The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-12-05
DULUTH VS.. LONDON
An Interview Between Citizen oi
Richmond and of the Zenith city.


Richmond and of the Zenith city.
Mr.. Thomas Nelson Page, who is unques
tionably the foremost Of contemporary VT
ginians IN literature, has been in Europe sew
eral month. He is exceedingly fond of
London, Tor here better than any other place
in the world can he feed his love for thlngs
which age and "reminiscences have rendered
beautiful. Page Is poetic To degree. lie
writes beautiful verse, as YOU know; better
still. he loves 10 invest the common places
of life with poetic thought. lie Is by no
meanse a sentlmentalist. lie detests every
thing that approaches to the maudlln ana
the historical but sees life and nature
through reversniial ewes, and that is why
he sees in life more of beauty, OF wisdom,
Of tenderness and pathOs than very many OF
others see.
The other morning-it was sunny and
balmv. for wOnder-Mr. PAGE made up
his mind 10 stroll about London. That
might involve many hours Of walking, bul
he had sagaciOusly mapped out "A little route
which would not require more than TWO
hours and would include a view OF several
notable spots. A Mr.. Hinton accompanied
the famous Nirginian. This Mr.. Hinton
halls from Duluth, Mimi; young man full
of the most eXuberant American spirit ana
bOuntifullv provided with means wherewiih
TO crafty a laudable desire for travel. Mr..
Hinton liked Mr.. Page because Mr. PAGE
was $50 darned we'll up in history ana
things" aud Mr.. Page liked Mr. Hinton for
his exuberance and candOr. The twain
were wholly cOngenial.
They started out Of Bolton street and
walked up Piccadilly, Mr.. Page calling his
friends attention to the dingy residence OF
the Baroness Burdett COutts and % the ola
house occupied by the Duke Of DeyOnshlre.
where, as Mr.. Page nad discovered, there II
TO be seen the finest collection OF old play
bills in the world. "here,' said Mr.. Page.
pausing a moment in his course, ''here II
the old White Horse cellar before which.
in the old mail-cOaching times. was 10 be
seen what Hazlitt speaks of as the finest
sight in the metrOpOlis--the setting of of
the mail coaches in Piccsdillyv Alas. the
splsndOr Of those days has vanished, yet
here stands this old trystlng spot, monu-
ment to departed glory"
As they passed Arlington street Mr.. Page
pointed out where Lady Mary NOruey
Montague used to live, and Horace WalpOle
as we'll. Mr.. Hinton was inclined TO pause
in front OF st. James Hall 10 see what the
negro MINISTRIES were going to play that
evening. but Mr.. Page urged him forward.
and the two crossed the circus and present.
ly made their way into Leicester square,
which historic locality inspired Mr.. Page to
| let loose a flood Of anecdOte and reminis-
cence about French wiles. Robert sydney,
| George H., the Duke Of Cumbei land. W IL
| liam HOgarth, Joshua Reynolds, Sir Isaac
| Newton, and other people who AT some
period Of their lives lived in this quaint old
! locality.
So betimes the twain drfted down through
Trafalgar Square and around IN the rgDl
into Claring Cross and Whitehall, viewing
/ xuff II ~ int argst fnQ lovely old land
marks on each side.
How truly" remarked Mr. Page, show
truly has it been said that in this place
every step we take is upon ground sacred
/ b a hundred memories
Naturally enough his approach TO the spot
whereOn Charles |. was executed recalled
| 10 Mr.. Page scores OF instructive anecdotes
and illustrations, and very many appr0pr-
ate bits from the best poets. He made no
effort 10 restrain his feelings, and his COM
panion. Mr.. Hinton, heard him with respect
| full attention.
"HOw long did you say he has been deadF'
asked Mr.. Hinton at last.
"MOre than two hundred years." answered
Mr. Page. just think Of il; here are We
to-day standing upon the very spot where
centuries ago that amiable and klngy
king fell a martyr 10 unbridled, ferociOus
fanaticisml Is not the thought Oyerwhelm-
/ ingF'
..Yes. that's the trouble" said Mr.. Him.
ton. IL don't feel Ike kicking, but I've
been travelling around for an hour or two
expecting TO see something connected with
somebody now on earth. You've been
mighty Kind and interesting, Mr. Page, and
I've enjoyed your talk, but would you mind
telling me If there is anything to see IN
London that hasn't been dead two or three
hundred yearsy'
What" cried Mr.. Page, simply aghast.
"Can il be possible that you do NOT ap-
preciate the beauty Of these historic, these
grand old thingsY
''Oh, yes; | suppose they're all right so
far as they CO." said Mr.. Hinton, "but You
see we Duluth folks amt much on ancient
truck. What ia like TO see, II they have
them here, would be some OF their grain
elevators, with trains backing in or out
or some OF their lumber RATS. ! want 70
see life; that's what I'm here for. AZ far
as can judge, the people over here simply
amt In It with US Duluth folks.'-Eugene
Field in Chicago Mail.