The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1899-07-21
An ENGLISH AUTHOR
FAMOUS WRITER OF "ALlCs IN
WONDERlAND."


WONDERLAND"
Come of the Pcculiarities and Fccer
tricities of Lewis Carro1I"-He Wa,
Penurious in Some Ways, but Very
Generous i'll Others.
S. D. Collingwood, a relative of the
author of ''Alice in Wonderland" con-
tributes an article to the Century on
"Some Of Lewis Carrolrs Child
Friends" Mr.. Collingwood gives this
picture of Lewis Carroll:
1t was only to those who had but few
personal dealings With him that he
seemed stiff and "donnish"; to his more
intimate acGuaintances who really un
derstood him, each little eccentricity of
manner or of habits was delightful
addition to his charming and interest
ing personality That he was, in some
respects, eccentric, cannot be denied:
for instance. he never Wore an over
coat, and always Wore a tall hat, what
ever. might be the climatic conditions.
Ee would wear only cotton gloves; in
these small personal matters he had a
great fear of extravaganza At dinner
in his rooms, small pieces of card
board took the place of table-mats:
they answered the purpose perfectly
well, he said, and to buy anything else
would be mere waste of money.
On the other hand, when purchasing
books for himself, or giving treats to
the children he loved, he never seemed
70 consider expense at all.
He very seldom sat down to write,
preferrns the erect attitude. When
making tea for his friends. he used
in order, | suppose, to expedite the
process-to walk up and down the room
waving the teapot about. and telling
meanwhile those delightful anecdotes
of which he had an ineNhaustible sup
ply.
In church he would never stand while
the procession was entering the choir,
thinking that the custom had a ten
;lency to make the little choristers con-
reited. He did not care to speak for
several minutes after service. so that
the transition from spiritual to worldly
matters in his mind might not be too
sudden.
Great were his preparations before
going journey: each separate article
1sed to be carefully wrapped up in a
piece of paper all to itself, so that his
trunks contained nearly as much paper
as more useful things. The bulk of
the luggage was sent on n day Or two
before by goods-train, While he himself
followed on the appointed day, laden
only with his well-known little black
bag. which he always insisted on carry
ing himself.
He had strong objection to staring
colors in dress, his favorite combina-
tion being pink and gray. One little
girl who came to stay with him was
absolutely forbidden to wear red
frock. of a somewhat pronounced hue,
while out in his company.
At meals he was always very alb
stemious while he took nothing in the
middle of the day except a glass of
wine and a biscuit. Under these cir
cumstances it is not very surprising
that the healthy appetites of his little
even with alarm. When he took a GER
tain one of them out with him to a
friends house to dinner, he used to
give the host or hostess a gentle warn
ing. to the mixed amazement and in
dignation of the child: please be care
full, because she eats good deal too
much"
Another peculiarity was his objec-
tion to being invited to dinner or any
otner social gatherings. He made a
rule Of never accepting invitations
because you have invited me, there
fore ! cannot come," was the usual
form Of his refusal. suppose the rea-
son OF this was his ha tired of the inter
ference with work which engagements
of this sort occasion.
He had an extreme horror of infec-
ton, as will appear from the following
illustrations Miss Isa Bowman and
her sister Nellie We're at one time stay
ing with him at Eastbourne, when
news came from home that their young.
est sister had caught the scarlet fever
From that day every letter which came
from Mrs. Bowman to the children was
held up by MI. Dodgson, while the two
little girls, standing at the opposite end
of the room, had to read it as best they
could. Mr.. Dodgson, who was the soul
of honor, used always to turn his head
to one side, during these readings, lest
he might inadvertently see some words
that were not meant for his eyes.
RECENT INVENTIONS.