The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1888-08-09
GREAT MEMS NEICHRORS.
Some stories OF Longfeliow, Hag-
thorne and Other Noted Writers.

thorne and Other Noted Writers.
A society" woman at whose table
Longfellow was dining asked him.
ooh, Mr.. Longtellow have you ever
published book p This was after
two-thirds Of his life-work was done.
Hawthorne says that in his latter
years he met many people who knew
him well as the ex surveyor of the
Port of Salem, but who never knew
that he had written anything, and
had not even heard that there was
such a book as "The Scarlet Letter"
Even the genial "Autocrat" is not
appreciated by every body in his own
town. One day an American gentle
man went into BARRIERS shop as DIR.
Holmes was going out. "Do yoN
know who that was that just went
out p asked the barber Being Gu
rious to see what account of DIR.
Holmes the barber would give, the
visItor shook his head. "Why" said
the barber that's old DR.. II Zines"
| And who is DIR. Holmes "Oh; he's
been doctor here tor good many
years. | believe he amt practicin'
any more, but he's thought a great
| deal of.
| A crushing remark was once made
by would-be ffatterer to Mr. w. ID.
Howells, the Ametican novelist. Short
ly after the publication of the Lady
of the Aroostook, "A Foregone Con
clusion," and Venetian Life"
lady asked that gentleman for his au.
tograph, whereupon he wrote some
impromptu verses in her album. She
read them over, and then gave AN
encouraging smile. "Oh, Mr. Howells,
she exclaimed, 81 should think you
might 60 something for the papers
and magazines I've seen much worse
things than that in print"
| When even Dickens and Thackeray
tuet with experiences somewhat sinll-
lar to this, the small fry can scarcely
| hope to escape. Men we'll known in
other walks of life are scarcely l.ss
fortunate than the novelist. Take,
for instance, the story told by cler
gyman as being part OF "A conversation
held by him with an Englishman t"
whom ne pointed out General Gratn $
residence in New York. The Eng.
lisi,man asking What name
AMI seeming 10 attain n further
light, .lno clergyman repeated it u
him and sail: "Of cours. YOU havv
heard of General Grant? He wa
our President for eight ye,rs, ending
in 1871"
All" remarked the Engllshmau
etii with ~ evidence of recalling II
rtct previously known.
Then too proceeded the clergy
man, "ne wss a great General. anJ
Wa in ,.,,mnlamd Of 900 900 mcu M
le cl,,s. "t the war. You rememhrI
; on late war. ut course =
| We'll, no, Was the answer. Bee
yonr pardon, but have just arrive.
in lhis country, and WAS ~ long at s''s
that have not heard the latest news
| was at sea sixteen days, really"
!. fhis gentleman was scarcely abr, as
: with the times and his ignorance re-
, minds one Of Mark Twaiu's famou
! questions Il railway carriage bore
Adam, What's his other nnne =
/, is really surprising how few eiml
a neut Americans are known to the NV
r erage general reader" IN England
In America, the names nj many "
our prominent men must be familiar, Il
consequence of the frequency and i,
;. miiiarlty With which their actions NJ
=, discussed III the columns of most :.
II :i.e great newspapers. 0ne is surpri'
+ ed, indeed, to see English affairs den"
lS with lis if England were some tw" hun
,ired or three hundred miles fro II Ne'
" York.
Greatness is paid homage to by Som
= people i'll peculiar ways. Everyb"d
must remember the story told i'll con
nection with Victor Hugo. The srea
; poet was startled one morning by th
10 Intrusion of three Englishmen. "Vio
tor Hugo, said one, consulting
: pocket book. The poet bowed, thiui
D ing that he should be asked for h
,r autograph next. Alter the visitor
v had stared Tor few seconds the p 'ci
ii ct book was again consulted. "EIe'
n en- o'clock the lions I' said the spoke.
IL man. Then the party bowed All
walked out of the room. Chamber
gonrnaL