The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-18

has long been enamored of the Qlories of
Indian palaces and the ~luxuries of far ia
pan. There was nothing here to suggest
this. If these signs went for anything, this
Office was the work room of a plain, practi-
cal business man,
While l was thus inspecting the sanctum
of the editor. a door opened and the man I
sought was before me. Sir Edwin's fea-
lures have been SO often depicted that it is
unnecessary for me to describe them at this
time. One would scarcely take him to be
nearly sixty years OF age from his appear
ance, he carries his age 30 we'll. Evidently
hard work has not injured hin to any APP
preeiabls extent.
If there existed any process by which the
manners of a man might be photographed
as his face may be, I would hasten to give a
reproduction of those of Sir Edwin Ar
mold.
Most men if they had written such poetry
as this man has. if they were the head Of
one of the most powerful newspapers in the
world, q favorite in the inner circles of the
court of Great Britain, a friend of more
kings and emperors than one has time to
calculate, besides being q fellow of the
Royal Geographical society, of London, of
the Royal Asiatio society, of the Royal
Geographical society of Marseilles. knight
commander of the Indian empire, not to
speak of three Or four decorations Of the
sultan, the order of the White Elephant
from the king of Siam, the Order OF the
Lion from the shah of Persia and the re-
eipisnt of counties other honors--most men,
l repeat, would be inclined to think a great
deal of themselves and to show it very
plainly.
Sir Edwin Arnold probably knows his
" works as we'll as any man, but there il
nothing in his manner to show this. l had
not been in his company ten seconds when
1 was firm in tho belief that l had never
before met a more pleasant yet more unaf-
fpctAH man He QfAppG1 hriQkty forward
and greeted me simply and affably. Then
drawing a chair up near the table at which
he works, he waved me into it, making a
humorous reference to the ubiquitous Gin
terviewer'' of the American newspaper, as
he did so. Then he seated himself. First
I referred to a statement made by Mr.. Bret
Harte, to the effect that he could get nearly
three times as much money for his stories
in London as in the United States, and to
another by an e1-mayor of Now York, A.
Oakley Hall, in which he said he could live
in London for less than two-thirds what it
cost him in New York, and then l asked
him il IN his opinion London offered a good
field for American newspaper or literary
men.
The poet editor paused and twirled his
thumbs a moment.
"How oan l answer that?" said he at
length, reflectivoIy. mo one knows Lon
don better than l do. 1t is pretty full, but
/ think there is always room III it for ener-
getio, apt and capable people. l have the
highest opinion of the American people; /
don't now what part of the world they
would fail in if they put their backs to it.
Look at this last invention of Edison's, for
instance. What place would not open to
such q genius as that?'
Yes" replied, but leaving men like
Edison out of it, how about the ordinary
maB-ffais4lJ endowed with intelligence and
pluek?"
"Well," said Sir Edwin slowly and
thouRhtfully, III should say the average
smart American would not have SO much
chance rs an Enelishman, just the same as
tho latter would be somewhat at a disad-
vantage IN America; Energy and genius
will succeed everywhere. Still, london is
pretty full, as ] have said before"
Naturally, American literature came up
for discussion. If you want to see variety
at it's most bewildsrinR pitch. you want to
gather together the opinions of English