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

"Ieech, whom Just mentioned, was'
| OF course. one OF my intimates; my mas
ter may say. for to some extent my
work was modelled upon his. he was
| kind. amiable, and genital man. lie oieu
| In November. 1864, and was buried al
| Kensal Green. the funeral service being
read by Dean Hole who had been Leech .
| companion on that 'Lfltle Tour In Ire
| land which they have jointly recorded
| with pen and pencil. j shall never forget
| the scene at his funeral Wnen the first
| sod fell with sounding thud on his
| coffin. MilIais, who was standing on the
edge OF the grave. burst out sobDlns
| 1t was as a signal. for the moment after
each man in that great concourse OF
mourners was sobbing like cniio- IL
was a memorable sight.
IMPRESSIONS OF HOLMES.
81 remember. Mr. Ds Maurier, that
when Oliver Wendell Holmes was last
| in England be was very DESTROYS of meet
| ing you. What was your impression Oh
| The genial autocrat?'
IL had the pleasure Of meeting Dr.
Holmes at dinner three times In one
| week" said the artist THE first occasion
was at a club where DR.. Holmes spoke
l had not then been presented to him.
hut he was kind enough 10 look down the
| table while speaking. mention my name
and make some pleasant ailusion. Inc
| next time / met him was at SIT Henry
| Thompson's, In Wimble street, when MI
Gladstone was present; the third was
at James Russell Lowelrs hotel. IN
Charges street. Like every one else
was of course charmed with his geni-
atty and delightful humor
us composition easy for you, Mr. Du
Maurier?' l questioned.
every" was the reply. THE WORDS
seem to come to me faster than i can
lot them down. 'Trilby.' for instance.
was written in six weeks
Had you any idea when writing that
famous book that 1t would be SO sue
cessful?' -,
Not In the least" was the answer. IN
fact. do not regard 1t so highly as Peter
1bbetson.' I suppose the reason for this
Is that Peter was not so popular as the
other. and then IL was my frst-born, my
first novel. That story-Peter Ibbetscn,
1 mean-is largely au,obographal. so iar
as the early life in Paris. is concerned.
81 have been immensely pleased and
hattered, however" he continued. with
the success Of 'Trilby' in America. why
they even tell me that some towns III
the West have been named after the
book. What ema2es me still more is
that the story should have possessed
play. / have not seen the American
dramatization of the novel, which is be-
ing produced In New York and elsewhere,
but Beerbohm Tree who saw 1t last
winter. assures me that IL Is very good.
81 have been fairly inundated with KIND
letters from America" said the autnor'
pointing to an escritoire. but from some
I have received from Chicago. fear that
| must have given mortal offence TO some
Of the good people there, owing to the
fact that Miss Lavinia Hunks cane
from that city So in the next edition ]
have inserted q note. which l hope will
help matters bit. You see ] meant no
harm. There are ugly women to be met
everywhere, and one does meet just
some such women, no matter whether
they come from London or Chicago.
THE RELIGIOUS VIEWS.
1T have also had lots OF letters dis
agreeing with me on the religious views
entertained In Trilby.' But / cannot
take time to answer them or explain
them away. think that life is too
short to enter into such controversy"
What. Mr.. Du Maurier, could posi-
bly, have been Whistler's objection to
your reference to him in 'Trilby'?"
II had no idea when / brought that
| into the story" was his reply. "tha,
| 1t would give any offence. When found
| out how seriously he took what was
really meant as a Joke, and what wide
| publicity he gave those unfortunate para
| graphs of mine. l was very deeply dis
tressed. even composed letter which
l meant to send him. and in which
| expressed my sincere regret. But he
made 1t very difficult for me to deliver
myself OF any apology. He never gave
| me chance"
Haven't you been pleased with the
criticisms which 'Trilby' has received
| from the reviewers" l asked
1.-THE reviews of ALI my writings. espe-
cialy from America. have been excep-
| tionally kind" was the reply. "There
| have been some critics. however, who
were not at all pleased with that book
| and did not hesitate to say so in most
pointed language. But that was only
natural You cannot please every one
with a story. Then. as I have just said
| many people disagreed with the religious
| views expressed In the book. and some OF
these also published their protests In the
nature of criticisms"
"And are you at work upon a new
book?" l inquired.
| yes" was the reply. II have beer
hard at work for some time upon my
new story. The Martains,' which is now
nearly finished. In fact. the first in.
stalment goes to-day TO the typewriters
and you know that that is an encouraging
preliminary. ] cannot say Just when
It will be published. but II is a three
volume novel. and Is rather longer thar
either which have preceded IT,"
"How about the offers to lecture In
| American" / asked. when are you go.
| ing to visit your many friends on the
| other ci1a nf ttlanffpor
II have had great many advantageous
| offers both TO lecture and read In the
| United States" was the answer "But
| am growing to dislike all rush and
worry. l prefer being more quiet. ! en-.
Joy too much my nook here" said the ar.
| list, glancing lovingly from his window In
the direction Of Hamstead Heath.
II was easy to sympathze with Mr.
| Du Maurier In this love of his beau
tiful home as he kindly showed me
through its pleasant, CHEEKY rooms. and
pointed out the various objects OF interest
which the windows overlook.
HIS SURROUNDINGS.
To the right lay the heath. clad II
fresh spring verdure. and surrounded
| with a halo OF historic memories. Their,
were the green hollows and shady lanes. the
gorse and heather. the sand-pits and WEIR
| pine-trees. Directly In front l caught 9
glimpse Of the road leading to Highgate
from the highest point of which may b,
seen the Surrey hills. and whose view
Oliver Goldsmith. who loved to walk here
described as finer than anything he hat
seen in his wanderings abroad. To tn,
left, nesting among the trees, across {
long, undulating valley. peeped forth III,
white spire OF Harrow church. in who's,
churchyard. when a boy. Byron used t.
SIT and ponder. Scarcely stones throw
from the house is the famous old I'M