STORIES OF MEREDITH.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 806, 2 May 1910, Page 7

STORIES OF MEREDITH.

Speaking on. "New Lamps and Old/' at the Kensington Palace Gardens recently, Mr. J. Comyns Carr related some reminiscences of great Victorians. Dante Gabriel Rossetti was the first man of distinction with whom he (Air. Carr) could boast any intimate comradeship. In of the world 'which never knew him, Rossetti scarcely ranked among the optimists of art/but on young men he wielded- the; most'inspiring and encouraging . influence imaginable. ' Burne-Jones said it was Rossetti who first gave him hope and encouragement. Of Burne-Jones and William Morris, Mr. Carr related an amusing story. Morris bad •at one time a horror of growing stout. The poet went to bed first at a 'Thames-side -inn one night, and Burne-Jones played a trick on him, taking a section out of his waistcoat and sewing the remnants together again. The next morning- he watched the terror and coustemation with which Morris tried to make the garment meet round his waist. It was not until the smothered laughter of the painter in bed greeted Morris's ear that tho poet was- relieved from his anxiety. • George Meredith . seemed specially characterised by the Victorian qualities of optimism and attachment to life. Sometimes : ho would, make a bold sortie in conversation into realms of knowledge only half-conquered. He (Mr. Carr) remembered introducing him to an old gentleman, whose long life had been spent in the study of the drawings of the Old Masters. .Meredith discussed Canaletto without impressing the old gentleman, whose sole oomment afterwards was: "Your friend—Mr. Meredith, I think you said —endeavoured to persuade mo that'he understood the art of Canaletto, but ho does not." .Meredith onoe wrote to Mr. Carr,,who had praised his poetry: "As to publishing books of verse, I have paid heavily for that audacity in pounds sterling. I had for audiencc the bull, the donkey, and tho barking cur."