The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-29
ANTHONY HOPE In TOWN
THE FAMOUS ENGLISH NOVELIST
TRAVELS WITH A VALET.
Finds Indianapolis Reporters of the
Characteristic American Type
i'm Their interviewing.

Anthony Hope Hawkins, author of the
Prisoner of Zenda," the Dolly Dialogues
and creator of that charming character,
Princess Osra, came to town last night.
Mr.. Hawkins arrived at IL o'clock from
Cleveland. where he gave readings Satur-
day night. He is accompanied by his
valet a typical English serving man. and
his business manager James B. Pond, of
New York.
The party came up from the Union Sta
ton in a cab and were set down at the
Denison House. Mr.. Hawkins came into
the hotel followed by his man and bearing
a large valise and heavy, fur-lined over
coat on his arm. He wrote his name across
the hotel register in strong, bold hand,
and turned about to fall into the arms of
the representatives of the newspapers who
carried him off to a quiet corner of the
office. While the hotel porters and the
valet were engaged in getting his luggage
upstairs and making comfortable his room,
Mr.. Hawkins permitted himself to be
talked to.
i haven't any story to tel'' remarked
the author. crossing his long legs and cast
ing significant glance at the office clock.
I'D rather you'd ask me what you want to
.
Hawkins is painfully modest about himself.
He dislikes going into details about the
work he has done and what he intends do
ing. He is English from the bottom of his
heavy English boots to the top of his black
derby hat He is well groomed after the
English style. He is tall and rather loosely
built. His hands are noticeably large, but
have a pleasant touch suggesting firmness
ctr pcyfh 1fe 10 CHI
His mouth is large and his gray eyes merry
Although but thirty-four years of age and
unmarried Mr.. Hawkins is bald to an alarm
ing degree His speech has the slow En-
glish drawl, but he does not say, ''Ah, don
you knOw?"
Mr.. Hawkins has been in America about
six weeks. He has read and lectured in
the principal cities of the East and Canada,
and expects to go as far west as Mime
apolis and ST. Paul. About Jan. l he will
leave America and return to England. Il
must get back to business" he said, al
though l am growing very fond of America
This is my first trip here. Everybody has
been awfully good to me. and feel partic-
ularly at home here. They all seem to
know my stories as well / do myself
and that makes it pleasant, you know"
THAT RUMORED ENGAGEMENT.
Mr. Hawkins blushingly declined to dis
cuss the romantic newspaper story circu-
lated about him a year ago, in which he
was soon to be happily married. THAT was
entirely a newspaper story" he remarked,
with smile, ''and / can't talk about it. 1t
was very annoying at the time to all con-
cerned, and couldn't possibly say anything
about it." He smiled again when it was
suggested that many people were critics.
ing him for bringing out a. sequel to
Zenda." He said that when he finished
The Prisoner of Zenda" he thought then
the story opened the way for a sequel, and
he determined to write it later The story
IS called Rupert of HentZau,'' and is now
running in the magazines. Mr.. Hawkins
seemed q bit surprised when some one
asked him if the sequel would end happily
lor Princess F'lavia" and the Englishman
who adOred her.
), 1t would hardly do for me to anticipate
the publishers" he remarked, as he un-
crossed his legs. Mr.. Hawkins admits that
ne IS an ardent admirer of Princess Osra.
streslau, but he pleads an especial fond
ness for Dolly and delights in reading
her in public. But he does not confine him
self exclusively to Dolly" and frequently
takes up some of the more tender scenes
from the Prisoner of Zenda." Mr.. Haw-
kins wrote the Dolly Dialogues some time
writing Dolly and sending his contribu-
tons to The Westminster Gazette. This
newspaper printed most of the Dolly Dia-
logues" before they came out in book form.
Mr.. Hawkins worked about three months
on the first manuscript of "Zenda." He
afterward went over the manuscript before
seen the story as acted by the f. H. Soth-
ern company. Mr.. Hawkins knows Sothern
personally, and has written an English com
edy for the actor which is now being pre-
pared for the stage The name Of the COM
edy has not yet been announced, and Mr.
Hawkins says he has understood the play
has never been named. 1t will deal with
the English aristocracy. Mr. Hawkins saw
'Zenda' produced in London by an English
company, and was much pleased with the
dramatizatfon.
A personal QUESTION"
1t is evident that the author has studied
women, and it is said by one man who has
written about him that he understands
them as well as Mr.. Howells used to. He is
a man with whom a girl could be 'chum-
N.Y." Although Mr.. Hawkins is as modest
and shy as a schoolgirl in her early teens
when asked to discuss himself, it is said he
is perfectly at home at social function.
See him at a reception and he Is charm
ing" remarked his manager at the conclu-
sion of the interview last night. The author
was completely Knocked off his feet when
one of the men in the group about him
asked how much money the Zenda" stor-
les had made him. He was unable to grasp
a question so entirely personal, but soon
remembered that he was in America and In
the presence of the American newspaper
reporter Really" he gasped, Il couldn't
talk of that, either. | never discuss mat
tiers of that character" Then Mr.. Haw-
kins asked to be excused and was intro
duced to two or three gentlemen who had
been waiting to get at him. Mr.. Hawkins
expressed great interest in James Whit
comb Riley, and said he was anxious to
meet the HooSier poet
Anthony Hope Hawkins lives in London,
where his father is prominent pastor in
the Church of England. His cousin, a ia
NOUS jurfst, eighty years of age, preSides
on the Queens Bench. Mr. Pond the au-
thor's American manager says the present
tour has been a great success, both socially
and financially. Everywhere the people
have read Mr.. HaWkinS'S stories, and they
are curious to see and hear him.
This afternoon Mr.. Hawkins will be given