Chapter I: Foreword

My husband wrote his own Reminiscences in his two books--_Some Eminent Victorians_ and _Coasting Bohemia_, and it might justly be brought up against me that I could have nothing to add to what he has said himself.

But a critic remarked at the time that there were few “Reminiscences” in which the pronoun “I” occurred so seldom; and it is upon this ground that I venture to take my stand.

His friends meant so much to him that his talk is all of them. But they also loved him, and the few who are left among those of whom he wrote, as well as the many more of the younger generation who testify to-day to the exhilaration of his presence and the tonic of his humour may, I hope, find in my effort something which may recall to them his urbane and inspiring personality.

CONTENTS

PAGE

I. COURTSHIP 1

II. THE HOME OF BOYHOOD 10

III. MARRIAGE 16

IV. HOME LIFE AND DRAMATIC CRITICISM 28

V. JOURNALISM AND LETTERS 43

VI. BOOKS AND TRAVEL 63

VII. GROSVENOR AND NEW GALLERIES 76

VIII. DRAMATIC WORK AND MANAGEMENT 83

IX. SOCIAL OCCASIONS 115

X. FOREIGN HOLIDAYS 129

XI. FISHING HOLIDAYS 156

XII. EARLY VERSE 175

_Frontispiece_

J. COMYNS CARR

From a photograph by the London Stereoscopic Co. Ltd.