Middletown transcript., 1894-08-25

all.
Sarah Grand, who has blown the
shrillest bugle call of all, was at the
reception of the Authors Club short
time ago. and 1 could hardly believe
that the little woman, almost shrinking
into the embrasure of the window, was
the successful authoress of "The
Heavenly Twins," and the original of
ihe poetic photograph bearing her
name. She appeared in dark blue
iress with commonplace white lace at
the throat, and dropping black hat,
dressed with pink roses, and was about
The last guest in, the room l should
ave guessed to be Sarah Grand. She
vas surrounded by women, of course,
',ne Of whom rushed up and seized her
ny The hands, exclaiming: II am SO
.tateful to you for writing the
II sve'ly Twins 1t isdoing so much
d." The authoress blushed and
/ wl'h real feeling. "YOu don't
Nv INV pleased l am by what you
.ssr :, mpathy."
d. =, er in he, nWD draw ing
rppOr,.' vof studyin
q -, lily nf =,
"H q 'afI dy, who
=, wt;. dnd irrila e.,
i many re. She Mas
"a a.. nuin!a If friends III
- ac,,da; s'At homes" and
ri, feminine and attractive in
E npire gown of grey crepon with
.ey satin sleeves. But the hand of
,shion has never touched the costume,
I'D her general style is rather artistic
t,ian conventional. Her manner is
by and her welcome cordial, yet she
mas not the air of a woman of the
Yorid, and her personality and face are
somewhat unsympathetic. If her
nature is ardent it is not revealed in
her almost embarrassed manner. In
person she is of medium size. slender,
without decided coloring except in her
hair, which is pretty warm brown,
and is worn in a sort of "scumble"
over the brow and in loose knot on
the nape of the neck. Her eyes are
light blue, and are not remarkable.
When an enthusiastic admirer land of
course she has a train of worshipers
near and far said to me: "There mus
be the mark of genius in her face.
Could you not see her soul in her eyes?"
I felt very earthborn when I had to
answer: mo, she only looks anxious
and tired Of waiting" To be frank,
Sarah Grand has not the self-possessed
air of a married woman, although it is
said she was welded at 16 to much
older man, and soon after divorced.
Let me whisper it sotto voce, she looks
like spinster of perhaps 40 with
whom happiness has played will-o'-the-
wisp tricks. The note of pessimism in
her books is reflected in the dropping
muscles and weary expression of her
face.
She lives in a pret'y y fiat in Wynnestay
Gardens. Kensington, and her admirers
have to climb six long flights of stairs
to reach their star. She has chosen
this eyrie to escape the noise of the
streets and lives here with her two
stepsons whose name is McFan and
who also write and draw cleverly for
the illustrated papers. The elder Mr..
McFail cannot be many years the
juaiof of. his fitted "belle mere," and
is her man of affairs. negotiating the
sale Of her books for, as she says, SIT
is impossible for me to attend to my
business aud try to write.' It is
enough for the artist to attend to her
work.
shr is Anvsged npon new book and
resnse,! - drvulee the title or to set
p,ice ul-,n il, although several pub
l,shers are eager to SECURE it. She
SAID: Il trv tn dig sill further i'm o
bnnan atnr- in his, 81 'ry. but / do
moi wan to NIKE it public or TO sell
the book till have worked it all out. y
Her flat is a light, airy apartment.
and on The doorplaie is her name,
..Mrs c. r. McFall," I" but above it, in
larger letters. is Madame. Sarah
Grand,s' by which title she insists upon
being called. No one seems to know
why she is called Madame instead of
Mrs, but it is the custom and she is
usually addressed by the full name,
which is decidedly awkward in cor.
versation. The entrance hall Of her
apartment is hung with souvenirs from
Africa, trophies brought home by her
stepsons, and resembling Mexican
weapons, hats and baskets. The
drawing and dining rooms look more
like an American house than English,
and are furnished in q light style, with
framed drawings and etchings on the
(, light-colored walls, with summer drap.
cries and cushions about the rooms.
Over the teacups asked If she wrote
her stories from personal conviction OF