New-York tribune., 1909-12-11
CH1RLES RElDE.
Hoo He Rid Himself of
SDOnging ReIatires

An amusing experience with Charles
Reade is described by Sir Robert An
oerson In "Blackwood." The govern
ment Official was seeking lodgings IN
London and was sent by a house agent
10 look at apartments in a handsome
house near HYDE Park He found a
beautiful interior. filed with art treas
ures. and lost in amazement that any
owner should let lodgings in such i
house, he promptly took the rooms.
Then he discovered that the owner was
Charles Reade. the novelist. Reade's
housekeePer, Mrs. Seymour. afterward
told Anderson the whole story. "Reade
had received a letter from some relatives
for whom he had no love TO say they
were coming 20 town 20 sponge on him
He fImed and stormed. Put the rooms
on house agents books he exclaimed.
and write and tell them you have done
80. and that they mustn't come Hav-
ing thus delivered his soul he went of
10 oxford. where his fellowship at Mag
dslen afforded him pleasant retreat.
Two hours after Mrs. Seymour had car
Tied out his wishes called and engaged
the rooms. Finding me there on his re-
turn 10 town set him fuming even worse
than before. lie wouldn't have dodgers
in his house. he declared. and I must be
turned out al once. But Mrs. Seymour
knew how 10 manage him. and was left
in possession. For a time. however. he
ignored me. The first advance he ever
made was his writing me the following
note on hearing that thu dog had dis
turbed me u the night:
T am truly concerned 20 hear that the
Wiid beast which governs and oppresses
this house kept YOU awake with his howl
ing last night. 7 hssrI him. bat owing -
The echoes Of this spacious mansion could
nor divine where our tormentoT was
should this recUr. please entice him into
your room and leather him This has Al
wavs a soothing influence on him, But n
Ceed shall endeavor 70 restrain his wali-
dcrinss in future. al al events during the
small hours
Not long after landlord and tenant
struck up a friendship. and the latter re-
oeivod many kindnesses from the iras-
cible novelist. so much SO, indeed.
adds Anderson. that he used 20 lend me
his own pet room when invited men 10
dinner. and sometimes he Joined my
party. II was the room he had built in
his garden abutting on Hyde Park Ia
that same room, by the way, looking out
on the trees Of the nation, as he
phrased it. is laid one OF the chief scenes
IN a Terrible Temptation. Sir Robert
notes that Reade's literary work was
are com animation Of genius and plodding-
He kept beside the fireplace d brass scut-
Tie. in which were placed the illustrated
ana other papers which reached him
week by week. From these he cut any
thing that took his fancy. and threw
these cuttings into n companion scuttie.
W hence they went 20 a duly indeZed
ecrapbook. Sir Robert continues:
Materials for his novels and plays were
thus supplied or suggested Ibe accuracy
~ his descriptions Of events and places
vas phenomenal Frederick Locker once
told mo that he read Never too Late 20
Mend while ~ the gold-digcinGS il
Australia and again ana sEam ne
looked I'D from the hook 20 view the scene
50 graphically portrayed IN its pages IN"
7-f1Ifness and accuracy OF the description
arnaze-f and delighted him Had Resde
ever visited Australia; No bTihe, told
llinl could tempt the great novelist 70
rross rhe ocean. ! was once asked 10 put
before him q very fatteTing proposal Tor
4 lecture tour i'm America. l gave him
the particularE. ending by naming the
r,roffere9 fee - forget how many thou
and mounds Tell them 10 make IL mill