The Saint Paul globe., 1904-01-24

cigar, gives a cheerful nod to every
acquaintance, and keeps up a running
fire of bright talk with whatever men,
ber of his family happens to be his
companion. Like Milton, Mr.. Russell
now dictates all that he writes to his
daughters and he and they are now at
work on new story of the sea which
will be finished within few months.
Practically all Clark RuSSelfs lands
man days have been spent in this coun-
try, so it may not be generally remem-
bered that he was born in New York.
That was just under sixty years ago He
went to school, however, at Winchester
and at Boulogne, in France, where
three of Charles Dickens sons were his
classmates. Then he began his life as
a midshipman in the British merchant
service which lasted eight years and
enabled him to store up the supply of
material upon which he has drawn
ever since. His first book was John
HoldSWorth. Chief Mate" his greatest
success, 1.-The Wreck of the 'Gros-
venor.'" Oddly enough, it's author
didn't expect that this story would go.
He wrote it in a hurry, largely to please
himself, and though he realized that
there were few technical errors in his
descriptions, didn't bother to correct
them, with the result that they never
have been set right. Russell and w.
S. Gilbert, the librettist, are great
friends and the former is fond of tell
ing story of unconscious cerebration'
between them. Il was while Russell
was writing his story. The Convict
Ship" that he received, one day. a
hurried note from the author of Pin
afore," asking him why he didn't
write a novel on the exact subject
which he had in hand, and suggesting
the outlines of plot similar in almost
every detail to that upon which the
romancer of the sea already had hit.
The late George Kissing left the man
uscript of novel, called 'Veranilda,"
on which he was at work at the time
of his death, but whether or not 1t
will be published soon can not be said
as it is not yet certain if the romance
Is complete.
There is no one to dispute with DR..
Samuel Smiles the distinction of being
the most remarkable literary veteran n
in this country. The famous author of
''Self-E -Eelp" celebrated his ninety
second birthday the other day, and it
found him in the best of health and
spirits. At his home in Kensington
Dr. Smile now sees no visitors except
members of his own family, but his
daughter told newspaper man yes
terday that in spite of his years, he
never hHO@S WHAT III IS TO be Ill. A
great smoker all his life, Dr. Smiles
still accounts for three cigars day,
and he never has to use spectacIes at
all.
Not SO many American visitors to
this country get to Portsmouth, the
birthplace of Charles Dickens, but
those who do hereafter will be able to
inspect the Dickens museum, which is
to- be opened there in February, and
which promises to be made unusually
interesting. 1t will be remembered that
when the novelists early home In
Portsmouth was put up at auction, not
long ago, it was bought up by the
town corporation. Since then the place
has been completely overhauled. elec-
trio light has been installed throughout
and the business of acquiring relics of
Dickens has begun. The earliest gifts
include an enlargement of the noveIist's
last home home at Gadshill, Rochester,
and a painting of Dickens, which the
writer liked so we'll that he had it hung
in the room at the Albion tavern, where
the historic dinner was held to cele-
brate the completion of Nicholas Mic
kleby." There also viii be placed in
the house soon a collection Of photo
graphs, including representations of al
most all the British scenes directly
connected with Dickens own life and
those mentioned In his books. These
are presented by H. Snowden Ward,
who is now on lecturing tour in the
United States. Hayden Church.