MR WELLS MEETS MR WELLS

Hawera Star, Volume L, 14 February 1931, Page 9

MR WELLS MEETS MR WELLS

T MET Mr 11. Or. Wells recently in a famous London club (writes a “Sunday Express” representative). “Are you lunching here?” said I “Yes”"said Mr. Wells, “I am lunching with Mr. H. G. Wells.’’ . “Oh,” I replied, “you are lunching JXIoUG * * “No,” he twinkled, “I am lunching with the American H. G. Wells.” “Is there an American H. G. Wells 5 ” I gasped in amazement. “Yes. He and I have corresponded for years. He is a most interesting man'and I am glad to have met him. ' “Is he too a novelist.” “Oh no.” said the English H. L. Wells. “He is a distinguished man ot science.” . -it “A strange coincidence, said l. “There is an American ds well as an English Winston Churchill.” “Our coincidence is stranger stm, said Mr. Wells. “Both the American H. G. Wells and I married women with the same surname —Bobbin®. V “An extraordinary double _ eomcidence ” I exclaimed. “But, tell me, Mr Wells, are your Christian names a® well as your initials the rame as H ,

And Both Married Miss Robbins!

those of the American man of science? “No,” said our H.G. “I like to keep mv Christian names a deep, dark secret 'but I don’t mind telling >qu. Thev are Herbert George. 1 ready might have been called' Matthew My father wanted to call me Matthew 'Wefls hut my mother (being a weak woman) had her way, and I was - nristened Herbert George. lam glad 1 was not called Matthew.”

The American H. G. Wells is Horiy Gideon Wells. He is a Chicago University pathologist. His books, include ‘•‘Chemical Pathology ” “Chemistry of Tuberculosis” and “Chemical Aspects of Immunity.” Ho married Bertha Robbins in 1902.

He told a “Sunday Express” lepiesentative that all his life he ■- ad l.ted in the shadow of his great namesake. “We were both biologists and writers ” he added. “I was a worse seller and he was a best seller. He deserted Aloo-v I pursued it and became a nathologist. Wherever I go in Mnerica and give my name as H. G vVens people fall down and worship. When I explain they sit irp again. 1...