MRS. AND MR. HALL CAINE

MRS. HALL CAINE Photo by G. B. Cowan, Ramsey, Isle of Man

If for nothing else, we are indebted to the New Vagabonds and the drama for an occasional glimpse of the shining lights of literature. A life of solitude on a lonely island, surrounded by the roaring, rolling, and foaming sea, must offer to geniuses of the pen some strange, irresistible fascination as yet unappreciated by the ordinary man, In the historical periods of turmoil and oppression harassed men were kidnapped and driven to the desolate castles overlooking the stormy waters, there to be kept prisoners until released by death. To-day, however, some powerful magnetism seems at work stealthily drawing our thinkers and workers from the busy haunts of humanity, and the time has surely come for the cycle to stop such an exodus, Our leaders in literature and journalism may be allowed to live in the most secluded suburban spot, but in exile - no. The powers of the wheel have not yet been fully grasped by the uneducated non-cyclist. The most sanguine optimist has preached the gospel to such good purpose in rural districts as to increase the rents of country houses which have for long years been haunted only by the industrious spider. The hotel tariffs in the season now exceed even the reckoning of the canny Scotch proprietors, whose exorbitant prices are the terror of all tourists in the Highlands. A hero, or, better still, a heroine is required in the desolate places of the earth to oust those whom we would wish to have in our metropolis. Such a heroine has arisen in Mrs. Hall Caine, whose bright and charming personality is sufficient to work wonders in this direction, Cyclo-mania crossed the threshold of Greeba Castle, and began to spread like the plague, but stopped at Hall Caine. It could not penetrate such a genius. If it had, there would have been sorrow in the stables. - Perhaps conflict, maybe destruction, and, possibly, injured four-footed friends ; but such disaster was not forthcoming, and the old love was not discarded for the new by all members of the family. In imagination, I perceived the author's wife, gracefully seated on her dainty tan and gold Rudge-Whitworth cycle, in happy contrast to her neat navy-blue costume, riding along the magnificently engineered Manx roads. accompanied by the jealous and indignant glances of an old favourite, who still proudly carried its master.

"Oh, I learnt very quickly," said Mrs. Hall Caine, in reply to my consoling remarks as to the difficulty of mastering the wobbly wheels. "In a week really, a month or so ago; but my little son, a lad of some fourteen summers, learnt in one lesson only. I know very little of metropolitan riding, having restricted myself to the inner circle of Regent's Park and the North London roads, which I think are delightful, but nothing in comparison with the Manx roads and the beautiful scenery of the isle,"

"What do you think of the cycle?" I enquired of the author.

"The cycle" replied Mr. Hall Caine, "I consider is doing a [service] to true literature in opening up opporunities for [better] knowledge and love of nature. Twenty years ago many men and women in London knew no hill higher than Highgate Hill and Hampstead Heath was their only country, The cycle takes them far afield, and if it does not produce a race of poets it must at least elevate the taste by which 'nature poets' are to be judged,"

"Do you not weary of the narrow confines of an island the roads of which could be cycled easily in thirty-six hours?" I asked,

"I could exhaust London as a holiday resort, or it would exhaust me, whichever way you like to put it, in three days, but the island is exhaustless. Speaking from a cyclist's point of view, I should say that Manxland is superior to the English Lakes, The roads are of excellent surface, for the most part flat, with few dangerous or unrideable hills. The main road that runs under our house is some ten and three-quarter miles in length; although hilly in parts, from our gates to Peel it is as flat as a billiard table There are many mountains ' real mountains, though unformed'which are pronounced to be of the same substance and character, only smaller, as the Alps. The range of mountains runs N.E. to S.W., from Maughold Head to the Calf, and occupies the greater part of the island. The highest elevation is Snaefell, from which may be witnessed scenery which is justly celebrated for its picturesque variety and loveliness. It is clear that the sea has washed over the whole of it. Ages and ages of such washings have to all appear- ances, so far as an amateur goes, taken away those sharp hills which you have in the Lakes. Our mountains are cone shape, and one of them takes the form of a pyramid. from the sea the island looks mountainous, and is very beautifully shaped. For nearly eighteen miles, from Peel to Ramsey, there is a perfectly magnificent road, through a beautiful country, and for some miles affording good coast scenery. There are several other lesser roads, from Port Erin to St. John's. The road from Ramsey to Douglas is very mountainous, and practically unrideable for any except the most expert cyclists."

