Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 105, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 September 1901 — “Lewis Carroll.” [ARTICLE]

“Lewis Carroll.”

Of course Mr. Dodgson, better known as “Lewis Carroll,” the author of “Alice in Wonderland,” was one of the sights of Oxford, says Rev, Mr. Tuekwell In his “Reminiscences” of that famous university town, and he describes him: Strangers, lady strangers especially, begged their lionizing friends to point out Mr. Dodgson, and were disappointed when they saw the homely figure and the grave, repellent face. Except to little girls he was not an alluring personage. ! His passion for them was universal and nndiscriminating; like Miss Snevellici’s papa, he loved them every one. Yet even here he was symmetrical and rigid; reaching the point where brook and river meet, the petted, loving child friend was dropped abruptly, remorselessly, finally. Perhaps It was Just as well; probably the severance was mutual; the little maids put away childish things, he did ; not; to their maturer Interests and grown-up day-dreams he could have made no response; better to think of him as they think of nursery books, a pleasant memory, laid by upon their ■helves affectionately, but no longer read. And to the few who loved him this faithlessness, as some called it, seems to reveal the secret of his character. He was what German Novalis has called a grown-up child.