The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-23
LEWIS CARROLL. Il.
Two Widely Different Personalities Wrap
ned Up In One Man.
CURE CONSTIPATION

Two Widely Different Personalities Wrap
ped Up In One Man.
In St. Nicholas there are two tributes to
the late Rev. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson,
dear to generation of young readers as
Lewis Carroll, author of calico In Won.
derland." An editorial note says.
Surely two names represent two very
different men--one an English Clergyman
aud for 70 years lecturer on mathematics
at Christ Church college, Oxford, author
Of many volumes Oh his special subject,
honoied by his fellows, and peer of Eng
lands distinguished mon Of learning; the
other the nerriest, quaintest of story tell
ers. whose name Is known everywhere by
thousands of English speaking readers,
young and old.
Dear Lewis Carroll, bright, delightful,
preposterous. gifted with wonderful
Imagination, yet SO modest and shy that
he told almost In a whisper the story Of
"Alice In Wonderland" that made all
England shake with laughter. "Through
the Looking Glass was issued, one may
say, as Q profound public secret, and he
sent bashfully, secretly, into the world
1.-THE Hunting Of the Shark" one Of the
jolliest, most audaoious little books ever
written. To the very last their author
shrank from any mention of these delight
full works as though they we're an offense
to his other self--that profound, serious
scholar whose discourses, lectures and be-
wildering mathematical problems would
have sent Lewis Carroll scampering into
tho first hiding place in Wonderland.
Ono day, about ten years ago, the writer,
accompanied by friend, stood In the
large somber study Of MIR. Dodgson In
Christ Church college. Aswe entered the
room we could see at first only the heavy
table, with. piles Of pamphlets and great
leather volumes upon 1t, and around 1t
books, books and more books-ponderous
and worm eaten 1--WE felt sure they were
worm eaten). Then slight but stately
figure rose from somewhere in the shadow
behind an open volume With nervous
little cough he came forward, bowling SO
stifly and with so slight show Of sur
prised delight at our coming that for an
instant we felt awod and subdued. Next
we realized that he was bashful, actually
timidl But, later, his gentle voice, his
grave, kindly eyes and his gracious words
Satisfied US that he really was the man
whose genial letter, crossing the seas, had
made us regard him as friend.
Among other subjects, no spoke pleas-
antly Of st. Nicholas and Of young Amer
leans, but when in the most delicate man
ner possible we ventured an allusion to
"Alice In Wonderland" instantly his brow
clouded-there camo sudden reserve Of
manner, silent, dignifed "Spare me!'
that changed tho conversation like magic.
We realized that we were speaking to the
Rev. Charles L. Dodgson Of Oxford uni
versity, England, and not to Lewis Car
roll, author Of "Alice's Adventures" and
Through the Looking Glass" Yes, 1t was
the great thinker-the scholar and mathe-
matioian-wbom we were visiting and
who when our pleasant call was over
solemnly babe us goedby. And there was
no thought Of the March Hare or of Fa-
ther William In our minds as we went
softly down the dark stairway, out into the
sunlight of the grand old quadrangle of
Christ Church college.
And yet, do you know, we felt inwardly
sure that In some brisk jabberwocky way
Mr.. Dodgson secretly loved little Alice and
her adventures and at heart was not sor-
~, after all, that he had written them.
Besides the editorial the following poem,
by Abbie Farwell Brown, is printed. dedi-
GATED to Lewis Carroll:
This was that brave adventurer
Upon an unknown sea,
Who found the far, fair Wonderland
His galleon by an eager band
OF little children featly manned, .,.,.
All laughing out in glee. ::sss3-
Far, far away his vessel sailed, Sss
Throughout single night, assSES
Until 1t reached that magic shore 3Asks
No man had ever seen before AN
The children's land for evermore 3f#s
He gave them as their right.
And since that voyage venturesome y
On every night and day =.
That pilot with shipful new - IA
OF happy children for his crew. III
OF grown up folk a favored few -4Et4i.e
Has sailed the Wonderway. FIR
And if upon tomorrow's ship
No pilot should appear,
80 many children everywhere
Have learned from him the thoroughfars
To Wonderland, they still will dare
To sail without fear.
But oh, their little hearts will ache,
And, OH their eyes will dim,
And, as the ship sails mile by mile
Each child will sit little while
And, thinking, will forget to smile
For sailing without him.