Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-07-31
Especial Correspondence
tpNDoN, July 14.--Probably no

II s
English, and American readers
than Pierre Lott or to give him
his full name and rank, Capt. Louis
Mnre Julien Viand of the French navy.
The author of Madame Chrys;tn-
theme and "Japonncries d'Autonnc"
Is no lover Of English rule in the orr
emit but he has been the ton of the
hour during his visit to this country
during last week.
He was a guest last Friday ut the
dinner for the king and queen given at
the American embassy, and on the fol-
lowing day he had the unusual honor.
of being received by the queen at
buckingham palace.
1t may come as II surprise to those.
who are familiar With the extremely
modern and exotic character of Lofts
writings to hear that he is a great adj
mirer OF Shakespeare. He is n hum
Bile follower. OF the bard of Avon, how
ever, and a few years ago he produced
in Paris q French adaptation Of king
I.car.' which, 1t is said. is quite one
of the best TRANSACTIONS of IIngland's
immortal dramatist In any foreign Inn
guage During his stay in England
he made pilgrimage to Stratford on
Avon and examined with keen interest
all the Shakespeare relics there.
LOFTS HOBBY,
At home in France Lott sleeps him.
self in orientalism. He spends his days
wrapped in the costume of an Arab
either writing or admiring the Won
derful collection of oriental furniture
and art treasures which he has heaped
up in his house at Itochefort. The
house contains an Indian room. gloomy
with the solnnn figures of the gods
of that country: an Arabian room
rich with tlitans and cool with foun-
tains. and above all a mosque--a real,
miniature mosque, where Lott spends
hours stretched on an eastern rug, in
the study of the Koran The mosque
is en- the roof of the house and every
stone which entered into its construc-
ton was brought by Lott from Molpc-
co. After 1t had been constructed Lott
discovered that it looked on n wall
and the roof OF his neighbours house
instead of permitting a clear view of
the heavens as demanded by the ritual.
Lott at once had 1t demolished and re-
built facing the right way.
Edward Clodd who was Meredith's
lifelong friend has been telling some
interesting stories about him which
have not been published heretofore.
There has always been more or less
mystery about Meredith's birthplace
and parentage and for some reason
he was always averse to talking about
his origin.
ut happened" says Mr.. Clodd, that
l was staying with him on the night
when the last census was taken. March
81 1901, He expressed satisfaction
that ] was there to save him the labor
of filling in the details, and when
these. 50 far as the servants were con-
cerned, were duly entered, he was ask
ed where he was born Is that neces-
sary?' Yes We'll, put Hampshire
oh. that too vague. you'll have the
paper returned for more definite
answer. We'll, say near Petersfield.'
And that was the nearest that could
GET
1t is now established definitely that
he was born at 70 High street. Ports
mouth and that his father was a nav
al outfitter
PLAGUE OF BAD BOOKS.
The Rev. DR., William Earry. the
famous Catholic theologian, novelist,
and essayist has been writing to a
literary weekly complaining strongly
of the plague of bad books" which
he declares is raging on every side.
The books Of which he complains are
chiefly fiction, the work of minor au-
they have n very large circulation, and
the advertisements by which they are
literally pushed are a frank appeal to
the morbidlv curious.
II never leave my house, he says.
ITO journey in any direction. but l
am forced to see. and solicited TO buy.
works famingly advertised or which
the gospel Is adultery and the ap-
ocaypse the right of suicide. These
highly charged explosives, a few years
ago simply French, are now multiplied
and multiplying in our English market.
Is there no public opinion strong
enough to forbid the display of them
at railway stntionsG
The woman clamors for free love,
though she would be its most unhappy
victim, an Ariadne In NaXoS, left be-
hind at the sailing season by 1'heseus,
intent on fresh adventures. Her part
ner drugs himself with pleasure, and
keeps the key of death in his pocket.
Horrible as are the DEVILS tracts COM
mending license at the spring of life.
am yet more appalled, when l read
dainty. eloquent sermons, which glory
in sclf-murder.
THAT immense upgrowth of per-
nicious books will bear fruit in char
acter: it has done so already. What is
the use of our reasoning on righteous
ness, temperance. and the Judgment to
come in half-emptS churches when
the myriad volumes which deride self
control scott at the God-likc in man,
deny the judgment, and by most po-
tent Illustration declare that death
ends ala"
DIR Barry concludes by calling on
the home secretary to Investigate the
situation he describes and to act on
the information which he ca. collect
without any trouble Calling on Inc
-. 4.