The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-08
An AMERICAN ABROAD
Mrs. Wiggip. the Writer, Is Much
Admired in England.
The Author of "The Birds, Christmas
Carol" spends Every summer In
Europc, Where She Is often the
Guest at Famous Homes-Taught a
Landlord How to Raise Chickens.

There is an old. old story. told among
the redskins of the North. of mighty
hero OF other days, against whom all
strength. all subtlety, all force Of arms
was powerless, but who was finally con-
quered and brought into complete subiec-
ton by the magic spells OF wasis, the
baby. Deep in the heart of the ancient
myth there lies truth as old as time, as
new as yesterday-the compelling power
OF childhood among all peoples, in all
ages, in all countries. Not only to the
eternal child himself, but to his interpret
ers, do we bow our heads, and in this CEN
fury above all others his prophets are
held in honor.
AS the children in "The Birds Christ
mas Carol first endeared Kate Douglas
Wiggin to the American public, so earnest
little Timothy and bewitching Lady Gay
have unlocked for her all sorts OF portals
cottage doors, middle-class entrances,
and castle gateways across the water.
The Christmas Carol" now ION the
quarter-of- million stretch" as the last
advertisements put it, has always been
prime favoFite Of all Mrs. Virgins books
in this country; in Great Britain it stands
second to ''Timothy's Quest" and it Is
as the chro1icler of this small hero.s ad-
in London, Edinburgh, and Dublin society
For the last ten years Mrs wiggin has
gone abroad every summer and has spent
most Of her time in the British Isles. OF
whose scenes and people she is especially
fond. She began with England. London
seasons and visits to country houses, and
the Impressions thus gainad were given
out again in "Penelope's English Expe-
riences." Next Scotland beckoned her
across the border, and from life In Edin-
burgh, springtimes in the Highlands, sum-
mers in the Lowlands. grew "Penelope's
Progress a book as much appreciated.
read as eagerly. and laughed over as
heartily in the land o. heather as it has
been in America.
In all this time ireland only received
flying visit now and then but the public
begins to ciamor for an Irish Penelope" to
complete the series, and last summer Mrs.
Wlggin made an extended stay in Erin's
Isle as a prelude to more detailed and in
innate studies of the life and the people.
Upon hearing of the proposed visit, an
English author expressed his approval Of
the scheme on patriotic grounds. wittily
saying that If the projected book remained
unwritten. ireland would for once have
real grievance. and questions would be
asked in the House which Mr. Balfour
would find il difficult to answer.
No people are more hospitable than the
British ana noSe -sore warm and friendly
to those they really like. and introduced
as she has been by the charming children
of her books and by her picturesque notes
Of travel. Mrs. Wiggin has long been per-
soma grata on the other side Of the herring
pond.
The season just past began with visit
at Bramall Hall. a wonderful old black and
white house in Cheshire, the newest por-
ton of which dates from EiiZabeth's time.
The Virgin Queen herself passed the night
there on one Of her royal progresses and
sent her worlmen afterward to model in
plaster marvellous ceiling in the drawing
room as a memento OF the visit With its
jeweled windows. its green terraces where
peacocks fiaunt their tails. its hedges Of
yew and holly and its trout stream; with
its armOr. its tapestries, its silver and
carved oak, il is perfect example OF the
ideal English country house. and it has
become almost Z second home TO the Amer
iean story teller.
AT the village of Bran,sll. nearby. Mrs.
Wisgin gave a reading from her own
books last summer for the benefit of her
hostesses' fayorite charity and on the
eventful night the narrow streets and
rustic lanes were gay with flashing lamps
and noisy with Gathering hoGfs. for all
the gentry of the countryside came OH. to
hear OF the Ruggleses' preparation for the
Christmas dinner and the wanderings of
pretty Kitty Schuyler among the grey
cathedrals of cid England. On the fol-