The times., 1897-11-16
ANrHoNY RoPE,s REApINGs.
Delights Two Audiences Yesterday
With Manner and Selections.

Delights Two Audiences Yesterday
With Manner and Selections.
Anthony Hope Hawkins, the we-knowI
English novelist, read from his own writ
iDgs yesterday afternoon at the Columbia
Theater, and last night at the Church oi
Our Father. The attendance at the first
meeting was rather meager but at night
there was a comfortably large seating, Or
both occasions he read from '1he Prisone,
OF Zcnda," from THE Dolly Dialogues,
Hand fugitive pieces. a L the matinee his
program included The Philosopher in the
Apple Orchard, Great Chanoe for i
Villain, from ''Zenda,'' and Cordial Re.
latons, Retnbution, and What Might Have
Been, from the Dialogues" In the even
ing the selections were an unpublished
story, The Princess and the Republican
Face to Face In the Forest, from ''zenda,'
and Slight Mistake, Cordial Relations
and Strange but True, from the ''Dia
logues."
MI Hopes readings fascinated everyone
who heard him. He brings from his own
writings vastly tlore OF submerged signifl-
canoe 1nd humor than his most ddmiring
readers have foundih them His manner is
quiet and comparatively reposeful, quite
stration, though he shifts his hands dnd
feet aerN ousy, and his voice is kept within
limited gamut OF notes, yet his own I'm
derstanding Of what he wishes 20 convey
is so yiviC, and ne possesses in so marked
degree the qualities OF magnetism and
impressiveness, that he conveys his inn
pression with singular yividness and dra-
matte force. He looks actually professional
at the desk, in clothes which escape the
extremes OF fashion5ble or clerical cot,
his collar most comfortably Dnfashionahie,
and his familiar saooth face passive, but
forceful
His voice is deep aud rich. IL has the
nccogniZshe English infection, but he has
also his eountryfarE's dehghtfuilg clear
ehunciaton. He seems to enjoy his own
text and peculiar smile would come over
his features at the humorous points lie
would press his lips 10 keep il out, but
the playful wrinkles in his cheegs AMI tht
twinkle of his eyes betrayed his temper.
He always Keeps the place ia the book be
fore him, but he seems TO know h:a selec-
lions by heart ana recited them 70 all
portions Of the house. His manner IS
perfectly easy, almost cordially confiden
tiai, as ne shifts lis weight from one fool
% the other, aud now clasps thr reading
desk with his hands, or leaning on his
crossed arms, lie bends forward to tell his
stories.
That there was so LITTLE enthusiasm meaist
that tie audience Ras not Of demon
strative character. There was the moro
delicate tribute OF sustained attention anu
a running ripple OF repressed laughter al
the bits Of humor. AT the close or each
selection the applause was approvingIy
loud aHd long. Major Pond was so much
pleased az the reception given Mr.. Hope that
Washington will be favored with one. and
perhaps Two more readings before b. re
turns home in January It was noticed
that Mr.. Hope prouognces the first a" in
FIayia and Ruritania, as in cat Or ra..
THIS was surprising for all our actors ius
"Lenda'' have effected the broad, heavy
a :" and Mr.. Hope himself otherwise III
duIges rarely III the supposedly Yankee
aspira te.