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The Critic
Lynne,' and 'Uncle Tom's Cabin,' to
'Ilamlet.' That is the way that I
learned to act; it was work, work,
work, work, long and hard and lots of
it. Other actresses may learn in other
ways, other women might not learn by
my way. Yes, I believe that all forms
of art are inborn, but some arts cannot
blossom without long cultivation."
After the success in San Francisco
already spoken of came the successes
in HIonolulu and Australia and Egypt,
and the trip around the world. Finally
has come this Boston success.
A Dinner at
The Adventures of an Author with His Own Hero
By O. HENRY
ALL that day-in fact from the mo-
ment of his creation-Van Sweller had
conducted himself fairly well in my
eyes. Of course I had had to make
many concessions; but in return he
had been no less considerate. Once or
twice we had had sharp, brief conten-
tions over certain points of behavior;
but, prevailingly, give and take had
been our rule.
IIis morning toilet provoked our first
tilt. Van Sweller went about it
confidently.
"The usual thing, I suppose, old
chap," he said, with a smile and a
yawn. "I ring for a b. and s., and
then I have my tub. I splash a good
deal in the water, of course. You are
aware that there are two ways in which
I can receive "Tommy Carmichael when
he looks in to have a chat about polo.
I can talk to him through the bath-
room door, (r I can be picking at a
grilled bone which my man has brought
in. Which would you prefer?"
I smiled with diabolic satisfaction at
his coming discomfiture.
"Neither," I said. "You will make
your appearance on the scene when a
gentleman should-after you are fully
dressed, which indubitably private
function shall take place behind closed
doors. And I will feel indebted to you
if, after you do appear, your deport-
ment and manners are such that it will
not be necessary to inform the public,
in order to appease its apprehension,
that you have taken a bath."
* see i - m cn!. ii, r" in Wr i n h
Van Sweller slightly elevated his
browx's.
"Oh, very well," he said, a trifle
piqued. "I rather imagine it concerns
you more than it does me. Cut the
'tub' by all means, if you think best.
But it has been the usual thing, you
know. '
This was my victory; but after Van
Sweller emerged from his apartments
in the "Beaujolie" I was vanquished
in a dozen small but well-contested
skirmishes. I allowed him a cigar;
but routed him on the question of
naming its brand. But he worsted me
when I objected to giving him a "coat
unmistakably English in its cut." I
allowed him to "stroll down Broad-
way," and even permitted "passers by"
(God knows there 's nowhere to pass
but by) to "turn their heads and gaze
with evident admiration at his erect
figure." I demeaned myself, and, asa
barber, gave him a "smooth, dark face
with its keen, frank eye, and firm jaw."
Later on he looked in at the club and
saw Freddy Vavasour, the polo team
captain, dawdling over grilled bone
No. I.
"Dear old boy," began Van Sweller;
but in an instant I had seized him by
the collar and dragged him aside with
the scantiest courtesy.
"''For heaven's sake talk like a man,"
I said, sternly. "Do you think it is
manly to use those mushy and inane
forms of address? That man is neither
dear nor old nor a boy."
To my surprise Van Sweller turned
upon mnc ai look of frank pleasure.
f.
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