The Washington herald., 1912-08-11
In His Den" at MARROW, on the Bank Of the
Thames, the Author Of "Three Men in Boat"
Received the American interviewer and
Gave Her His Views Upon Modern
Life and Morals, the Stage and
Many Other Subjects.

I A waiter. who had probably been In the
Compleat Angler family as far back as
| there was one, served me. He wasn't
sprightly. he wasn't young and he GER
| tainly wasn't an Apollo Belvedere. but he
seen his duty and he done It"
Do you think he let me choose my own
| luncheon?
Not at ALL
He told me what to eat. and ate It as
| II had been his eldest daughter. He was
a most masterful man.
/ wouldn't have dreamed of discussing
the mere matter Of food with him. II We
had chatted It would have been Of gov
ernment affairs. post-impressionism. poesy
Whatever that may bel and other high
brow topics. As 1t was I just let him
feed me, and h., did that well.
He brought me boiled lobster. Not quite
Broadway boiled lobster. but you can't
expect that with persolas and ramblers.
crimson ones, and swans. Then he piled
me with duck and at last he ambled along
with the good old gooseberry tart that I
know by heart now.
, When I was at the chicory. alias coffee.
stage watching the swans curl their legs
up on their backs In q perfectly gifted
way. as I slipped the concoction. Big
Ben in the neighborhood doomed forth
the hour. And I begged the complest
waiter to get me something swift in the
way of a coach and four.
OPTIMISTIC GENTLEMAN IN BLUE
He did. At least It wasn't a coach and
four exactly. but II was something Just
as antique in the way Of one-horse
shay. called "a n.y. here.
/ lolled and looked like the owner of
the vehicle and We drove and drove.
Into the woods. along the banks. up hill
and down dale. and finally through the
stone gates which led to Monks Corner.
where Mr.. Jerome spends his working
and leisure hours.
It's a long, low, white succeed building
with cunning iatticed windows and tiled
roof Just above the entrance is a mar
row bass-relief panel of blue and white
porcelain, with Burne-Jones girls tripping
along hand in hand. and under one Of the
windows there's another oval bsss-relief
Funny idea having those on a house,
isn't It?
Really. though, the combination art gal
lery and residential effect is very unique
and attractive.
In the garden flowers didn't just grow
in well-behaved profusion. They simply
rioted in glowing masses Of color. 1t was
hard TO 60 inside and leave them all, but
IL had to be done.
Blue is the Jerome color. There's no
doubt Of that The little entrance hall was
tiled in blue and the spacious living room.
with its balcony on three sides and its
great French windows looking out into
another garden. had hangings of q ceru-
lean shade.
Mr.. Jerome was waiting for me IN his
den, a pleasant room with polished floor.
panelled walls and a jolly old brick fire.
place. There were plenty OF books and a
cheerful looking skull grinned from the
mantlepiece.
do sit down." begged Mr.. Jerome hos
pitably. DO you smoker Do you mind
II smoker"
didn't smoke, and didn't mind. So
he took a cigarette from a capacious box
and seated himself in an armchair, with
curtain Of blue brocade for q back
ground
OF course, II he'd been a woman, my
dears. we'd have thought he sat there be-
cause Of the. charming Wedgwood effect
he made. You see he was a rare study
in blues himself. He'd a pale gray-bl1A
suit on, a bluer shirt and still bluer tie !
and socks. His eyes are china blue and |
even the smoke from his cigarette
thoughtfully curled up in a pale blue |
spiral.
Pretty natty color scheme wasn't Il?
He's another of these outdoor English |
men-a straight. sturdy. well-knit figure. /
ruddy complexion and yellow hair turn |
ing silvery.
/ don't know whether THE Passing Of !
the Third Floor Back has done It or not, /
but Mr.. Jerome Just radiates optimism !
and happiness. He beams upon you. He |
makes you wonder why you ever fuss
and worry. It's all so easy.