New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-24
HALLIWELL-PHILLIPPs.
NOTES OF AN AFTERNOON AT HoLLNGBURY
CoPSE.

COPSE
ETRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT THE TRIBUNE.
London, March IL.
Among pleasant impressions Of charming Eng
lish fields and kindly English faces, stands out
prominently visit made to Holingbury Copse
some eighteen months ago. personal friend OF
Mr. HalliwellP Phillips had kindly given me
letter Of introduction 10 him, and / found
welcome awaiting me. At StTatford, in the old
Shakespeare house, it was pleasant surprise to
have the old lady in charge there say that she
had q very pleasant message TO give me from
Mr. Haliwell- Phillips. He had written express
ly to ask her TO look out for visitor from
America who would, Of course, stop in STRAIT
ford and tell me how welcome I would be at
Hollingbury Copse, The old lady shook me
warmly by the hand, and, congratulating me
solemnly, said was indeed TO be envied in the
prospect of going to that house. She herself
often went there for little visit In the spring
time, and IL was easy TO see looked upon the
place as paradise on earth.
Hollingbury Copse, Mr. HalhwellPhilhppss
old home, is situated about two miles back from
the beach at Brighton, the low building quite
hidden from the road in the copse that sur
rounds IL, so that one might easily pass 1t II
mot most vieilaut Mr.. HaliwelL Phillips him
self was a most hearty, genial and courteous
gentleman, q splendid specimen Of the English
physique, and with his pretty young wife made
me, feel much at homo in the pleasant low
ceiled drawing-room, where we chatted ior
balf-hour perhaps much about America ana Aneri-
cans. In whom he seemed 70 feel the Klndilese
interest. Later we went for charming walk
through the copse, finding our wsy to the non'
door through "Dodberry Lane; Tor we "ere
in a true Shakespearian home, where tne u'i-
fercnt rooms of the onestory building "nere
were only six steps in the house, were OohneoOeo
nv long, rambling corridors, oil chr1stenea si.er
shakespearian characters and localities, as r
ford Haven for the entrance hall, whiie W.T.
sey's Walk led TO the study
The house indeed, Mr. MISUNDERSTANDING ex-
oInined. WAS simply O collection OF pungaio"s
bought ready-made IN Londonj but gfoupeu aS
,hov worn they made o most comfortaDle nome
and the effect was certainly picturesque; She
or,ss- cross tinbers on the outside reminding one
- the quaint little Stratford houses, whilo eions
one whole ode ran the cordial motto: Zone
bither. come hither come hither; here no enemy
hut winter and rough weather." and over Sue
entrance TO the study a second generous Weicome'
open locks, whoever knocks"
Outside there was not tho slightest enecs az
gardening apparent, though possibly the "lio
luxuriance of nature, which seemed 10 nave peen
let alone had only been attained by careiu pash-
ming. At one side we penetrated the copse ana
were soon in what seemed to DO dense Io.es@
with no traces of mankind around, only nppnnS
rttlo stream. so narrow we could step OVER IL
anywhere, hurrying along amidst moses ana ierns,
and tumbling over the rocks in tiny cascades ana
waterfalls It was hard to believe that art could
counterfet nature so well, but Mr. Hain"eiAr ni,-
Inns assured me that he had turned snat HUE
stream into the copse himself blocked It's way with
fallen trees, and rocks and stones, just IS saw
g. From the copse long walk or arbor, formed
entirelv OF white roses in fun blossoreal English
white roses--led to IN open meadow at the other
aide Of the house, o meadow somewhat oyergrown
with rocks, but luxuriant in so-called weeds and
wild flowers. brambles and thistes, pied daisies and
great SCARLET peoples This field could see
was n special pride and pleasure TO aus owner,
though he admitted it was sometimes severely
criticised by an unappreciativc public He showed
me little knoll ct one side where ne came eaon
evening to watch the sunset, and declared There
were not finer sunsets TO be seen from any point
In the Kingdom.
Iaat Of ell, though and am sure my kind
host felt he was keeping the best until the last
he led me to his study, ana tnero' uhiocAlne
his strong boxes, he brought out his Shakespeafan
treasures to show me; for we were IN that
Quaint wigwam on the Sussex Downs as Mr
Halliwerl- Philllpps himself describes IT, which
has the honor Of sheltering moro record and
artistic evidences connected with tho personal
history OF the great dramatist than are 10 be found
IN any other Of the worlds libraries" These
rarities consisted Of many old documents framed
and under glass for safs-keeping; among them
six Of those few title deeds which, with The
famous viii, are the only articles m existenes
Known TO have really been in Shakespeares posses.
s,on and 10 have been actually handled by him
old play biIls, and some deeds bearing the auto
graph and seal Of Sir Thomas Lucy; some very
old drawings illustrative Of shakespeare's life
but most precious of.nll that early copy OF The
famous Droeshout portrait, engraved IN the, year
1!saa nom the original rste 'psfese y swa'