The times., 1899-12-17
MARIE coRELLI,s CAREER.
Apart From Her Work She Is Mys-
terry to the World.

w
STRATFoRD, Nov. 26, 1S99.-It is a
long way from Shakespeare to Marie Co
relli. from King Lear TO the Sorrows of
Satan, but Stratford-on-Avon is Just now
much prouder of being the home of the
popular novelist than it was three centuries
ago of counting William Shakespeare
among its distinguished citizens.
With her beloved stepbrother. the poet,
Eric Mackay, Miss CorelI visited STRAIT
ford and remained several weeks Mt a
queer old inn, and after Mackay's death
while casting about in her loneliness for
some spot where she might again take up
her work, she remembered the pleasant
days at Stratford and hither she same
.arly last spring. and here she intends to
remain Indefinitely.
All this l learned from Mrs Corelli's
own lips during charming visit one
evening a short time ago. She was so
fortunate as 10 secure lease of "Ye
Halls Croft. the very home where lived
and died Shakespeare's favorite daughter,
Susannah, and her husband Dr. John
Hall Both have lain for two and a half
centuries in the old parish church by the
side of the great poet but their delight
full home is apparently as good as when
titN itil IT. TIOul lOuNudllOH 10 caves
the outside is covered with masses 1f ivy.
now a brilliant crimson, and there is a
lovely garden at the back. On the side of
the great square entrance hall is the large
drawing groom, on the other, the dining
room while from the back ascends 4 mag
nifcent old oak staircase. The ceilings
are low all the mantelpieces and other
woodwork are beautifully carved, and
there are quantities of ancient furniture
and rare china. bric-a -brac and pictures.
To these Miss Corelli has added many of
her own belongings-on the floor immense
ugeT-skin rugs, sent her by an admrer
from India, and in silk-Iined basket by
the bright open fire lay a diminutive
Scotch terrier.
The mistress of the house looks just as
YOU would have her. About feet high.
her figure is well rounded and showed 10
advantage in gown of cream satin. very
long and rufled with lace, decolIette and
sleeveless, showing extremely handsome
arms and neck. She is a blonde with
sparkling blue eyes, and her fair face
framed by big. fluffy pompadour of light
brown hair, twisted into a pert little loop
on the crown. Neither in appearance nor
speech is she at all like an English wO-
man. She has a musical voice, is full OF
vivacity and satire, and gestures often
with her graceful hands
Il love to write" said Miss Corelli. Il
couldn't help it if I tried"
Do YOU wait for the mood or are you
systematic?'
systematic as well. have a late break
fast. and work steadily from 10 o'clock
till :"
DO you dictate at an?"
Not on my own stories I write every
word of them twice with my own hand;
first q rapid draft in pencil, then a re-
yised copy with pen; after that ! hand
ii 10 my secretary to be typewriter.
Is it true that you never have seen
the land of the midnight sun which YOU
describe so vividly in 'Thelma?
quite true. I hate to travel and would
rather believe that the countries I de-
scribe are like many visions of them
There are so many discomfOrts and vex-
ations in travelling as to destroy illusions
and often put one in such state Of mind
making it impossible to enjoy what is ac-
tuallY there ! notice in the papers that
Kipling has gone up into Scotland to find
material for new stories The idea Of any
body trying to write of Scotch life, after
Sir Walter Scott"
Your books have a very large sale in
the United States, do they nOt?"
Il never pay any attention TO that I
can't imagine anybody's writing a book
with the idea in mind that it Will sell
well. In such books l write 1 have GER
tain theories which I want to get before
the world, and my only thought is how
can sugar-coat them, dress them up so
that people Will accept them
Some one quoted Robert Louis Stevenson
as having said that no one with a family
10 support ever ought to attempt TO write
unless ne has an assured income from some
other source. Miss Corelli blazed with in
dignaiion. 1t makes me angry to hear
writer's who have prominence talk in thai
manner" she said - i have made a sue
cess. I have supported my family, but ]
don't think you can do it. You'd better
not try. 1t is like man who has climbed
to the top of d tree. saying TO those below,
It is true ! have reached the top, but il
is very doubtful if you can DO it, and the
limb might break II YOU did. Don't at