The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-08-18
IBsEN's pEcULIARIrlRs.


Ssn TOURISTS Bonner Btim t~VWaoayes
Henrik lbsen lived for several years
I'm Munich. and during that time nc
was familiar figure at one of the cafes
on the principal street. lie came there
regularly every day, sat always at the
same table. and read the foreign news
papers. He did not confne himself en-
tirely to this literary diverEion.s and II
the ntories OF the black kellneir;ns ore
to be believed. possessed an cxtensive
and varied taste In the ma tier OF drinks
that seemed quite out of keeping with
his character One of the mattresses
who had been attending nim' for sew
eral months said that he seemed to be
seeking drink that was wholly to his
taste without ever appearing able TO
find one.
That was at least the motive that his
conduct suggested. She said that for
weeks at time he would drink cognac
and then suddenly change his tipple to
absinthe and continue that with equal
persistence until some other liquor
struck his fancy. He, was at all times
addicted to only one and he clung TO
that, drinking In great moderation, but
with unfailing regularity. He attract
ed then a moderate amount OF atten-
tion from visitors to the cafe. Appar-
emily he never noticed them, and he
took his place at the table without
and left when he had finished his read
ing. Occasionally he was approached
by strangers and his conduct was then
polite and reserved. One of the women
who had seen him almost daily for
many months said that she had never
seen him refuse his autograph to any
body who asked for 1t or reply rudely
- <Ix..x of &c,
who desired to speak to him. But IL
was also true that at that time he was
never approached in any but respect
full and dignified manner.
Ibsen's fame has grown greatly,
however, during the past few years,and
many persons who had never heard OF
him several years ago now know at
least that ne is one Of the most famous
men in literature. That knowledge
may account for a story that comes
from Christiana concerning the worry
and inconvenience which the English
visitors to Norway now cause him.
They go to Norway In shoals during the
summer months, and il Is said that they
have come to look upon Ibsen as the
great curiosity of the Norwegian cap
ital. He continues his habit of going
daily to cafe. and there is to be a line
of staring Britishers always awaiting
his arrival. He is evidently as indifser-
ent to the interest he awakens as he
used to be in the Munich days, and
never notices It. But the action OF a
party of English tourists a few weeks
ago is said to have finally called out a
protest. !.
He was on his way to the Grand
Cafe i'm Christiania when he encoun-
tered six travellers. Three were men
and three were women. They stretched
in a line across the sidewalk In vain
the dramatist tried to continue on his
way. The lire Of six effectively barri-
caded the way. But the flying wedge
was too much for him. Suddenly he
esped second Englishman. This one
carried a camera and was struggling TO
get Ibsen In an attitude that would
make a good picture. That was too
much. Remembering probably that
George Bernard Shaw is an Irishman
and Elizabeth Roberts an American, he
delivered himself of the outbreak:
"Those miserable English!"
A still stronger protest against their
conduct followed. He turned back,
went home and missed his hour in the
cafe for the frst time since his return
to Christiania.
Ibsen's pictures were not always as
much appreciated in England as they
are to-day. During the German exhi-
bition held several years ago at Earls
Court a portrait Of the dramatist by
a Munich painter hung in the main gal
lery. One night two typical English
girls with their sailor hats mounted on
a pile of puffs and frizzes entered the
room.
"Oh, I say" said one to the other as
she pointed to Ibsen's portrait, that
old gentleman's had a bad fright.
hasn't he?"-The Sun.