Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-09-29
VARIETY.
From he Nsr York Tri5rse.
Death of1umcs FeuimOrc Cooper.

ature, took place at one o'clock on Sunday
afternoon, the l4th inst, at his residence
in Coopcrstown. For several months past,
his health has been in condition which a
Weakened the anxiety Of his friends, al
though with a vigorous constitution and
temperate habits. they could no, bu, anti
cipaie his attainment Of a ripe old age
He left the city about the first Of june for
his country residence; his strength was
greatly impaired; be hoped much for a
change Of air and scene; but as 1t has prov
cd, he returned home only to breathe his
last in tho bosom Of his family. His death
will call forth an emotion Of sadness,
throughout the whole extent Of our conn
sry, for there are few who do not deem
themselves his debtor for many hours Of the
purest intellectual qualification, while the
most remarkable features Of American
scenery have boon invested with new
charm by the magic touches Of his pen
Nor in his native land alone will the an
nounccment of his deccase strike tender
chord in the memory. und recall the de-
light with which the i,nmagination has re-
yelled in his fresh and glowing pictures of
nature and passion. His frame is not on
" co-extensivc with the English language.
but his works have become permanently
Incorporated with the best literature ofevc-
ry civilized country. Without ccasing to
be American. he was eminenlly cosmopo-
Titan, gaining a congenial home for the pro-
auctions Of his genius in every order ofso-
ciety. and holding his wizard spell over
the backwoodsman, who read the adven-
lures of Leather Stocking by the light of
pine knot in the log cabin. as well as over
the votaries Of science and of fashion in the
brilliant saloons Of Paris and Vienna.
Mr.. Cooper was born at Burlington, n.
j., on the 18th ofSeptembcr, 1889, and had
he lived one day longer he would have
been sixty.two years of age. His father,
the late Judge Cooper, was a large land
holder in Otscgo county, in this State, re-
siding alternately at Burlington and Coop
crstown, and giving his name TO the latter
township, which has been distinguished as
the residence of the world renowned au-
thor. He received the rudimcnts Of CLASH
cal education under private instructor at
burlington, continued his studies with an
accomplished Episcopal Clergyman in AL.
bany, and was prepared by him for Yale
College, which he entered in 1902. At
this early age, scarcely turned of thirteen,
he was ill-quahied for the attainment Of
academic Distinction; still he held rcspec-
table place in his class; and in the depart.
ment Of ancient language Is said to have
outstripped every competitor 1t is GER
tain, however; that he had not yet maniics-
ted vocation for a literary life. No one
who then saw the blooming and somewhat
reckless youth, who it is understood had
already begun TO develcpe the spirit Of
sturdy independence, which aftcrward
took tho shape of Maynard obstinacv,
could have predicted or suspected the po-
si,ion which he was destined TO win among
the literary men of his country. A native
passion for the sea, and an uncomfortable
love Of adventure, led HIM among other
causes. to solicit admission into the Ameri-
can Navy, at that time in It's most imper-
feet infancy. and in 1905 he entered the
ser, ice as a Midshipman. lie remained in
the Navy for six years. The influence of
this period Of his life is indelibly stamped
upon his subsequent productions. 1t ena-
bled him to describe the minutie ofnauti-
Gala fairs with that breadth and boldness Of
touch, wlich could Recommended byno wri-
ter who had not himself been rocked on the
giddy mast and TO whom the taste of salt wa
terwas not more familiar than the fountains
OF Hclicon. With the vivid impressions Of
experience, obtained in the fresh and won
dcring age Of boyhood with creative i'm
agitation singularly alive to the impulses
external Nature, and with feedom aud
energy of dclincation which is impaired on
~ by the possession Of actual knowledge,
lie had store of materials for the produc-
ton of"talcs of the sea-" which, had he
written IN no other department of fiction,
would have decided his reputation as
consumnaic master.
La the year 1910. Cooper resigned his
post IN the Navy. was married TO the lady
who survives to mourn his loss, and took
up his residence at Winchester, in the Vi
cinity Of New York. He remained in this
place but short time, when he removed
TO his patrimonal estate in Coopcrstown,
and pursued in earnest his career as a
writer of6ction. He had previously pub
hshcd his maiden novel entitled Prec0u-
ton, a word which gives little promise of
the noble creations " i,h which his name
has since been SO honorably associated.--
Within fifteen years he successfully issued
The Spy" The Pioneer The Pilot"
.'Lioncl Lincoln" and The last of the
Mohlcans," triumphau,ly legitimating his
clam to the character Of an original and
powerful novelist.
ooon after the appearance of"The Las,
OF The Mohicons," in 1926. Mr.. Cooper
sailed for Europe, where he remained for
several years. During this time he wrote
several of his most successful works. in.
cluuiuy "Tha R-...~." ..TL. IA Rover"
and The Prairc." and soon established a
reputation which, with the robust ouali,;cs
OF ais personal character and the disni6ed
frankncss of his manner, made him n
Welcome visitant in the most distinguished
European circles.
His most valuable productions after his
return 10 the United States, are The Path
finder. TIE Destroyer, TIE Tire -Admirals
md uiag and IIing; all of which display
LIS admirable power of invention, his bold
conceptions Of character, and his rare mas
tory Of graphic and impressive portraiture.
ihs more recent performances, IN which
he cndcavors to use the novel as vehicle
Tor political defamation are wholly un.
worthy his fame, and will only leave
blot on the memory of his genius. Their
general style is forced, artificial, and often |
rcpulsive; with little grace of expression
aud no dramatic vigor of plot; showing the
esaggcra'iohs of morbid fancy rather than
'.e healilyaction ola fertile imagination;
and stepped deep in the bitter prcjudiccs of
partizan, with whom passion gave the
aw TO reason. In this sphere of compost
ION. 1t is most charitable TO believe that Mr.
"copper" was out of his eiement. We GER