The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-30

sister Of Mrs. l.. l.. Lewis, Of Richmond
has recently contributed to the CONNER
cial-Appeal. of her native city. d series
Of exceedingly able reviews.
Characteristic story Of dear old
Thackcray' is told by Mrs Ross, IN her
"reminiscences. "Thacheray was a con-
slant visitor" said she. in Queen square.
and great fdvoritc OF mine though be
played me a trick ON my ffth birthday
which remained standing joke between
him and the young revolutionist as he
afterwards used TO call me, because | was
born on the 2ith day OF February. My
birthdays were always celebrated by 4
dinner, when ! was allowed 10 dine dow -
stairs aud 10 invite the guests. Few chill
drcu could boast OF such an array Of
friends. This one included Mrs. Norton,
Lord Lansdowne, Tom Taylor, Richard
Doylo. g. j. Bayiey and Thackeray who
gave me an oyster, declaring IL WIS ike
cabinet pudding. But I turned the ia
olcs on him. for | insisted, as queen of
the day on having moro. / sull possess
Il sketch he made for the frontispicCe OF
Pendcnnis while / was sitting on his
knee.
Thackeray often dropped in to dinner
generally announcing himself beforehand
IN some funny way.
\ nice leg Of mutton. my Lucie,
pray thee have ready for me;
Have it smoking and tender and juicy
For no better meat there can be
was one of his missives."
The slab that Is 10 cover the grave Of
Robert Browning in Westminster Abbey
is almost completed and viii be sent TO
England quite shortly from Venice. OW-
ing to the limitations Of the allotted space.
II was not easy for Mr.. Barrett Browning
10 decide upon design The RravcstOne
will be OF oriental porphyry, OF which the
poet was particularly fond. II was dih-
cult TO Ind a piece sufficiently large, but
finally Mr.. r, b. Browning met with
one at Rome. II has been put into
frame of Sienna marble, and the whole,
though rich, IS OF the greatest simplicity,
ami in accordance with what would have
been the poets taste. The inscription
VIII consist of only the name and date Of
birth, with an English rose at the head,
and a Florentine lily below.
In an article published in the Athena
cum Charles Dalton tells about the man
uscripts Of Robert Browning's Colonies
Birthday. The poet used to rely on his
sister 10 write out for him iair copy
of his r0ugher draughts, 50 that there
is no manuscript OF the work Of Brown
ing's own hand. or that series, Bells and
pomegranates. some OF which we're in
tended for the stage. a few have indca-
tons TO actors from the authors oW1
hand. The history OF a certain manu-
script Of Colombe's Birthday and its
preservation are curious. The keans
were DESTROYS Of performing ii, and ask
ed for a copy. The poet had one writ
ten out and sent 10 them. There was some
delay, and the manuscript was returned
TO Browning. who published IL as the
No. OF Bells and Pomegranaies.
Browning's father then had the manu-
script bound. 1nis was in 1874 BY
some strange accident the manuscript
found itself four years afterward i'm a
London auction room. There was at the
same sale manuscript volume by Robert
Bell. OWihS 10 the similarity Of initials
and only browring's initials appeared
it was assumed that Bell had written
Bells and Pomegranates. Thus Robert
Bell Was knocked down for three shilIings
and Robert Browning Tor half a crown.
Mr.. Forman Is owner of this precious
copy. ON the title page there is: BELLS
and Pomegranate No. 6. Colonbe's
Birthday. A Play in Five Acts Ry
X. H." oSme words are Underlined "a
as to explain TO the actors the necess,rv
emphasis, and stage directions are numor.
Gus. 1t was "A cheap purchase. al about
one cent page.
Robert Louis Stevenson died I'm Samoa
Kipling has been a great globe-trotter
Bret Harte. Marion Crawford and Henry
lanes are practically denationahzed Ju.
lian hawthorne. after much travel, has
settled down i'm Jamaica. Stanley /
weyman has wandered over Europe afoot
Conan Doyle has travelled much. and Is
nIannInr further globe-trotting Litera-
-, mate, II is no longer Il local issue.
King Humbert said recently TO COM
., ad,tors: Gentlemen. l have OF,
Ten said that I should wish TO be Jour-
nalist. were I not KING
Jonas Lie. a fascinating hsure IN Nor
usston literature, is sixty-one years OLD,
He has Just been h0n0rsd In the eAp''ai