a mortal antipathy-第26节
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belong。
〃My man； the celebrated writer； received me in what was evidently his
reception…room。 I observed that he managed to get the light full on
my face； while his own was in the shade。 I had meant to have his
face in the light； but he knew the localities； and had arranged
things so as to give him that advantage。 It was like two frigates
manoeuvring；each trying to get to windward of the other。 I never
take out my note…book until I and my man have got engaged in artless
and earnest conversation；always about himself and his works； of
course； if he is an author。
〃I began by saying that he must receive a good many callers。 Those
who had read his books were naturally curious to see the writer of
them。
〃He assented； emphatically； to this statement。 He had； he said； a
great many callers。
〃I remarked that there was a quality in his books which made his
readers feel as if they knew him personally； and caused them to
cherish a certain attachment to him。
〃He smiled； as if pleased。 He was himself disposed to think so； he
said。 In fact； a great many persons； strangers writing to him； had
told him so。
〃My dear sir； I said； there is nothing wonderful in the fact you
mention。 You reach a responsive chord in many human breasts。
'One touch of Nature makes the whole world kin。'
Everybody feels as if he； and especially she （his eyes sparkled）；
were your blood relation。 Do they not name their children after you
very frequently？
〃He blushed perceptibly。 'Sometimes；' he answered。 'I hope they
will all turn out well。'
〃I am afraid I am taking up too much of your time； I said。
〃No； not at all；' he replied。 'Come up into my library； it is warmer
and pleasanter there。'
〃I felt confident that I had him by the right handle then； for an
author's library； which is commonly his working…room； is； like a
lady's boudoir； a sacred apartment。
〃So we went upstairs； and again he got me with the daylight on my
face； when I wanted it on has。
〃You have a fine library； I remarked。 There were books all round the
room； and one of those whirligig square book…cases。 I saw in front a
Bible and a Concordance； Shakespeare and Mrs。 Cowden Clarke's book；
and other classical works and books of grave aspect。 I contrived to
give it a turn； and on the side next the wall I got a glimpse of
Barnum's Rhyming Dictionary； and several Dictionaries of Quotations
and cheap compends of knowledge。 Always twirl one of those revolving
book…cases when you visit a scholar's library。 That is the way to
find out what books he does n't want you to see； which of course are
the ones you particularly wish to see。
〃Some may call all this impertinent and inquisitive。 What do you
suppose is an interviewer's business？ Did you ever see an oyster
opened？ Yes？ Well； an interviewer's business is the same thing。
His man is his oyster； which he； not with sword； but with pencil and
note…book； must open。 Mark how the oysterman's thin blade insinuates
itself；how gently at first； how strenuously when once fairly
between the shells！
〃And here； I said； you write your books；those books which have
carried your name to all parts of the world； and will convey it down
to posterity！ Is this the desk at which you write？ And is this the
pen you write with？
〃'It is the desk and the very pen；' he replied。
〃He was pleased with my questions and my way of putting them。 I took
up the pen as reverentially as if it had been made of the feather
which the angel I used to read about in Young's 〃Night Thoughts〃
ought to have dropped； and did n't。
〃Would you kindly write your autograph in my note…book； with that
pen？ I asked him。 Yes； he would； with great pleasure。
〃So I got out my note…book。
〃It was a spick and span new one； bought on purpose for this
interview。 I admire your bookcases； said I。 Can you tell me just
how high they are？
〃'They are about eight feet； with the cornice。'
〃I should like to have some like those； if I ever get rich enough；
said I。 Eight feet；eight feet； with the cornice。 I must put that
down。
〃So I got out my pencil。
〃I sat there with my pencil and note…book in my hand； all ready； but
not using them as yet。
〃I have heard it said； I observed； that you began writing poems at a
very early age。 Is it taking too great a liberty to ask how early
you began to write in verse？
〃He was getting interested； as people are apt to be when they are
themselves the subjects of conversation。
〃'Very early；I hardly know how early。 I can say truly； as Louise
Colet said；
'Je fis mes premiers vers sans savoir les ecrire。'〃
〃I am not a very good French scholar； said I； perhaps you will be
kind enough to translate that line for me。
〃'Certainly。 With pleasure。 I made my first
verses without knowing how to write them。'
〃How interesting！ But I never heard of Louise Colet。 Who was she？
〃My man was pleased to gi…ve me a piece of literary information。
〃'Louise the lioness！ Never heard of her？ You have heard of
Alphonse Karr？'
〃Why；yes；more or less。 To tell the truth； I am not very well up
in French literature。 What had he to do with your lioness？
〃'A good deal。 He satirized her； and she waited at his door with a
case…knife in her hand； intending to stick him with it。 By and by he
came down； smoking a cigarette； and was met by this woman flourishing
her case…knife。 He took it from her； after getting a cut in his
dressing…gown； put it in his pocket； and went on with his cigarette。
He keeps it with an inscription ：
Donne a Alphonse Karr
Par Madame Louise Colet。。。。
Dans le dos。
Lively little female！'
〃I could n't help thinking that I should n't have cared to interview
the lively little female。 He was evidently tickled with the interest
I appeared to take in the story he told me。 That made him feel
amiably disposed toward me。
〃I began with very general questions； but by degrees I got at
everything about his family history and the small events of his
boyhood。 Some of the points touched upon were delicate； but I put a
good bold face on my most audacious questions； and so I wormed out a
great deal that was new concerning my subject。 He had been written
about considerably； and the public wouldn't have been satisfied
without some new facts； and these I meant to have； and I got。 No
matter about many of them now； but here are some questions and
answers that may be thought worth reading or listening to：
〃How do you enjoy being what they call 'a celebrity；' or a celebrated
man？
〃'So far as one's vanity is concerned it is well enough。 But self…
love is a cup without any bottom； and you might pour the Great Lakes
all through it； and never fill it up。 It breeds an appetite for more
of the same kind。 It tends to make the celebrity a mere lump of
egotism。 It generates a craving for high…seasoned personalities
which is in danger of becoming slavery； like that following the abuse
of alcohol； or opium； or tobacco。 Think of a man's having every day；
by every post； letters that tell him he is this and that and the
other； with epithets and endearments； one tenth part of which would
have made him blush red hot before he began to be what you call a
celebrity！'
〃Are there not some special inconveniences connected with what is
called celebrity？
〃'I should think so！ Suppose you were obliged every day of your life
to stand and shake hands； as the President of the United States has
to after his inauguration： how do you think your hand would feel
after a few months' practice of that exercise？ Suppose you had given
you thirty…five millions of money a year； in hundred…dollar coupons；
on condition that you cut them all off yourself in the usual manner：
how do you think you should like the look of a pair of scissors at
the end of a year； in which you had worked ten hours a day every day
but Sunday； cutting off a hundred coupons an hour； and found you had
not finished your task； after all？ Yon have addressed me as what you
are pleased to call 〃a literary celebrity。〃 I won't dispute with you
as to whether or not I deserve that title。 I will take it for
granted I am what you call me； and give you some few hints on my
experience。
〃'You know there was formed a while ago an Association of Authors for
Self…Protection。 It meant well； and it was hoped that something
would come of it in the way of relieving that oppressed class； but I
am sorry to say that it has not effected its purpose。'
〃I suspected he had a hand in drawing up the Constitution and Laws of
that Association。 Yes； I said； an admirable Association it was； and
as much needed as the one for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals。
I am sorry to hear that it has not proved effectual in putting a stop
to the abuse of a
