The sun., 1918-12-08
Candace Wheelers Ente rtainng Book of "reminiscences

exhibited his famous Heart OF the
Andes" in one of those studios BY chance
Genoux showed on the same day Vene-
tian scene. \ visiting painter, meeting
Church in the hall, said: What do you
think of Genoux's 'Venice'?" Pepper
mint candyw replied Church shortly. \
little later the same painter strolled in 10
see GenOux and inquired casually how he
liked Church's Heart of the Andes"
Spinach! Spinach~ replied that artist.
Mrs. Wheeler's acquaintance with Will
lam Cullen Bryant was more than casual,
although she cOnfesses to never having
felt quite certain of earning his approval
except upon one memorable occasion
when, being the great mans guest, she
burst into unprecedented and exuberant
praise of dish of new, well boiled oat-
meal and cream" As will be inferred the
editor poet is pictured as reserved and
rather awe inspiring, man with ''tOuch
of the schoolmaster about him." yet
withal modest, simple and not without
geniahty. Bryant's love of nature some
times led him into extravagances, as
when he purchased farm near his Ros-
Ign home, not because he wanted or
needed additional land but because it
contained fine old oak tree, the life of
which he wished to safeguard
Stoddard's Extraordinary Poem.
This writer, in her early New York
days, saw the beginning of many things;
the founding of the Century Club, the es-
Establishment of Cooper Union, the plant
ing of the elms in Central Park Mall and
the opening of the Academy of Design.
The friendship of Calvert Vaux during
his work on Central Park brought in turn
an acquaintance with Richard Stoddard
the poet. Stoldard, she says, one day
burst into the sanctum of the Century
office crying: "Gilder, I've got the
damnedest, sweetest little religious poem
for you you ever heard"
The acquaintance of not Il few of the
distinguished persons who figure in these
"reminiscences came to Mrs. Wheeler di-
rectly or indirectly through the work of
her talented daughter, Dora Wheeler.
Frank Stockton, small, melancholy
eyed man." who looked as though he
should have been labelled made in fairy
land; Mark Twain, Harriet Beecher
Stove, Thomas Hardy and Walter Besant
all sat" for Dora Wheeler.
Hardy and Besant.
1t is pleasant TO read of the mutual
friendship of Hardy and Besant. The
latter considered the creator of Tess Il
novelist second TO no living man, while
Mr.. Hardy evidenced more concern re-
garding his friends portrait than that Of
himself. 1t was Dora Wheeler who had
the honor of being cross-examined by
George Eliot, the great English woman APP
parently being in quest Of literary ma
terial. She had the reporters instinct and
made Dora Wheeler feel like turned
out glove" The American ladies found
and Lewiscs pleasant but self-absorbed
and unsympathetic.
Not the least of Mrs Wheeler's artistic
accomplishments is that she has grown old
gracefully. At ninety she complains only
of the inconyenient "noticeableness' Of old
age, that a ''really old person is as much
out Of place in the street or shop or at Il
play or in society as an unweaned baby"
We are glad she has recorded her many
Yecforyy0ay. b,tt W.. wish Gonna ono ba1 SaaT1
10 it that the book had an index.
YESTERDAYS IN \ BUSY LIFE. BY
CANDACE WHEELER. Harper & Brothers. s..