Three generations

346 L'ENVOI
students attending the University, etc. There were
many French and Germans, and very many Americans.
Among the French came Madame and Mademoiselle
Rolland, whose son and brother, M. Romain Rolland
of the Sorbonne, the author of "John Christopher"
("Dawn and Morning," "Storm and Stress"), which
is regarded by critics as likely to be one of the great
books of the generation. We were introduced to him
during one of his brief visits to Oxford, and found the
correspondent of Tolstoi and the friend of D'Annunzio
unassuming and friendly, as modest as any shy re-
tiring English author. Among the visitors from the
Colonies was Dr. Fitchett, whose books on the
Peninsular Wars were very popular in England ;
Mr. Usher, of a younger generation, who has won his
spurs in historic research, and in his book on English
Church history ; Dr. Judson, the son of the great
Burmese missionary, with his wife and family, worthy
descendants of such an ancestor ; Lily Dougal, the
Canadian author of various highly original novels,
such as " Beggars All," " The Zeit-geist," etc. Kate
Douglas Wiggin, the bright-witted author of " Pene-
lope's Experiences," brought an introduction to us,
and lunched at the house along with her fellow-author,
Miss Dougal. (We three scribblers exchanged books,
much as other people exchange visiting cards.)
Among these strangers become friends we formed
strong and lasting ties. With many obligations,
literary work, and advancing years, I was shrinking
more and more into family life ; but I was not without
interests beyond it. In the beginning I saw some-
thing of the ways of beautiful academic Oxford. I
attended occasional lectures ; was present at several
"commemorations," and boat-races. I enjoyed the