The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-27
INTERVIEW WITH ZOLA.
An American Woman Has n Chat with
the Great NOyeIist

Alice Livingston, in Boston Transcript.
In low-pitched, agreeable voice he be-
endeavoring to make the very most of nv
time, hastily drew him on toward graver
subjects. OF his impressions Of England.
he was pleased to speak. 1.-The immensely
of London continues to astonish me" he
said. 1T is like great body, stomach,
lungs and heart, and throbbing arteries.
My wife and l never tire of the many
phases of life we can meet within ten min
utes of each other. Our time has been
much occupied, of course, but we have
had one or two little early excursions to-
gether in hanson cabs Once we drove
from the regions round Whitechapel TO
Mayfair: We said little, but thought very
cused of exaggeration by many who dis
approve of me and my work, therefore, it
would afford me satisfaction to write FOR
their benefit my impressions of London
and its vivid, teeming life. To do the SUBJ
jects justice, 1 should remain in England
longer than 1 am now able to do. but some
day l shall carry out my ambition"
81 suppose you have suffered good deal
from interviewers in London?" ventured,
hoping he would not recognize me as a
"chiel takin' notes"
II have been interviewed, yes; but my
experiences have not been disagreeable.
Everybody has been kind and considerate.
and have not been forced u talk on po-
litical subjects, which was what / dreaded
in coming. 1 have been asked many QueS-
tons, mostly regarding the moral pur-
poses of my books, my hopes OF being adj
mitted into the academy and my opinions
as to the outcome Of my speech In the in
stitute the other day regarding 'Ano-
nymity in Journalism / thought at first
the subject of the Forty Immortals might
have been avoided, but, on second thoughts,
/ am not averse to discussing il, / do
certainly hope and expect to be elected If
not next time, then sooner or later. The
Forty are all my friends. and will welcome
me, and 1 do not wish to disguise the fact
that my admission is now one OF the high
est ambitions of my life"
And do you really believe, i asked,
apropos of that sheet at the institute, that
every article written should be signed in
the columns of the daily papers,.
II think that political utterances alone
should be anonymous. All literary work
should, the contrary, invariably be
Whether it 1 be of book or play. or author.
No criticism can be Of value without per-
sonality. We want TO know not alone what
some man thinks, but who it Is that has
the thought. Then we can better place
ourselves in a position to agree or disagree.
which lends zest and vitality to our read
ing But then / hear that neither English
nor American papers devote nearly as much
space to literary matter, strictly speaking,
as do the French, in which case many OF
my arguments must have fallen TO the
ground
Having gone so far. NJ. lola suddenly
paused, and fixed me with his glitterina
eve" "Do you read my books?'' he asked
cor are you American women afraid OF
them, like your English sistersg
1--WE are not so much afraid, perhaps"
1 boldly answered, ''but we do not always
like them"
"Ah, that is q question or taste! But not
only do / believe that my writings cannot
injure the mind Of any woman, no matter
how young-I actually contend that they
will benefit and strengthen her against
evil, If she read them with no morbid Curl
osity, but a candid desire 20 judge between
right and wrong"
"There could have been no more exquisite
story than The Dream" said evasively.
"Ah, 1 thoroughly enjoyed writing that
book" began NJ. Zola, with sparkling eyes;
and perhaps he would have continued the
subject with detail, had not deputation.
grudging me my five minutes in such So
ciety, borne down upon him in a way not
to be denied. But after all. had much to
remember,