Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-19
THE ERRATIC OUIDA.
Personal Appearance of the Famous
Novelist When in Society.
ORIGIN OF HER LITERARY NAME.
A Glimpse of Her Real Life. as 1t Appeared
to an Intimate Friend.
CHARMING SIDE OF HER CHARACTER
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anu WouIu talk anectlonately TO Lnem,
caressing them tenderly and showing q
loving, kind nature, but she was always
bursting into tears and fits Of passion be-
cause misunderstood by people. She spent
much time alone, and after she began to
write was seldom seen by her old acquaint-
ances; soon she left for more congenial life
abroad.
1t is said that with her first success she
changed her name to Rance, then. as novel
after novel of singular power and passion
delighted the world. this became de Rance
and then de la Rance, but she always wrote
under the picturesque nom de plume
"Ouida, and now prefers only to be known
by that name; even socially she is now
Madame ouida" to everyone.
The pseudonym had rather peculiar
origin. Her given name is Louisa. Once
little child happened to be trying to pro-
nounce it, but got no nearer than 'Ouida.
From this triAing incident came the pen
name, that is to-day known even to the ut
termost parts of the earth.
oUIDA In SOCIETY.
Last season 0uida was the sensation of
London Society-everywhere feted, recep-
tions and dinners being given in her honor
and everywhere leaving the same impression
of entant terrible. l had not seen her for
seme years; indeed had never seen her ex-
cept by the sea or on the Tuscan hills, and /
was not prepared for the ''society Ouida.
She is short and stout, her thick yellow hair
being cropped in straight line across the
ugliest part of the neck, as you sometimes
see the hair Of German school girls.
She sat sideways on her chair, with her
head turned away and in such a position
that an enormous bustle arose and formed
barricade between her and the person
brought to be introduced to her. She still
further intrenched herself by holding an
immense ostrich feather fan before her face
and scarcely ventured to reply to the re-
marks addressed to her. Treated with bare,
brutal curiosity, she returned it with
equally unadorned rudeness. A lady told
me that being brought up to be presented,
she ventured to say: can introduction is
scarcely necessary. Everybody knows
Ouida;" when she replied in her hard,
peacOck-like voice: II pity ouida if she
had to know everybody"
She was we'll dressed, but no one thought
so, and when she left the room the. female
tongue filed the air with angry cackle.
There was the feeling that she was q naughty
child in society, the kind that lies on the
hearthrug and screams and kicks--she has
a grudge against society and society against
her, she likes to offend it in her books, she
likes to outrage it in person.
The anecdote was recalled of Prince
George of Wales, who one day when a
child, and the Queen was dining some foreign
kings and princes, acted SO badly that his
royal grandmamma sent him under the
table to stay till he was good-he stayed
long time quite quiet and the only sound
was the clinking of the gold spoons against
the gold plates, as Her Majesty looked very
severe. Presently, sweetly penitent voice
cried, ''I'm good now, grandmamma," and
being told he could come out, to the horror
OF everyone danced before them in his birth
day costume-for revenge.
Anything can be expected of Ouida in
society. One lady artist said, 20, should
have liked to have taken that fan of hers
and broken it to pieces over her and lashed
her and horse-whipped her till the real
Ouida came out and stood before us, some
strange, weird, passionate, pathetic thing
the Ouida we all love in spite of ourselves,
in spite of her faults, who captures us and
takes us by storm, when she will, and only
evades US now, the Ouida who wrote In
Maremma' and Under Two Flags and
'Bimbi.'"
She is a witty conversationalist, but is
easily bored if the person present does not
interest her, and takes no pains TO conceal it
lis sarcastic and aggressive, but takes great
interest when anyone tries to beat her with
her own weapons. Conversation becomes
very difficult when she is not in the mood
for small talk. A timid one ventures to
commence with, ooh, Madame Ouida, don't
you think so-and-so?" mo, don't, why
should I, why should anybody ?'' she replies
loudly and brusquely-a lady, wishing to
say something, remarks, "DOn't you wish
yourself back in your beautiful Florence ?"
"No, 1 don't, why should I? If I wanted
to be in Florence should go to Florence"
SOME COURAGE NEEDED.
One by one all the great London houses
that counted her as honess gave up in
despair, and yet everyone wanted to meet
her; curiosity was aroused to the highest
pitch, and it became question of daring to
give her dinner. The English are the
greatest lion hunters in the world, and are
not easily discouraged in the pursuit, but
they did not know what TO do with her.
They at first courted her, and then scandal
lied her by telling of a mysterious veiled
gentleman who called at midnight at the
Langham to settle her enormous bill after
she had left that abode of luxury per force.
When written that her lovely home in
Florence would be sold if she did not come
back, she only telegraphed, "Save me Lyt-
toms letters"
At dinner party given by prominent
dramatic star in her honor, where were pres
ent all the great lights of the English stage,
Ouida sat surrounded by Henry Irving and
Ellen Terry, Mr.. Toole, Wilson Barrett,
etc.-she was noisily eating some soup when
Mr.. Barrett asked her If she had seen his
new play and offered to put box at her DIS
posal, she did not pause in her eating, but
between two mouthfuls replied curtly, 81
never go to English theaters."
She melts when she is beaten, however,
and admires q witty retort even when at her |
own expense, and above all if from a
woman, as when Mrs John Bigelow said,
81 don't know why you dislike Americans
so, they are the only people who read your
nasty books" Ouida drew her toward her,
saying, "Why, you must be an interesting
WOudu, gOu ndg OOLuC III, anu LUX ueT Ill
over her villa, showed her her pet views of
Florence, her dogs, her wonderful collection
of antique jewelry, and during her stay in
the Tuscan capital drove her out and showed |
her much attention, in fact was charming
and fascinating, as those who know her well |
Will know she can be.
A HARD WORKER.
Now, Ouida works very hard, as she as
pires to enter new field of art. She is |
writing several plays. Of course much can |
be expected of her, as she is unique in pas
sionate dramatic power, and her novels con- |
tain many stirring scenes and speeches. Of |
course, the construction of a play and the |
construction of book are two different |
things. Many of her best works have. been |
by other authors with success. |
and it is hoped that she will bring new fire |
and passion to the modern stage, which has |
grown domestic and metaphysical to the |
verge Of stupidity. Ouida can preach great |
sermons, too.
ouids loves Florsnce and the real Florsn-