The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-08-28

don. The home itself is beautiful
place situated right on the summit of
Hampstead Heath, the highest spo.
around London, and made famous by
the exploits OF one Jack Shepherd.
probably the most picturesque hign-
wayman of all times. And now for the
stories.
1t was in the early days of the great
war. An American movink piatnre
concern was about to produce a finn
version OF one OF Hall Gaines novels.
Which one doesn't matter, except nat
lit had character in it who wore mill
itary uniform with a sword. In order
that this character should be properly
dressed. and with the Eovelists well
known care for detail, no decided to
send to America one of the uniforms
worn in the original dramatized ver-
sion of the book as produced in Lon
don. The work of packing and dis
patching the parcel devolved upon La
dy Hall Caine, who saw to 1t that
everything was put In, including the
sword. The parcel was duly sent off.
Several days later Lady Hall Game
received a fearsome looking official
document requesting her attendance
before the censor. She went and was
much astonished to be told that it
was against ID. o. r. A. defense of the
realm act) to ship arms" out of the
country. After listening patiently and
with due humility, Lady Hall Caine
drew the sword from its scabbard. It
was made of tint
A good laugh all round and the par
eel went on its journey.
When Sir Hall Game was on his
first visit to America, many years ago,
some friends got up a Summing party
for him, In order that he might see
something of the night life of New
York mad its underworld. The news
of the party got into the newspaper
offices, and upon arrival OF the distin-
guished visitor at one particularly Be-
hemian resort, reporters and photog-
raphers were there ahead of him. Sir
Hall had seated himself at a table,
when suddenly binding flash lit up
the room. Just a second before one
of the most prepossessing young la
dies of the resort had hoped into the
novelist's lap. Result: The following
Sunday a New York newspaper print
ed picture showing Sir Hall with a
lady perched upon his kneesl For
tunately, Lady Hall Game, who is a
wonderful wife, is also good sport"
She enjoyed the joke immensely, and
still does. But those who know her
husband feel that it was not the kind
of joke that he regards as being es-
pecially funny.
Sir Hall Gaines friendship for Amer
lea is well known. During the great
war he laid aside all his literary work
and devoted himself entirely to help
ing win the war. That is why "The
Master of Man." his latest novel, which
Is just about to be published, is four
years late. He wrote in American
newspapers all through the war-when
he put aside 1.-THE Master of Man." His
one hope and aim was to maintain n
good understanding between the allies
and particularly England, and the Uni
ted States. This is not news to Amer
leans. But showing that this love
Of America and Americans is no new
passion with Hall Game. I am going
language a story which he told me. It
relates to trouble between England
and AAerica over the Venezuelan
question, many years ago, when Sir
Hall happened to be visiting here.
ut CHANGED" he said, that was at
Buzzard's Bay staying with a friend
The next house to ours was Grey Ga
bles, the summer home Of Grover
Cleveland, then president. / had many
talks with Mr.. Cleveland. We talked of
many things, but though Commodore
Benedicts yacht was lying off the
house, and the trouble with England
was officially before the president and
was being discussed daily, he never
once mentioned it to me. On my re-
turn to New York, a well known news
paper proprietor offered me $1,000 for
an interview. OF course, 1 refused it,
He offered double. refused that also.
"On returning to England found
the Society of Authors at work. The
feeling against America was strong in
England, but Sir Walter Besant,
founder of the society, had written
petition in favor of peace. 1t did not
satisfy the chairman of the society,
Sir Martin Conway, who asked me to
write it over again. 1 did so, putting
all my heart into protest against war
between England and America. The
petition was widely signed by authors,
including the then president.-LordI
Tennyson.
Then a whole army of authors
arose up against it, and particularly
against me. was told / had acted un-
and ought to be turned
out of the society. A meeting was
called to denounce the petition and me-
Il stood my ground, and a little later
President Cleveland wrote me a letter
Of thanks"
That was many years ago. But It
today the same passionate de-
sire, which increases if anything with
the author as the years go by, for a 4
good understanding between the two
on the contamination Of
which hope, Sir Hall believes. the |