New-York tribune., 1897-01-10

"A Humble Romance" and Mr. Cables ''Old Creole
pays Pay NJ Barrie fully shared In my admira- IN ri-
sastic reviews Of Mr. Cables DIR SEWER" and
odd Creole Days and had introduced to him
Miss Wilkins. When we visited America one OF
our chief desires was TO make the personal ac-
friends.
With Miss Wilkins I had already correspond, d
several times. II am not mistaken, was among
the first Of English journalists to call attention to
the rare merits of her early wcrk. and she had
written me some pleasant letters on that subject
We met her first Boston. at the hospitable home
OF DR.. Charles Putnam. in Marlborough-st. There
was notable gathering of literary people in DR.
Putnams drawing-room that afternoon. Among
these there more noticeable than the
ETA, rd IN nocS S Mk'ns sbn Is sonn @
gave play to her delicate humor. and described In
amusing fashion her adventures with a watch.
which went one day two hours fast. another day
two hours slow took an occasional rest of ar hour,
broke Its handspring so frequently that the watch
maker gave 1t up in despair and mad at last 10 be
abandoned az ncorrgibly untrustworthy. She had
trusted. but at last found an amman whose breath
ns a aso IN a ~ 59 b rea
of the trains which make the journey between Bos-
ton and her home. Randolph is village some
In "A reasona bic time but through the unaccounta
bic vagaries of the railway companies and the
most days journey to attain the goal. vent
ured to say to Miss wilkins that she did not re-
land. She replied: You may well confess that
you thought weighed 200 pounds No. No. indeed indeed
thought you were from your letters.
What did you think"
a long. red beard. She talked little of her New
England characters They were not. she thought:
they had great deal in common with Mr. Bar
ries. Scotch people. ! said ] thought the Scotch
religion, as. for example in whiskey. She replied
You don't know what the New Englander found
the invariabe custom to give him glass OF rum.
and if by some strange mischance there was no
in hnli chi W.. IN fpf oh
asked Mis- Wilkins why she said 50 little of the
Of sf b s1 f bun not S eo
care to refer to them, as religious discussions pro-
and then parted, gladly accepting her invitation to
go out and see her in the country.
Miss Futnam. our kind guide. to Randolph. Which
we reached in about two hours. taking the journey
is long, strasglin- place Of churches and wooden
hoas.s WIZ fine p%hlIc S!I library the GIT Of
some old friends She is one. Of the family. and
mxes intimately WITH the o NE around her Her
yard kipng lived during the years thai followed
some OF her first literary work but on the death o.
her iaiher and mother she found home with her
frequently goes TO Boston where she enjoys every
thing. from the cultured society OF the place down
her life by long Journey in America But she has
not yet visited England. although she very nearly
do s SO no next r Ms M % Wkns ha" % no set
Pms "ooM' her terary & w2TE Snr Gan W write any,
by observation and experience. for she does not
seem 10 he "A great reader and she purposely avoids
authors who deal with her own field. Thus while
she spoke with warm admiration Of Mrs Beecher
she had not read 'old Town Folks ''Pogarut
People She has many correspondents who send
her books. and among them are some well-known
authors and journalists We found her reading
that admirable precursor Of the recent Scottish nC-
ton. DR. William Alex1nder's Johnny Glib of
Gushetneuk" Johnny Glib Is a magnifceniiy faith
ful reproduction of Abcrdeenshire dialect and life
and | should have thought II very difficult Of com
prehension to an outsider. Miss wilkins. however,
professed to understand and enjoy II. and nobly
stood the test OF reading and Interpreting a page
She missed the meaning OF some words. II IL true,
but fully caught the spirit OF the tale. She was GU
sent her letter referring 10 page in a new book
of his Miss wilkins did not possess the hook and
had not been able 10 find H. and rather curious
TO know what the reference might IN. or her own
Weekly" I still think that the best and most en-
during product of this admirable artist il TO be
found In the three volumes. a Humble Romance"
They perfect In their way. The longer stories
show great talent and care. but they remind me OF
short story heightened out like piece OF elastic
however. Miss Wilkinss hest work is yet
Yeoman" which shows marked capacity but did
not succeed on the stage. Her ambition In this di
recon. however. Is not abandoned She has also
which will probably be collected one OF these days
Readers OF one Of Miss Wilkins's hes, stories viii
be Interested TO hear that she once possessed eat
named William. whose death she depores and who
has yet found no successor.
There IL deadly duh silence as regards new |
novels. Not work OF importance Is promised
sna limo. has se,I hon h,