THACKERAY AND PRESCOTT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5920, 16 February 1880, Page 6

THACKERAY AND PRESCOTT.

S^t-r js Ktiia »£\ttrKE.?fc23S ear, showing,that after ahaving he had been too much Hurried or too forgetful to finish hit toilet properly. On ue came, tho »e long arm* waving andlhe fierce blue eye* gluing al much, a. they could behind lu. gla«e*. As Mr Under wood presented the letter or introduction he bore from the historian, Thackeray’s manner softened. An, yes,” said* he, “Prescott,, my S°£J r , ie ™> excellent man, to whom I am indebted for so much kindness and hospitality. Yes, Prescott is one of your. ‘ top-sawyers? I was frequently at bis house, or houses,! should say, and in his life and surrounding* he was the ideal man .of letters.” . As the talk went on bis visitor spoke of some procaine nt female novelists, and asked if Thackeray had read their books. “No,” said he, “ I fancy they re not strong beer enough. Besides, I read very few novels j I am a pastry cook, I hake tarts and: sell them* 1 don’t eat.them myself. I eat bread and butter.” He spoke warmly of the poetry, of Holmes and praised Lowell’s “Bigelow Papers.” “Wit of the very first order,” he said/ ? “ nothing like it in our time, and I wonder that a man who can write comic poetry of the best should not occupy himself with it wholly.” Then he went on. to say: “ Your country has a great destiny, not only in material power and prosperity, but in letters. It is to be the Greater Britain, the home of the uncounted millions who will: perpetuate, the language and keep alive, the traditions of our island.” Then ho turned to the copy of Houdon’s bust of Washington, and spoke with such warmth of admiration as to draw tears from his own eyes.