"What months do you consider the best for tourists?"

"My advice is, stop away during the last week in July and the whole of August, for it is during these weeks that the Lancashire trippers come in shoals. Some 300,000 operatives, who have been shut up in factories for the eleven months and two weeks of the year, invest the historic centres and the main roads. So much so, that during certain hours of the day the road running under Greeba Castle is almost as swarmed with vehicles as is your Piccadilly Circus. September is a most beautiful month, with sunsets beyond one's power to deseribe. With the regularity of the calendar the trippers forsake the chief places of resort; to wit, Douglas, Ramsey, Port Erin and Laxey.

GREEBA CASTLE
Photo by T. Kieg, Douglas, Isle of Man

"Of motor-cars, you ask. There are, I believe two on the island ; one was purchased by the Diamond King who proposed to enact a law in our Legislature for their propulsion along our roads at a reasonable rate of speed. I think the Bill was passed either just before or after his death We have electric cars, which have proved very useful for ascending the mountains. There is one that runs to the top of Snaefell, Anything that promotes the attraction of our island for visitors is desired, and if motor-cars could be utilised for safe transit of passengers along the main roads and up the mountains, they would be welcomed We are not prejuciced against new inventions, although our horses may be, as in the case of the new railway. As a boy I remember the first train, and our old horses had either to be sent away or killed, for it was impossible to accustom them to the steam engine,"

MR. AND MRS. HALL CAINE
Photo by G. B. Cowan, Ramsey, Isle of Man

As I was admiring the charming photograph of Mr. and Mrs. Hall Caine apparently playing "Romeo and Juliet," which had been taken specially for the readers of The CYCLE AND MOTOR WORLD, I caught a glimpse of the novelist in his melodramatic mood. As I studied the man, I perceived the author, the artist, the mimic and the actor, who created and moulded, by the aid of pen and ink, the masterpieces of his books, and by the introduction of passages of humour drawn from a vast knowledge of human nature, represented to us the heroes and heroines of his fancy, which he evolved and chiselled into strong, true characters, who emerged by this interesting process from the inherent weaknesses of their fore-fathers.

"Dress: I muttered: "Of course, you are opposed to the new costume for lady cyclists?"

"On the contrary. I thought the Zouave costumes of the French girls perfectly delightful. Many of my friends have said, "Oh, yes, they are all very well for the French, but our English girls are so different." I cannot agree with this sentiment, only I must admit that I think some of the prejudice here is due to the fact that the costumes here are not quite so picturesque as those worn in France. But this may interest you," Mr. Hall Caine added, handing me the following paragraph, which is in his latest novel, The Christan : "Glory found her very amusing, and broke into little trills of laughter This drew the attention of some of the men; they found the contrast interesting. The conversation consisted first of hints. half signs, brilliant bits of by-play, and Glory rose to it like a fish to the may fly. Then it fell upon bicycling and the costumes ladies wore for it. The languid one commented upon the female fetish the skirt, and condemned bloomers, whereupon Glory declared that they were just charming, and being challenged (by a gentleman) for her reasons, she said, "Because when the girl got them on, she feels as if she is an understudy for a man, and may even have a chance of playing the part herself in another and a better world."

I fled down the carpeted staircase in a whirlwind.

Understudy ! Bah! Fiddlesticks !

If only such a glorious heroine as Glory had a really good mount with a reliable brake ; a suitable costume ; £50 in her purse, and three months holiday in which to tour from the Land's End to John o' Groat's, what a revolution might be wrought in the thoughts of man as to woman. For the first time she would enjoy the realisation of true emancipation; listen to the myriad feathered songsters who never weary of singing the praises of the Most High; appreciate the harmonising influence of brilliantly painted landscape scenery, and come in personal contact with the highest and lowest of the land who frequent the public highways. No longer would she be satisfied to fool round behind the curtain to view and take part in the artificial imitation of the comedy and tragedy of human life, for she would then be able to study at the fountain-head inspired by Nature, the mother of all art, poetry and drama, to rise above the ignoble passions of men, and learn of love. freedom, and of beauty. As a woman, she would learn herself, not an "understudy for a man.". N.G.B,