A REMINISCENCE OF OUIDA.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 150, 19 March 1908, Page 3

A REMINISCENCE OF OUIDA.

In William; Alhrigliam'-s delightful diary tboro is'a characteristic:reference to. Ouida, whom the poet, met at .a. party in* IS6S , ; ''Ouida (Louise,.de la Bameo)|i in l green silkj_ sinister, clever faco, hair down, small hands and feet, voice like a -carving-knifo y also her mother. .At dinner puns and jokes: Ouida silontish. .. Tho ladies; :go to - the drawing-room, upstairs,- and when after an interval we followVhein, we,hear r before the door opens, a .'voice going, 6n' ; iriside likd a saw, and .011 Ouida saying, 'in loud harsh tones—'Women afo ungenerous, cruel, pitiless!® Planche, taking refuge on an-ottoman, with a faco expressing humorous alarm, 'Bless my soul! I think they're angols—l ; adore them—they'ro. the best-hair of. the world.' •

- "Ouida, with' ' severity—'l entirely.... disagree. The woman nearly always lends tlio man astray,' etc., etc. 'Woman can't bo impersonal.'" '

••• On another, occasion "Allirigham met the novelist at the Langham Hotel, where sko was staying with her mother arid an iminense dog. " • , . . ■, ■• 'i :"She carries a portrait, of the latter,round her: neck- in a -locket, which, she'.'detached ; after dinner and handed round for inspection, with tho remark, ■ 'This is mv hero'' (perhaps the hero of, one of her books). She! asked somebody present, "Have you read my last book?' 'Not yet.' /. " 'But you must read it, you know!"'