzsp A wagon
load Of solicitations, n,,ltitudinous sub
scriptions and never~ending piles Of
| manuscript come daily to his door.
Sometimes it is the poor poet that
wants to I've shown chs way to fame.
Often it is the unknown genius whom
the world does not appreciate. They
all come to MIN, Ii he does not answer
/ ho is called 'surly.' He is public prop
erty, He must attend celebrations,
make speeches, and in fact live in 81
/ glass case for the editication Of e; gem
eral public, whose property he is. "
! And this was said IN such q genial
! mann@z asad wits, sGcl q merry twinkle
OF the eys ahat knew hiEa to DE cnIy
hali in. earnest.
What Of the young men who have
10 make their way in this grim old
world of ours?" I asked after {; pause.
ST have great confidence in young
men who believe III themselves, =" he an
swered. "When a brave fellow steps
VI, to that great bully, the world, and
takes him by the beard boldly he is
often surprised to find how easily it
comes Off in his hand. 1t is only tied
to brighten 1iuaid Adventures away.
have seen young men come to g great
city without a friend and without
money; have seen them fight the great
battle Of life, heating down every OBJ
stacIe that stood iii their way. There
are horse-tamers, wolnen~tamers, be-
fore whom che fair sex bow down in
silent worship and there are also
world tanners, men who can make the
world bow TO their will" As he said
these words tho poet rose and walked
toward the window, where the icy ex-
panse seemed mingled with the dull
winter sky. He pointed out Che beau
ties Of the scene, one by one, and left
, him, with the sweetness Of his words
lingering in nay memory, like the per-
fun1e Of flowers after the sweet buds
have fallen into the dust. Coz. RNs!o-
dell2hia Times