School for Girls. Curiously enough the name of my Pullman car was
Pauline. Not only did that strike me as remarkable, but I occupied upper
berth number 9 in car 11, two numbers which, added together, produced
the exact age at which Browning published the poem of that name. At once
I recited the opening lines, "Pauline, mine own, bend o'er me--thy soft
breast shall pant to mine--bend o'er me," to the porter.

I like to believe that the spirit of Browning arranged that entire
journey, for the other occupant of this well-omened berth was that
admirable statesman Warren G. Harding. When I sat down I noticed that
he was reading Henry Sydnor Harrison's "Queed", a book which was justly
popular at that time. I at once showed Mr. Harding an article I had
written in which I stated that not only was "Queed" a real novel, with
a real plot, and real characters, but that I believed the readers were
stimulated by the spiritual advance of the hero. The future president
agreed with me and said he thought that literature was a great thing.
Encouraged by this I confessed that I was on my way to deliver a lecture
on modern poetry. Mr. Harding replied that he thought poetry was a great
thing. "Splendid!" I cried, and taking a copy of Browning from my bag I
read him several selections. Mr. Harding said that of the American poets
he liked James Whitcomb Riley best. Personally, while I have for Mr.
Riley only wonder and praise, I think that the English poet strikes a
more inspiring, more eternal note.

I then read to Mr. Harding Browning's "Evelyn Hope". He said that he
knew a Mrs. Walter Hope in Marion, but that he was not sure her first
name was Evelyn. As I knew that Mr. Harding liked a good pun, I remarked
facetiously that "hope springs eternal", meaning that probably there
were in existence several families of that name.

I am happy to state that with that meeting began a friendship which
has lasted for many years. When Mr. Harding was nominated for the
presidency, I wrote at once, enclosing a copy of "The Advance of the
English Novel" which I had published in 1916. On the title-page I wrote,
"To the Hero of a Much More Spectacular Advance", meaning that the
progress made by the English novel was as nothing compared to Mr.
Harding's rapid and well-deserved rise. In reply I received the
following:

6 July, 1920. MY DEAR
PROFESSOR PHELPS:

Many thanks to you for your congratulations and your kindn