The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1839-12-07

n.s0 SiTCS IItlc 10 the WOEk, is JOEn
Paul Jones, was published in the year
1921, and forthwith became popular
The time embraced by the whole book,
excepting the last chapter, is less than
scventy.two hours. 1t is undoubtedly
one Of the best, as it certainly is the most
finished, of Mr. Cooper's fictions. clio
mel Lincoln" soon followed "The Pilot"
in 1925; and its popularity was unprccc-
dcHtcd The scenes Of this romance arc
laid in Boston during its occupation by
The British troops, at the beginning OF
tie revolutionary struggle. 1tis second,
in poin, of merit, to others by the same
author, but yields to none of them in in
,ercst. It was this production that crea-
ted in Boston and throughout New Eng
land, popularity for Mr.. Cooper's works,
at one period so great, as to become among
novel readers, almost mania.
In 1926, Mr.. Cooper sent out from Lis
prolific pen, another annual;-lor his ap-
pcarancc was now marked with the rcgn.
laritv Of the seasons; anu new novel,
yearly, from the "aulhor of the Spy" as
he was designated, had got to be as much
a matter Of course, as the animal mes
sage from tie president This, his sixth
romance, is entitled 1.-THE Last Of Mnhi-
cans" and is assilnilatcd, in the pccul;a-
Iri.ies Of lis principal scenes and cbarac-
tiers, to "The Pioneers" both Of which
ictiuns may, with propriety, be dcnomi-
mated in contradiction to Nautical, -
"indian novels" their prominent features
being the portraiture Of Indian manners
and customs, the pecnliariiies Of which
are exhibited in the habludcs Of certain
aboriginal characters therein introduced.
In painting Indian scenes Of still life, or
in delinealing the warrior and hunter, the
battle or The chase, our novelist, as he is
tie first who seize upon subjects so fall
of interest for the romanccr, SO is he
alone and unriralled in this branch of his
art. The forest, ocean, and camp, con-
slitu!e the legitimate empire Of MIR. Coo
per's genius. At his bidding the savage
warrior, the fearless seaman, the gallant
soldier, move, speak and act with won
dcrful reality. But in the streets Of a
city; in the green fields; in the parlor or
in the bower, he is not 50 entirely at
home: and the details of rural and domcs-
tic life are apparently unsuited to the
character of his genius. His mind is
deeply imbued with love for the stern and
the sublime: as poet, he doubtless would
have written very much like Campbell.
In 1927, Mr.. Cooper published his Sc
'vcnlh romance, entitled "Thc Prairic,"
a fiction Of the same species Of the Pio-
ncers, and by judicious critics esteemed
one Of the best from his pen. The
"aal'ior of the Spy" had now attained 10
that degree Of pnpu'arity, whcn, at length,
an author's productions arc received IN
questioned, read without criticism, and
become a part cf the current Literature Of
the aye. The words "Hy the author OF
the Spy on the tile pare cf novel,
was now sniIi"irnt for lis introduction,
unread. rot oa!y into the houdoir, but in
10 Tic I',rarics oi' mcn nf taste and lear
ming. Having successfully overcome tie
rapids, quicksands and wh;llnooIs Which
obslructrd his onset, Mr.. Cooper had now
only to spread hisi sail, reclinc at case
in his bark, and, waited by the breczcs
Of popular favor. glide peacefully ever
the placid sea Of literary fame.
The popularity OF the Prairie was m
rreceten!ed BY any previous works from!
tho same pen. At this period, tho Eng
lish language presented the remarkable
feature uf two Of its writer's, natives Of
different lands, engrossing the whole field
Of romance, controlling tho public taste,
aad each founding at the same time, in
Opposite hemispheres, an immortal school
Of fiction. Scott opened the treasures Of
the highlands, and scattered their iacx-
haustiblc stores throughout Chrislendom:
and by the power of his unaided genius,
he has thrown classic interest over the
hills, glcns, towers and, lakes of his ma
tive country, as imperishable as the charm
which the epic poets of Rome and Greece
have thrown around their lands. Cooper
unfoided the mysteries Of the palhless
wilderness, sna:chcd its native lords from
I the oblivion into which they were sinking,
and babe them live, before the eyes Of the
aLmiring world, in all the poetry and ro-
nance Of their characcrs. The magic OF
h;. non b,c inv.sfrI tho forest with an