AUTHOR'S ADVENTURES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18577, 8 December 1923, Page 2 (Supplement)

AUTHOR'S ADVENTURES.

MR. H. A. VACHELL'S STORY

WHY HE WROTE QUINNEY'S.;

TREE'S TELEPHONE TRICK. Mr. Horace Annesley Vachell, so well known as a novelist, tells in "FellowTravellers" the fascinating story of his adventurous .career. His life at Harrow, Sandhurst, Montmartre, and in California, London,'and the New Forest all passes before the reader, and he interlards- his narrative with the most amusing stories both of famous and obscure people. As a. young man he went with a friend to call on Edison. He says: " The Napoleon of inventors treated us with astounding courtesy, and asked, with a twinkle in his eye, wliat he could do for us. I boldly'" replied: 'Show us your workshop.' He did. • We, were greatly privileged, but an " American friend observed slightingly: 'You. saw what Edison never shows because he spotted you as two Britishers incapable of taking in what you saw.' " Mr. Vachell recounts rin some 'detail the story of how he came to write "Quinney's." "I am so often asked about ' Quinney's,' both book and play, that I will set down the truth, wich has it humours," he says. " I used to buy furniture and porcelain, when I could afford it, from Thomas Rohan, who at that time did business in Southampton under the name of Thomas Rudd. He showed me one day a lovely lacquer cabinet, but the price was prohibitive. How I coveted that cabinet! Finally it occmred to me that I must justfiablv buy it if I could write a short story about it. I wrote the ' Lacquer Cabinet,' and the Strand Magazine paid me £75 for it. This was the price of the cabinet." Free Seats Asked For. When the play of " Quinney's" appeared, many people of that name wrote asking for free seats, and Punch even had a~joke on the subject. Another Quinney then wrote: "I understand that persons of my name are asking for free seats. Give them cheap seats, because they are not accustomd to any others." Mr. Vachell tells many amusing stories of his associates at the Garrick Club. For instance: "The late Joe Comyns Canwas at his best in the ' lounge.' Wit bubbled freshly out of a mind, that saw instantly the ludicrous. Carr was coming from Southampton to Waterloo and fell asleep. He sat up and opened- his e';es as the train was passing through the jerry-built monstrosities of Working "What is this?" exclaimed Carr. A friend replied mournfully, 'Woking. Carr lay back and shut his eyes', murmuring: 'If this be Woking let me dream again.'" Here is a story of Sir Herbert. Beerbohm Tree: "A dramatic critic pressed upon Tree the claims of a young actress, singing her praises so persistently that I could nee Tree was growing restive, ' You must engage her—you must,' he concluded. Tree seized the' telephona, 'Is that you Dana ? Yes. Go to the Levity Theatre to-morrow and engage Miss Z. You hear me ? Good!' The dramatic critic thanked Tree and took his leave. Tree made a sign to mo to remain When we were alone he whispered: ' There was nobody at the other; end of the 'phone.' "

Tale of Sir Henry - Irving, /- - K. B. Irving was a great friend of Jifr. Vachel. He says; "Although intolerant of harsh criticism, 'ho enjoyed a"* joke against himself: His eyes twinkled, whenever he told the story of his father coming to see . hi, performance as the Admirable Criditon." These were Sir Henry's remarks: 6 A light fantastic comedy, hein ? Irene very good, eh ? But you Harry? Do you like acting, my boy?' " . " , . , > Almost the best of Mr. Vachell'a- many good stories concerns two New Forest yokels. "An old fellow, full of years and ale, wa3 going up Lyndhurst High Street not so many months ago. A man espied him and shouted. With great dignity the patriarch stood still. ' You needn't yowl at me,' he said austerely. 'I bain't deaf unless I wants to be.' *1 begs your pardon, granfer. Seem* as how you be a true friend o' the family, I thought you'd «be };o glad to hear that my pore brother Garge is dead.'"