The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-10-23
Notes of am Interview
With John RMSkim.
Rev. James Hughes, of This City, Describes
a Visit to the Charming Home of Eng
lands Greatest Writer of Prose.

sir, the membership will be very linn
tied" At which he very pleasantly
made answer: Yes, ! believe it will
be somewhat select myself"
Mr.. Ruskin then proceeded to speak
of the main objects of the society,
which, he said, were twofold, viz, to
substitute manual labor for machinery,
as far as possible, and to establish in
every village and hamlet good free
public libraries, where all men might
have access to the best books. Then,
rising from his seat, he brought me a
book from one of his shelves, beauti-
fully bound, and said, with consider
able emphasis: "Why should / have
books like these while so many of my
fellow-men are deprived of them? Such
books not only inform the mind, but
they train the eye for color and for
shades of beauty" The book was COW
cred in crimson velvet.
Speaking on the question of health,
Mr. Ruskin said "much depends on our
habits and mode of living" and then
made the following remark in q very
humorous vein: When / lived in Scot
land l used to take porridge every day
and then I was ruddy and robust. but
now you see what a poor dyspeptlc
man your English beef and mutton
have made me-"
ON RUSKIN'S LAWN.
After giving utteranca to this sem
tence he invited me to take a short
walk with him, and while on the lawn
which slopes considerably towards the
lake he spoke freely and fully about
the natural beauty Of the English Lake
nf In
particular. While on rhis theme he
somewhat abruptly said: (Which of
the lakes with it's surroundings do You
consider the most beautiful, Mr..
Hughes?" 1 replied that thought the
Windermerc lake the most beautiful
of all, when he said: consider Conis-
ton the lovelest spot in the whole of
the lake district, for these beautiful
objects are so clustered together that
the eye can with one focus take in an
immense variety of form and color"
During the time he was thus speaking
we We're standing at the end of the
lawn where was an old wooden seat.
which was somewhat roughly con-
struCted and which bore the marks of
time and mountain storm. Mr.. Ruskin
said THAT is called the poets corner.
1t is said that Wordsworth used to sit
there frequently and view for hours at
the time the surrounding scenery.
Take a seat there just a moment, and
look in that direction, and l believe
you will agree with me that the vlri-
ETY. of form and color is SO great and
grand that they surpass everything IN
the lake district" l did So and GER
tainly l must confess, that though l
had visited Coniston many times, / nov
er saw so many objects of interest and
natural beauty as / did that day under
the direction of this great lover of
nature, the great art critic of England.
Moving gently along the green sward
we came to the other angle of the lawn.
where on the top of an old wall, and
from between the stones there grew n
variety of plants and flowers. Here
the professor stood and picked a flow
tr or two and delivered a most inter
csting dissertation on botany. He then
handed me a small flower and said:
THE literal meaning of the botanical
name of this flower is stone breaker
I have decided to write a book on
botany in which l shall give English
names to all the plants and flowers
that l may attempt to describe"
After a pleasant saunter in that love-
ly spot we returned to the house, and 1
soon left for my home full of gratitude
and delight. Never will / forget what
I saw and heard at Brentwood" on
that auspicious occasion. The kindness
and affability of John Ruskin made me
feel at perfect ease in his presence;
and his mastery treatment of the many
subjects of our conversation not only
excited feelings of admiration, but
greatly enriched my mind. l believe
| shall carry with me to the end of
my life, pleasing and grateful srecol-
lectiOns Of my interview with the great
John Ruskin, at his charming retreat
onEOniston lake. James Hughes.