The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-07
PersonaIia.

The urgent demand for this long-expected
book has brought II out somewhat In ad-
vance of the scheduled time Of publication
The mystery of the authorship lends a
charm and in a manner accounts for the
popularity OF "Sgma's'' writings in Eng
land. Nevertheless, his wide acquaintance
and his faculty OF getting on the inside of
things would suffice TO make his letters
eagerly awaited even were his identity no
secret
The present volume consists of rambling
"reminiscences dealing with well-knOwn peo-
pie. most of whom are now dead. The au-
thor has been acquainted with and is able
10 tell many new anecdotes Of such per-
sonases Swfnburne, Rossetti. Burne-
Jones and Oscar Wilde in the world Of let
tiers and out. and of Lord Palmerston. Lord
Brougham and many politicians and states
men not so well known in America His
stories OF Harrow in the early sixties are
not very entertaining to the average reader
on this side OF the water. who never heard
OF the characters of whom Sigma cEats
For national reasons the book will have a
much larger sale in England than in this
country; The section entitled Art and
lover OF books. OF a meeting with the
poet Swinburne he talks in a most enter
tanning manner. He says: Mr.. Swinburne
before entering the house was engaged in
prolonged difference with the cabman,
who eventually snatched up the reins and
drove away as II glad 10 get off. He lives
at the British Hotel, in Cockspur street,
and never goes anywhere except in ham
SONS. which, whatever the distance, he in
variably remunerates with 1 shilling, Con-
seQuently, when it's a case OF two miles
beyond the radius there is the devils own
poet Is more than match for the cabby,
who, after five minutes OF 1t, gallops on as
though he had been rated by Beelzebub
Sigma never knew Thackeray person
ally-for that matter he never saw him
but he tells one or two fresh anecdotes OF
him which he gets from authoritative
sources. He says: 1T Is difficult 10 form
personal estimate OF Thackeray. He was
evidently a man of moodS-One day all sun
shine and geniality, and the next sardonic
and. In a sense cantankerous But, on the
whole, the sunshine predoninated. and the
record OF his beautiful sayings and doingS
puts the converse characteristics (Which at
times were all too conspicuous) well into
the shade To him must be credited the
most chivalrous utterances that, J suppose,
ever emanated from man OF letters. Dick
ems, who never liked him, told friend that
be could see nothing TO admire In one or
Thackeray's novels, then being published
ssrially; and the friend. who knew both
great authors with friendships damned
good-naturedness. reported the opinion 10
but ell the comment Thackeray made was,
Il am afraid l cannot return the cOmpli-
ment. for there is not page that Mr.. DICK
the greatest delight and admiration.
The pre-Raphaelite coterie furnishes the
author with many delightful "reminiscences.
An Oscar Wilde story is worth telling:
ION one occasion a humdrum bard was
complaining of the neglect with which his
poems were treated by the critics. There
seems to be a conspiracy against me. What
would you advise TO dc? he inquired of
Wilde. Join it, was the unconsoling re-
ply
That is worthy Of Sheridan or Sidney
Smith This is the most entertaining part
of the book; the "reminiscences of lawyers
and church dignitaries in other pages will
hardly interest American readers. Double
day. Page & Co, New York