The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-06
From the Kansas City Star.

OWN A. ABBEY, the famous nh) American artist, gave a good
 many entertaining "reminiscences at the luncheon given in London in his honor recently at the Pilgrims, on the occasion of his departure to the United States to install his paintings in the Pennsylvania state capitol As no ac- count of his speech has been printed and as this distinguished American seldom has been interviewed, verbatim report of portions of his remarks will make good reading.
 q recall a great many things" he said, when I look back over the 30 years of my life in England-for came pilgrim to these friendly and hospitable shores just 30 years ago.
 When I started upon my journey 10 England in 1878 I had commissions for a large number of drawings from Messrs. Harper. But after settling up my small affairs, I found myself not particularly blessed with ready cash. And when the publishers celebrated my departure at Delmonicos by a rather lavish breakfast, the guests being afterwards driven down 
 to the deck on a four-in-hand drag to see me off, there were moments in the immediate future when the reflection was forced upon me that the money the brak- fast had cost would be an agreeable thing to have But I was filled with hope.
 My companion on the voyage was dear old Professor Youmans, who was going over to spend his holiday with Herbert Spencer, and I was given to understand, in casual conversation on the way over, that living in England was, on the whole, cheap. This is a superstition that gen. orally obtained in America at this time, and it gave me good deal of comfort.
 From Liverpool, where I parted with my companions, I went immediately to Stratford-on-Avon. The first incautious thing I did was to inquire at the post office whether heavy packages of, say, drawings might be sent to America with out the postage having been prepaid. was assured that this was possible. and thereupon took a nice private sitting room at the hotel. It appealed to me because Washington Irving once had used it, so I did not ask for any details about terms. This was also incautious. I stayed some weeks and made my draw ings. sent them off with a two and a half pence stamp on them, the balance to be collected, and asked for my bill. This bill, although shock to me. was what you all know it would have been. I left my trunk with the landlord and started for London In the train, after very careful consideration, I arrived at the result that I could, with care, last there until I received my remittance for the drawings I had just sent off to Amer ica, which I reasonably expected would be in about three weeks time. When the three weeks were up I had a notice from Washington to the effect that my drawings were held for postage in. the dead letter office, and would be forward ed to their destination on the receipt of the balance.
 "I was a young man of 26, and this was all a long time ago, but l wildly recall those next three weeks. am not sure it was not a month; it seemed year. However. this incident being presently closed. I was able to send for the trunk which I had left behind at Stratford, and as soon as it arrived I hastened to present my letter of introduction, and began immediately to experience hospital itv and kindnesses innumerable. The London of Dickens still existed to great extent, and one still could see in London drawing rooms many of those who had made the great Victorian era of English letters famous. l saw George Eliot and Browning, Anthony Trollope and Charles Reade and Matthew Arnold. Tom Hughes, Huxley and Herbert Spen- ger to mention only those who have cone from us Lord Leighton, great man that he was, the steadfast and helpful friend of all young artists, was begin ming his career as president of the Royal academy and it was one's privilege to hear at Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema' s those musicians who had made famous the Monday Pops
 ..Rut to come to more recent days, in- sofar as my own profession is concerned. if ,s a source of great satisfaction to tnow-as we do know-that here in Eng land the average of performance grows higher every year. and I may be allowed,