Part 15 (2/2)

CHAPTER XIV

MEETING A REVERSE OR TWO

With the hitherto unreached ht, Edward Bok decided to give a broader scope to the periodical He was determined to lay under contribution not only the most famous writers of the day, but also to seek out those well-known persons who usually did not contribute to theinconstantly to widen its scope and gradually to lift its standard

The editor was very desirous of securing soht children, and he hit upon the idea of trying to induce Lewis Carroll to write another _Alice in Wonderland_ series He was told by English friends that this would be difficult, since the author led a secluded life at Oxford and hardly ever admitted any one into his confidence But Bok wanted to beard the lion in his den, and an Oxford graduate volunteered to introduce hih whom, if it were at all possible, he could reach the author

The journey to Oxford was made, and Bok was introduced to the don, who turned out to be no less a person than the original possessor of the highly colored vocabulary of the ”White Rabbit” of the Alice stories

”Impossible,” ison to consider it” Bok, however, persisted, and it so happened that the don liked what he called ”A,” he said ”We'll beard the lion in his den, as you say, and see what happens You know, of course, that it is the Reverend Charles L Dodgson that we are going to see, and I must introduce you to that person, not to Lewis Carroll He is a tutor in idly secluded life; dislikes strangers; htful men in the world if he wants to be”

But as it happened upon this special occasion when Bok was introduced to hison did not ”want to be”

delightful There was no doubt that back of the studied reserve was a kindly, charentleman, but Bok's profession had been uard

When Bok explained that one of the special reasons for his journey from America was to see him, the Oxford mathematician sufficiently softened to ask the editor to sit down Bok then broached his son co to the person you think you are addressing”

For a ht to the point

”Do I understand, Mr Dodgson, that you are not 'Lewis Carroll'; that you did not write _Alice in Wonderland_?”

For an answer the tutor rose, went into another room, and returned with a book which he handed to Bok ”This is my book,” he said simply It was entitled _An Eleson When he looked up, Bok found the author's eyes riveted on hison If I remember correctly, this is the same book of which you sent a copy to Her Majesty, Queen Victoria, when she wrote to you for a personal copy of your _Alice_”

Dodgson made no comment The face was absolutely without expression save a kindly co a terrible , Mr Bok, you are in error You are not speaking to 'Lewis Carroll'” And then: ”Is this the first time you have visited Oxford?”

Bok said it was; and there followed the htful two hours with the Oxfordabout and into the wonderful college buildings, and afterward the three had a bite of lunch together But all efforts to return to ”Lewis Carroll” were futile While saying good-by to his host, Bok re son, in my quest in behalf of the thousands of Aladly welcome 'Lewis Carroll' back”

The mention of children and their love for hiht cason was about to say soht hiuard

”I a at the door, ”that you should be disappointed, for the sake of the children as well as for your own sake I only regret that I cannot remove the disappointment”

As they later walked to the station, the don said: ”That is his attitude toward all, even toward me He is not 'Lewis Carroll' to any one; is extree his identity That is why he lives so much to himself He is in daily dread that some one will mention _Alice_ in his presence Curious, but there it is”

Edward Bok's next quest was to be even ; he was never even to reach the presence of the person he sought This was Florence Nightingale, the Cri her own story of her experiences, but on every hand he found an unwillingness even to take him to her house ”No use,” said everybody ”She won't see any one Hates publicity and all that sort of thing, and shuns the public” Nevertheless, the editor journeyed to the famous nurse's home on South Street, in the West End of London, only to be told that ”Miss Nightingale never receives strangers”

”But I aer,” insisted the editor ”I am one of her friends from America Please take my card to her”

This mollified the faithful secretary, but the word instantly ca any one that day Bok wrote her a letter asking for an appointment, which was never answered Then he wrote another, took it personally to the house, and awaited an answer, only to receive the ale says there is no answer to the letter”

Bok had with such reht, that these experiences were new to him Frankly, they puzzled him He was not easily baffled, but baffled he noas, and that twice in succession Turn as he ht, he could find no way in which to reopen an approach to either the Oxford tutor or the Crimean nurse They were plainly too e his defeat The experience was good for him; he did not realize this at the ti what he wanted