The sun., 1909-06-27

dry is the atmosphere. and 1t is followed
Witn the same distinotness in It's march
toward the southwest until Il disappearu
over the rim Of the horizon.
GEORGE MEREDITH AT HOME.
A Beautiful Old Man-Hls Fondness for
Americana.
An American woman who last year
secured the rare privilege OF an inter
view with George Meredith says that she
owed the favor to the fact that she came
from the United States. When she was
admitted his first words were:
Your being an American gives you q
sure road to my favor"
She confesses that she expected to pay
penalty Of disillusionment in seeing him
In the Forum she writes OF it: Il had said
to myself that at 80 this man could not
fail to be OF unattraotive appearance.
but In Mr.. Meredith there was nothing but
beauty-beauty grown old to be sure,
but grown old as a woman's often does,
with no diminution Of physical pleasing
ness.
His hair was as thick as a boys and
snowy white. The carriage OF his head
deserved that often misapplied word
noble Well groomed and carefully
tended by his nurse-housekeeper. Mr..
Meredith presented to his friends none
OF the untidiness Of old age. His teaoup
was raised TO his lips by the steady hand
OF Miss -. his clothes were taotfully
choeen-a woolly brown coat, half an inch
or 30 OF daring red neoktie. and q gray
shawl over his knee. In everything he
was as dainty as bride on her honey
moon. 1have never seen more beautiful
old man.
Though his health was not OF the best.
was indeed far worse than the general
public knew. for his illnesses were at his
own wish concealed from tho press. Mr..
Meredith was not at all doorepit. He
was lame. 1t will be recalled that several
years ago his leg was broken in a fall.
and he was moreover suffering from what
to the lay understanding seemed like
paralysis. though his physioians may
have called it by another name. He
could not, think. stand by himself. much
less walk unaided. Beyond this his only
disability was trifing deafness.
1T was OF America that we first spoke.
81 am fond OF 1t for two reasons. he
said. 'First-and this Is q very good
reason too-that America is fond Of me
My first recognition cam. from there
care for me. more than my own country
folk do. They've never liked me in
England, you know, his last with an air
Of erfeot sincerity and good nature.
| And the other reason you like US!
noS hs S ss. bspsd over 5sre haxs Ss
interest me. things I've always longed
for example-are they really as tall as the
pictures make them look2 ! wish could
see ssin themsnd NJ all your other strange new
-Mr. Meredith. gathered, locked upon
delight. 1t was one OF the disappoint-
ments Of his old age. think; that he
| did not own an automobile: He spoke
was a question OF money. or certain
old fashioned timidity. or mere lack OF
initiative, that prevented his buying a
motor car. At any rate, l am sure 1t
was the dear dream Of his Id heart TO
M car and ss yooPoaaas xs
him on the death Of Swinburne. / could
not but be touched by his words, Later
will hire a motor car and come see you
| Il quote from memory. 49,,
Instead OF a motor car MIR Meredith
at must 20 down dreadfully in your
estimation ow you know that, said he
aDseinsdyii a dyive in this eouipase. which con-
sisted Of donkey hitched to a Bath chair.
oorted BY Miss - and an elderly Scotch
woman servant, was q part OF every day.
routine with Mr. Meredith. Daily he got
up for breakfast at half past 7, which to
the English mind seems far earlier than
1t would to the earlier rising American;
4. Lot to do daH
said he. I must got up early 30 as to have
plenty Of time to read the papers. W
these he took In two. BY the way,the
the lofty Ttmes. and moro amusing half
penny organ.
AT II came the donkey cart drive. and
then the rest Of the day was passed In
reading or seeing his friends. Reading
was tremendous pleasure to him, and he
fulfilled Andrew Langs definition OF
true bookman, In that he did not choose
books to read. but read all OF them. Miss
- assured me he read every new book
OF any importance. and by his talk 1t was
plain that this was In no way an eIaggera-
ton. He spoke with interest and respect
Of many books and writer's at whom
lesser man wonld have sniied s
He reflected. French memoirs and
books about Napoleon delight me always,
perhaps more than other books.
And in fiction7
His reply, whether IL was ulctdVeo Dy
gallantry or whether 1t was quite sincere.
Mas at any rate pleasant hearing. for the
authors he named were all Americans.
Mrs Wharton and Mrs. Atherton
like said he. they have both a flowing
style. Another American / read with
pleasure, though not frequently, is my
dear Henry James. His books are hai d |
reading. but have to read one OF them
every year.
sOf his own books he said be preferred
The Egoist. and it was usually, this
volume he chose TO present to his friends
and to autograph for his admirers. These
requests for autographs came in plenti-
fully from all over the world. They were
to Mr.. Meredith a source OF entertain |
ment rather than Of annoyance.
s'It tires my hand these days TO write
at any one time more than few lines OF
verse or a letter. and l cannot dictate.
said he. i don't see how anybody can |
dictate a novel. and take an outsider into |
that close communien n there's got to be
between the novelist and his characters.
At o5 a man should stop writing anyway.
After that his work must be inferior. HIS
contemporaries will praise IT, but pos. |
terity will see the difference. You can't
fool posterity. you know
nohsn'a Neat on Wheels.