Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-11
POET IBSEN'S VANITY
he Likes to Be Observed in Public
Places.
How He Works Out His Dramas and
Earns n Splendid Income, Which
He Carefully HOnrds.
Walter wellman in Chicago Times Herald.

Walter wellman in Chicago Times Herald.
Henrik Ibsen is the most interesting man
| in the Norwegian capital. He may be
| seen every day Of the week without the
| paying of an admission fee at the Grand
Hotel Twice a day Isben comes to the hotel
from his residence. He appears punctually
| at o'clock in the afternoon and again at
O'Clock In the evening. The hotel people
say 1t is rare thing for him to be five
minutes late. A certain table in the gal
lery overlooking the garden is reserved for
him, and when he comes a waiter. with
out asking any questions, places before
him bottle of brandy and another of soda
water. He never drinks anything else and
never more nor less than two glasses at
| each visit. He measures out the LIQUOR
with methodical exactness. Then he sips,
| a swallow at time. with a regularity SO
Yearly perfect that one might almost say
his drinks are taken by the clock.
An exceedingly sly, acute and observing
old man is Henrik Ibsen. The truth Is,
he is poseur. and an inveterate one at
that. Until recently his post of observation
was In the public cafe of the hotel over
looking the street. But experience taught
him that there came principally Norwe-
gians, his townspeople, and that If he
wanted to see and be seen by travelling
Englishmen, Americans. French and Ger
mans 1t was necessary to go into the hotel
proper. So he comes twice daily to his
post IN the gallery, where travellers are
always getting their lUncheons and taking
their after dinner coffee in the garden.
one notes that his visits are timed to the
hours when the greatest number of foreign
ers may be SEEN
When he takes his seat he proceeds with
democratic business to arrange his news
paper, his hat his spectacles, his hand
kerchlef. His Shining silk chapeau is
placed on a chair. Several pairs of eve
glasses are put down upon the table.
Every few minutes he changes glasses.
always pausing to wipe again and again
the pair placed upon his nose.
Drawing Card.
AS he reads his newspaper, apparently
wrapped up in its perusal. a close observer
VIII note that Ibsen's eyes are not upon
the printed page. The sly old dog is glanc-
Ing around to see If the people are watch
ing him. If they are. and among them are
ladies, an expression of self-satisfact ton
Is seen upon his rudy face. He is rarely
without an audience. People are always
watching him and talking about him They
come from other hotels to have a look at
him. The landlord of the Grand proudly
marches guests out into the garden to
show them the great Norwegian. There Is
a rumor-unveritied. as such Things must
always be-that the landlord gladly gives
Itsen his brandy and soda without charge.
II he does 1t Is good investment, for the
old man Is a great attraction.
1bsen is a good deal of n,iser. He
loves money for moneys sake. HIS re-
mittances from publishers and theatrical
managers come in the shape of checks
ard post Office orders. Not one OF these
gees in person to the bank and to the
post Office TO get the money. Those who
have observed him say that he rolls
money about in his hands a loving way,
md
fully away in the inside pocket of his big
coat. lbsen is rich now. He Is worth
probably $2OO,OOO. That would not be call
ed big fortune in England or America.
but here it is princely. In this capital Of
Norway. a city of $4,000 population. they
tell me there are only two o. three mil
lonaires. man with 10000 kroners,
about $4,000, is thought very rich. 1t Is
For many years he was a poor author. He
lived in a garnet and was glad to get
piece of fish for dinner along with his
glass of beer at the cafe.
The greatest writer in Scandinavia is
fond of admiration and attention. He
wears rich clothing-broadcloth of fine tex
ture made up by a good tailor. silk ha.,
patent leather boots. He carries toilet arti-
Giles with him all the time and uses them
frequently. While sitting with his brandy
and soda in the garden, proud to be the
center of attention for all the thrcng, he
occasionally takes out a comb or brush
and lovingly strokes his famous white side
Whiskers, or pokes upward his equally
famous pompadour locks of snow. He
often brushes his hat, too. and has a way
Of holding it for some moments before his
face. looking down into the crown. l was
puzzled to know why he did this, but a lit
tie inquiry solved the problem. In the bot
tom OF his high hat MIR. Ibsen has a small
mirror. Such are the small vanites of
great men.
Quick Work.
1bsen told one of his few confidential
friends the other day that some of his
greatest dramas he had written in six
weeks. His method of work is very Pc
cullar. He spends many months in think
ing out the plot, the characters, the dia-
logue. But not word is put on paper
Everything is carried in his mind Sud
denly he shuts himself up to write During
TINS time he will see no one. He does not
come to the hotel for his brandy and soda
He dimes, drinks, sleeps, lives alone. His
meals are sent in to him If he were a
prisoner He will not permit the members
OF his family to talk to him.
Il am living with my characters" he ex-
planned to his friend. They have form
and life. They are ell about me- They
u .h with me, sleep with me- l talk to
what they say. My work comes along very
Iast. never find it necessary to erase or
DO over. 1t Is all in my mind, from the
mrs, mrs scene to the last. even the words and
the rhymes and it is only necessary for
me to write 1t out as quickly as can
During this time 1 not Henrik Ibsen.
!! do not live in Norway. nor in the world.
II Is an existence apart from life, with nv
creations" '
ibsen went on to say that when he fin
1shed his play and ceased to live with his
characters and resumed his brandy and
SOFA and posing at the Grand Hotel all his
characters ceased to have interest for him.
he did not like to read what he had writ
ten nor to hear 1t talked about He want
60 10 thrust them out of his consciousness
ard gradually prepare his mind for new
characters that he never more wants anv
thlng to do with them, but it is noticeable
that he loves very much the ROYALTIES and
copyrights which they bring him
The Tnttooed Burmese.