Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-24
GEORGE DU MAURIER.

GEORGE DU MAURlER.
v,,,as in whose gardens the laburnun
trees were bursting into yellow Dlossoh'
and the scent OF lilac perfumed the ar.
Then the 1olting conveyance came 10
stop in the village OF Hampstead. walk
ed through its quiet. seciuuea sIee 10.
high brick walls. At the right hand' aho
yearly az the end OF this thorougnfare'
stood a picturesque brick house. over
grown with ivy, the windows or whose
angles and projections commanded VIC"
~ some of rne loveliest scenery In the
world. Upon the door-post was inscribed
"New Grove House" The front door'
which opened flush on 20 the s.reeI,
was of dark oak. and from fts centre
depended two brass knockers OF pohshed
briIliance. / applied one Of the latter.
md a trim maid ushered me into the
nresence of the author OF "Trilby."
A KINDLY GREETING.
II was a man Of medium size, with
ru,et unassuming manner, who rose 10
hid me kindly greeting. A man win
refined. sensitive face. and the nervous
temperament which proclaimed the artist
20 the finger-tips. Clad In becoming
lounge-ja Jacket. he was at WORK III ms
studio--a large room on the hrst hooi,
whose
the heath. II Is a luxurious apartment
with rich carpet, quaintly-shaped arm
chairs. the walls covered with stamped
heather. and hung with many OF the
Famous "Punch" drawings, framed IN
olain oak. together with other sKetches
and etchings, the gifts OF friends. Near
the window stood an easel. upon whlch
was placed a block of drawing-paper.
Then came a square writlnS-tapie' tuny
arranged, whose most conspicuous orha-
ments were q vase of flowers and sii-
ver-framed photograph OF the artist
which is considered an excellent likeness
nv his wife In one corner was water
color portrait by Du Maurier. or canon
Anger. and, from the same brush, ihe
picture OF a lady with violin. 10 inc
right was a grand piano, ana proiu sioii
of screens and artistic ornaments ~
was one OF those rooms which clearly
denotes the individuality Of It's occupant,
ana whose very atmosphere is tempered
with the charm Of the higher life ana
the refined comforts of home.
"TRILBY WAS A LIE"
"But am afraid that nothing may say
will be of any interest" said the artist
author modestly. In reply to any request
"You know 1t is rather hard for man
to talk about himself"
but won't you please tell me about
'Trilby' -? pleaded. Was she an oTlgi-
nal character. and were any OF the IN
cidents of the story connected Win your
own experience
.TrIlby was a lie," replied the author.
with a smile land so was Peter 1bbet-
SON. sTrilby' herself had no original pro-
totype You see, like TO take people VINO
are or feet hign-as IL were. people
with something supernatural about them
and then weave those characteristics into
n story. OF course, all fictitious characters
are more or less suggested by people
whom you have met. The Laird. how
ever, was an original. an intimate friend
of mine--a Scotchman. You are liable to
see him drop in at any moment. while
YOU are sitting here. LITTLE Billee. also,
while not referring to any one person,
is a compound Of several whom / have
known. When i was q very young man,
] entered Gleyre's studio. In Paris. to
study drawing and painting. and 1t Is
Gleyre's studio that / have described in
'Trilby.'"
"Yes was born In Paris" said the ar
sist. 1T was In a little house in the
Champs Elysee. and bore the number so.
My father sold the house. and 1t has
long since been pulled down. Had he
kept the property II would have made
him a wealthy man."
CONNECTION WITH PUNCH.
won't you please tell me about your
earliest connection with Punch, Mr.. du
Maurier?" asked. "Was Thackeray still
on its stan when you joined the paperY'
no" was the reply. my first contribu-
ton TO Punch was in June. 1860. and
Thackeray was not connected with II
after 1854 IL las been stated that he
left the periodical In consequence OF its
attacks upon Napoleon Ill. whose anger
he thought II impolitic to arouse. But.
imagine, rather, that II was because he
had become such literary glanr-in fact
his work then commanded such q high
price that there would be no object in
his remaining with the paper"
did you know Thackeray?" inquired
never met him personally" said the
artist but have often wished thar had
feel sure that should have known him
wen: nave the greatest admiration for
MS DOCKS. and think / must have read
them all az least ten times. Indeed ~ has
peen SAID OF my writing that II is some.
what initiative OF the greaf master I
think II not unlikely that we have looked
~ some phases OF life with the same
Eyes. Tor We both lived much in paris
evnns vur garry years. and then have
Al my Ire SO eagerly devoured his works
saw him once, however. al a recent,or
given ~ Mrs. Sartoris Airs sartnrs.
VINO was Adelaide Kemble. knew nv "a
miration for the great noyelisa 49,
kindiy onered to present me to him Hn
4 was very say. and he lowered so. bot,
In stature and intellect, above tho Cow
pany. that neglected the Opportunity
But all that evening ! remained as clos
70 him rs possible. intently listening 4
his words.
NEVER NET DICKENS.
Neither did ] ever meet Charlie
Dickens" continued my informant, "al
though ] saw him twice." The FIRST Tim
vas at theatre. the second. at JohI
Leech's funeral. When my father firs
came to London he took the same hous
- Deyonshire TERRACE. where Dicken