Omaha daily bee., 1895-11-24

| the table while speaking, mention my nam
and make some pleasant allusion. The mex
] time 1 met him was at Sir Henry Thomp
| sons, in Wimble street, when Mr.. Glad
stone was present; the third was at Jane
! Russell Lowells hotel in Charges street
Like every one else, I was, of course
charmed with his genialty and delightful
| humor."
rs composition easy for you. Mr.. D.
Maurier?" 1 questioned.
| Very was the reply. "The words seen
| to come to me faster than 1 can jot then
down. 'Trilby. for instance, was written il
| six weeks
Had you any idea when writing tha
famous book that 1t would be SO success
ful?"
mot in the least" was the answer. 'Ir
fact, do not regard it so highly as 'Petel
Ibbetson.' 1 suppose the reason for this Il
that Peter was not so popular as the other
and then 1t was my first-born, my frs
novel. That story, Feter Ibbetson,
mean, is largely photographed so far as
the early life in Paris is concerned.
Il have been immensely pleased and fiat.
tered. however," he continued, with tn,
success of 'Triby' in America. Why, they
even tell me that some towns in the west have
been named after the book. What amazed
me still more is that the story should have
possessed the elements necessary for sue
cessful play. ! have not seen the American
dramatization Of the novel. which 10 being
produced in New York and elsewhere, but
Beerbohm Tree, who saw 1t last winter, as
sures me that IL is very good.
II have been fairly inundated with kind
letters from America" said the author,
pointing to an escritoire, "but from some l
have received from Chicago / fear that l
must have given mortal offense to some Of
the good people there owing to the fact
that Miss Lavinia Hunks came from that
city. So in the next edition have in
serted note which 1 hope will help mat
ters bit. You see l meant no harm.
There are ugly women to be met every
where and one does meet just such women,
no matter whether they come from London
or Chicago.
II have also had lots of letters disagreeing
with me on the religious views entertained
In 'Trilby,' but cannot take time to answer
them or explain them away. / think tha,
life is too short to enter into such contro-
versy."
What, Mr., Du Maurier. could possibly
have been Whistler's objection to your refer
ence to him IN 'Trilby?"
Il had no idea when i brought that into
the story" was his reply, that 1t would, give
any ofense. When found out how seriously
he took what was really meant as Joke
and what wide publicity he gave those un,
fortunate paragraphs of mine was very
ieeply distressed / even composed a letter
which l meant to send him and In which |
I very diihcuit for me to deliver myself of
my apology, never gave me chance"
Haven't you been pleased with the criti-
cisms which 'Trilby' has received from the
reviewers?" i asked.
The reviews of all my writings, especially
rom America, have been exceptionally kind"
vas the reply. There have been some |
rites, however, who were not at all pleased |
With that book and did not hesitate to say SO |
n most pointed language. But that was only
atural You cannot please everyone with a
tory. Then, as have Just said, many peo-
lie disagreed with the religious views ex-
ressed In the book, and some Of these also
ublished their protests in the nature Of
riticisms."
And are you at work upon a new book?"
queried.
Yes" was the reply. II have been hard
work for some time upon my new story,
rhe Marians,' which is now nearly finished
n fact, the first insalment goes today TO the
'pewriters and you know that that is an
ncouraging preliminary. I cannot say Just
hen 1t will be published but 1t is three
olume novel and is rather longer than either
hich have preceded It,"
How about the offers to lecture In Amer
a?" i asked. when are you going TO
Isit your many friends on the other side OF
ie Atlantic?"
II have had a great many advantageous