Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-03-24
A CHAT WITH QU|DA
Novelist Discusses Interestingly
With a Physician Her Lit
erary Work
THOUGHT "Puck" cLEvEREsT

"Under Two Flags" She Deemed Sen
sationaI-Said She Never Cared FoT
Applau.e-Told Doctor Who Visite>
Her She Declined to Be Poisoned.
The following is an account OF al
English physicians last talk wit.
Ouida (AIle. Louise de Ia Ramee). th'
British novelist, who died recently i
yiareggio. in Italy, says special CT:
Bile dispatch to the New York Herald:
sordid two story house In one
the least interesting streets of perhap
the healthiest but certainly the uglles
town on the shores of the Medltef
ranean. The door was opened by
slatternly female. and after brle
DELAY | was ushered into a squalio
room on the ground floor and foun,
myself in the presence of Ouida ant
four unkempt. unwholesome looking
dogs.
The great authoress was seated on .
low couch between fairly respectable
fire and the door. which. of course, the
servant had opened, but had forgotten
to close. "A shrewd little face peeped
up ut me from among the. blankets III
which she was wrapped. while thin
forefinger motioned me imperiously tf
q chair.
After lodging the unmannerly atten-
tons of the canine attendants l sue
ceeded in closing the door and settled
down to business. Ouida absolutely
declined either to go to bed or take
any prescriptions. assev Grating with
emphasis that she had no great optn.
ion Of the profession and declined te
be poisoned.
She was. however. gracious enough
to add that it was pleasure to listen
once more to an English voice and beg,
ged me to stop and have a chat. Our
conversation was as follows, and I am
glad am in q position to publish ii
without laying myself open to the bug
bear of our vocation. the charge OF
breach of professional etiquette:
DR.. M.-Please do not think 1t i'm
pertinent Of me to suggest that the
thought Of all the pleasure which your
books have given to so many thousands
of readers must be exceedingly com
forting to you in your present Ill
health.
Ouida-I neither appreciate now no,
indeed have ever appreciated the APP
plause Of the public. My sole motive
for writing always has been the pleas
ure Of seeing myself in print.
DR.. M-Indeed! Now. wonder
whether you agree with me in placing
"Under Two Flags" as the first and
'T,'' rim as the second among your
Ouida-I am not going to say any.
thing against "Tricotrin." but "Unde
Two Flags" is almost undiluted sense
tionalism. l think PUCK Is by Il
the cleverest Of my novels.
DR.. MI had forgotten PUCK"
the moment. May ask you why O
can detect no traces either Of your e.
lier style or method in 1.-THE Mes
rines?"
Ouida-1 do not agree with you.
consider that 1.-THE Masserines" bea
the strongest family resemblance
Moths"
Dr. M.-Do you never intend to z
us have another book. utilizing Il
service of an amanuensis?
Ouida-Don't talk of such a thin;
Since / lost the sight of my right ey
through an accident last year I hav'.
given up all thought of literary work.
and the idea of employing an amanuen-
sis (Here the lady became almost In.
articulate with wrath)
DR.. M believe you sold the copy
right of your books outright?
Ouida-Yes. like fool. and have
put thousands into other peoples peck
cts.
DR.. M.-What about your theatrical
rights?
Ouida-At one time ''Under Two
Flags" was being played simultane
ously In three London theaters, and !
did not get penny out of 1t.
The rest of the conversation was. to
my mind, rather pathetic.
Ouida-1 feel poignant regret not SO
much for the loss of my health as fol-
my dimmed vision, faded complexion,
and scanty hair, with memories Of the
days when horses and carriages were
at my disposal. when receptions were
daily occurrences and when servants
were not dirty beasts" (sic).
was finally dismissed with pun
gent criticism Of this her adopted
country, which she begged me not to
repeat, and received hearty invita-;
ton to call again unprofessionally y
week later.
Now she lies dead, with little white
dog curled beneath her on the pillows