The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-06-21
LAIRD OF cocKp RI DEAD ,ts
ono Of the ProIainent Figura. ia pu
Niauriet's "TriIbyo. 4


'Trllby." is dead. That Is to say, his
original In real llto Is dead. n
The three musketeers were Tntfy.
nllas Talbot wFnne: Sandy, Laird OF
cockpcn. and ''thc third he was Little
BIllcc." X
The original OF Sandy was Mr.. T., D,
Lamont. Hc was an Intimate friend OF
Du Maurier. like most OF the charac-
tiers in "Trllby." One can almost write
Oils biography from the book. rSs 3
AR. Lamont was the son OF q manager
ot bank at Greenock. in Scotland. His
parents intended that ne should be-
some n lawyer, "a writer to the signet,"
as members OF one branch OF the legal
profession are called In Scotland. But
e,e displayed such an incxtingulshable
devotion to art that he was finally sent
20 Paris, where he entered the studio OF
si. Gleyre, a famous teacher. 2
Mr., Lamont was about the same age
rs Du Maurlcr He attained consider
able success rs a water color artist and
an illustrator,
This Is Du Mauricr's first Introduction
OF Sandy to his readers.
Another inmate of this bliss full abode
Sandy, the Laird OF Cockpen, rs he
was called-sat in similarly simple at
tire ut his easel, painting Mt lre-like
little picture OF Spanish toreador SER
enadIng lady OF high degree lin broad
dayllght.) He had never been to Spain,
but he had complete torcador's kit-a
bargain which he had picked up for
mere song In the Boulevard du Temple
and he had hired the guitar His pipe
was In his mouth-reversed. for 1t had
gone out, and the ashes. were spilled nil
over his trousers. where holes We're Of
ten burned IN this way.
quite gratuitously and with pleas
ing Scotch accent he began TO declaim:
"A street there is In Paris famous
For which no rhyme our language
yields.
Roo Nerve day Petty shong It's name
The New Street Of the Little Feds
"And then, in his keen appreciation
OF the immortal stanza. he chuckled au-
dlbly, with face so blithe and merry
and we'll pleased that 1t did one good to
look Mt him.
"He also had entered life by another
door. His parents good, plous people in
Dundee) had intended that he should be
n writer 10 the Signet, as his father and
grandfather had been before him. And
here ne was in Paris famous. painting
toreadors and spouting the Ballad OF
the Bouillabalsse," as he would often do
out OF sheer lightness Of heart-much
oftener, indeed. than he would say his
players"
Here is a delightful sketch OF the
Laird as he disported himself q. the
tete champetre at Mendon:
"Trilby, lightly dancing the cancan
Ithere are cancans and caucans). vas
singularly calmly and seductive person
-et vera incessu patuit dea. Here
ngain she Uas funny without being vul-
gar.
"And the laird, trying to dance after
her (dongsons lie kong kong, as he CALI
ed it), was too funny for words. and IL
genuine popular success Is true test
of humor, no greater humorist ever
danced pas seul.
what Englishmen could do in
France during the fiftles and yet man.
age to preserve their self-respect. and
even the respect Of their respectable
French friends!
VIOLA Tespayce de HON, ker fer
sweet eaid the Laird every time he
bowed in acknowledgment OF tho up
plause that greeted his performance OF
various solo steps OF his own-Scotch
reels and sword dances that como IN
admirably.
Then, one fine day. the Laird fell Ill.
and the doctor had to be sent for. and
hc ordered q nurse. But Trllby would
~ trta 80
Charity. She did all the nursing herself
and never slept wink for three SUCCESS
e!ve days and nights.
ION the, third day the Laird was out
OF oil danger, the delirium was past.
and the doctor found Tri!by fast asleep
by the bedside.
MADAME WIZARD, Mt tho bedroom
door. put her finger 70 her lips md
whispered: 'Quel bonheur! II est sanve!
n. Ie-Docteur, coutez! II dit ses prlcrcs
on Anglais. ce brave garcon!'
"The good old doctor, who didn't Nm
derstaud word OF English. listened
und heard the Laird's voice. weak md
low, but quite clear and full OF heart
felt fervorS informing solen1nly:
"'Green herbs, red peppers, nussels.
saffron,
Soles, onions. garlic. roach md dace.
All these you cat at Terre's Tavern,
in that one dish of bouillaba!sse!'
"'Atl; mails c'est tres bien de sa part,
ce brave JENNIE fomme! Remirc Graces
uu ciel CONNIE ca guard lie danger eat
passe! Tres bIen. tres bien.'"
Du MaurIer gives this parting glimpse
OF Sandy's life after his Partisan days
are over:
THE good Laird OF Cockpen (who. Is
now q famous Royal AcademicIan) Is
preparing for honeymoon of his own.
He has gone to Scotland to be married
llimself-to wed fair and clever coun-
trywoman OF just suitable age, for he
has, known her ever since she was n
bright little lassIe in short frocks. and
he a promising A. r. A. (the pride OF
his native Dundee)-a marriage OF rea-
son and well seasoned affection and
mutual esteem, and therefore sure to
turn out happy one!
so much for hero No. 3-D'Artagnan!
Here's to you, Sandy McA!ister. can
nicst. SeDialest and most humorous OF
Scots! Most delicate and dainty and
fanciful OF British painters / drink
your health nit your farlily's-iDag you
III long and prosper"
Now Sandy has gone. following his
friend. Du Maurier. to the grave. after
O brief delay.
Fred Walker. the original OF Little
Blllee, died many years ago, shortly at
ter his 1recocious genius had won pub
lie attention.
OF the three men who chiefly made up
the charm of one of the most charming
md popular books ever written only
Taffy remains
Made Contract Time.