The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-01
in THE LITERARY FIELD
GEORGE MEREDITH COMES OUT OF
HIS sECLUsION AND TALKS.
Why Authors Fail to Fulfill Their
Promfse-HOw Much Do Writers
Give of Themselves.

Probably few people in the United States
realize how complete is the present isola-
ton and aloofness of George Meredith, says
London correspondent of the Washington
Post. 1t - even more persistent than that
of Herbert Spencer, who, besides, can plead
i'll health as an excuse for his withdrawal
from the hurly-burly. No great banquet.
however exclusive, is graced by his pres
ence. He never INDUCES in either a speech
or lecture. 1t was a great event when
he received little party of literary folk,
Sarah Grant among them, at his hermitage
at Box's hill, last summer and if he ever
leaves his retreat in Surrey nowadays,
the world hears nothing of it. 1t was this
studied aloofness on the part of Mr.. Mere
dith that made especially dramatic the re-
markable expression of opinions upon the
chief topic of the day in Great Britain re-
Gently obtained from him by provincial
newspaper in the only interview to which
he ever has consented.
The veteran authors sure grasp of the
situation has come as surprise to those
who thought of him as one whose interests,
like his activities, were in the past; his
shrewd comments prove the truth Of re-
marks concerning himself. Il suppose"
he says, that 1 should regard myself as
getting old am seventy-four. But 1 do
not feel to be growing old, either in heart
or mind. / still look on life with a young
mans eye. / have always hoped I should
not grow old as some do-with palsied
intellect living backward, regarding other
people as anachronisms, because they
themselves have lived on into other times
and left their sympathies behind them with
their years"
Apropos of George Meredith's evident in
tention to add nothing further TO the list of
distinguished works which stand TO his
credit, the silence of the other great ones
in English letters is often commented upon
Excepting his little book of ''Wessex
Verse;" Thomas Hardy has produced
nothing since Jude, the Obscure, While
Swinburne has been represented only only ny
one or two magazine articles But, al
though the announcements OF new DOCKS
contain no mention Of forthcoming work
by Hardy, MIR. Swinburne is now correcting
the proof sheets of a new volume or poems,
which will appear shortly.
Rider Haggard is another writer upon
whom the reader of novels could count
definitely ten years ago, but VINO mas DIS
appointed his admirers recently by pub
fishing books on gardening. books upon
the depopulation of rural districts. volumes
Successors to she" king Solomon's
Mines" and the rest of his South African
stories. However, Mr.. Haggard has been
making amends recently and two new nov
before long. One is his story, Stella
Fregeius," now being published serlaiIy.
The other will be called pearl Maiden,
and is described as "a tale of Jerusalem
II. G.. Wells's many admirers are won
dering if he has followed the example of
his hero, Mr.. Lewisham, and cast in
his lot with Socialism. The author OF
The Time Machine has just become
member of the Fabian Society.
The death OF Ada Ellen Bdyly, 10 give
Edna Lyalr' her real name, has brought
out many interesting particulars regard
ing her. She was quiet little woman, OF
an intensely religious turn of mind, and
found less enjoyment in playing the lion
than in laboring with the class of work
ing girls whom she used to receive every
Sunday afternoon at her seaside home at
Bournemouth. She worked continuously,
but for the last few years Of her life was
qauntity of work each day, on account
of i'll health. Lit will be a surprise TO most
people TO hear that both Donovan and
won by Waiting her first published
success of I'VE Two aroused interest in
them.
Perhaps some day it will be possible to
walk along the Partisan boulevards with
"A woman without embarrassment on &C
count OF the obscenities pictured in al
most every illustrated paper displayed by
the ''kioSks" After many futile threats
the French authorities have begun in
earnest the task of Kidding the streets of
such pictured filth by prosecuting the pro-
prietors of the journals publishing il. In
the Ninth Correctional Chamber. the other
day the manager OF one paper which had
printed indecent cartoons was sentenced 20
a months Imprisonment and fine of 1000
third TO a fortnight and l,OO1 francs, and
two others TO a lO0-franc line.