SIR EDWIN ARNOLD IN AMERICA.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 2, Issue 119, 20 March 1895, Page 3

SIR EDWIN ARNOLD IN AMERICA.

SI"GULAIt EXPEDIENCES. Sir Edwin Arnold, tho genial author 1 of "The Ligut of Asia," has been confiding to a representative of Cassell's Saturday Journal some of his experiences as a lecturer in tho United States. '"The audiences," hesaid,'"are less enthusiastic than the Euglish pub l io; but they are extremely attentive and indulgent. I could not go to any 1 State without meeting delightful i friends. Ono Christmas Day I was sitting in the hotel at St. Paul. Minnesota, alone, when the door opened, and a sunny little head ci owned with curls, and with beautiful eyes, appeared and its rosy lips said : " 'My mamma says it is Christmas Day. You must.bo very lonely, and slio sent mo down to keep you com - pany.' You little angel,' 1 replied, ; from what part of tho sky havo you fallen? Come and sit on my knee,' and that was tho beginning of a warm friendship with tho family. "My"'Light of Asia'seems to have made tho whole world friendly to me," continued Sir Edwin Arnold reflectively. "Tho post-offico clerk would oxclaim when 1 inquired for letters : "'Arnold? Edwin Arnold? Aro you really Edwin Arnold? and 110 would pull out of his pocket tho Look. Housemaids would bring their copies to mo and ask mo for my autograph, and hotel-keepers would return mo my unpaid bills receipted with tho words, •Received from tho Light of Asia,' &c. ' 'Aftor each 1 ecturo iI; was ann ounced: 'Sir Edwin Arnold will receive tho prominent citizens,' and I had to do so. Onotreasuredincidentoccurred. I had appeared at tho New York Theatre, and was very tired. 1 was walking up and down with my cigar behind the scenes, when a majestic female figure approached 1110. Slio grasped my hand so hard that she hurt njo, as she said: " "Thank youso much. I have never enjoyed 80 minutes in my life so much as I have done to-day,' '■'lintwho are you, madam, to obey an instinct so generous as to flatter a poor weary poet r" •' 'I am Ada Rehan,' she answrved, and that was the first time 1 had the pleasure of meeting that delightful actress, •'Major Pond, my agent, was very often present at my recitations, and 1 asked him once if ho heard everything I said, because I think a lecturer's conscientiousness should not allow tho audience to miss a syllable. At my request he went to the very back of 1 the pit, and it was arranged that if lie missed a single word-lie should raise his handkerchief to his nose. "I was tired that night; and towards the end, at a most important passage, I saw my Major lift his handkerchief. I put on steam. Soon afterwards 1 came to a very ciitical point, and once again ho raised his handkerchief to his nose, and kept it thcro. That proceed \ng astonished me, for was nearly at full blast. Eor the second time I opened the steam valve, and did my utmost. Another interesting passage remained, and as I approached it, again tho handkerchief went to tho Major's nose. I could do no more, and with a lamentable sense of failure, I finished, dismally, thinking that all had been lust. '1 regret,' said Ito tho Major, appearing quite disheartened, 'that you did not hear mo.' " 'Not hear you ? I heard every syllable!' 'Why the douco did you put up your hpudkercliief?' I asked. "'I forgot oH about it,' was his answer. 'Uh, lam so sorry! Fact is, .1 ve a cold in my head—pray pardon mo.' " 'You havo nearly kißed me, I retorted. "My travelling agent was an admirable man— perfectly wonderful at his business, but 110 took no interest whatever in poetry. I said one day to him: " 'My Anglcman, I have received most generous but undeserved praise everywhere, but you havo never praised me.' " 'Well, Sir Edwin,' ho replied, 'it is not my funeral.' "On my way home, when I was at Vancouver, tho manager of tho principal theatre said to me : '"lf you will recito for mo at my theatre ono night this week, I shall bo prepared to give you 500 dols. for it; and, mister, 1 may tell yew that there is only ono other man in these States at present to whom I should make that offer.' " 'And who is lie?" " John L. Sulljyau.' "Sullivan was then tho loading priziighter!" oi