CHAPTER XVIII

AT STRATFORD-ON-AVON

The “Local Color” in Marie Corelli’s Books--“I _Imagine_ it must be so, and I find it generally _is_ so”--Why the Novelist went to live at Stratford--“Hall’s Croft,” “Avon Croft,” and “Mason Croft”: her Successive Residences--Her Affection for Stratford and her Regret that the Memorial Theatre is so little used--Her Benefactions--Instances of Kind-heartedness in Other Writers--Marie Corelli’s “Life-Programme”--Her Personality “Striking in its Simplicity and in its Power”--The Novelist as a Shakespeare Enthusiast--Her Desire to see Stratford become the “Bayreuth of Literature”--The Novelist’s “Public”: the Vastness of her Constituency--Her Friends--A Character Sketch of Marie Corelli by Mr. J. Cuming Walters--Mr. Gladstone’s Parting Benediction 332

_Of the above Chapters, II, V, VIII, IX, XII, XIII, XVI, and XVII are by Thomas F. G. Coates; and Chapters I, III, IV, VI, VII, X, XI, XIV, XV and XVIII by R. S. Warren Bell._

Illustrations

“Mason Croft,” Miss Corelli’s Present Residence _Frontispiece_

A Boating Place on the Avon _Facing page_ 80

A Favorite Reach on the Avon " " 80

What Becomes of the Press Cuttings " " 146

Marie Corelli’s Pet Yorkshire Terrier “Czar” " " 146

“Killiecrankie Cottage” where “Ziska” was Finished " " 212

“Avon Croft” where “The Master Christian” was Finished " " 212

“Hall’s Croft” where Marie Corelli Wrote Half of “The Master Christian” " " 228

Winter at “Mason Croft” " " 320

The Elizabethan Watch Tower, “Mason Croft” " " 336

Miss Corelli’s Boatman and Punt " " 346

MARIE CORELLI

The Writer and the Woman