Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-10-01
JAMES FENIMoRE COOPER.
The distinguished American move

The distinguished American novelist
James Fenimore Cooper died at his resi-
dence IN Cooperstown, New York, on Sun
nav, the 14th of September, aged 62 years
all but one day, having been born on the
18th of September 1888. He was native
of Burlington, n. J.,where his father. Judge
Cooper, resided part cf the time at that Pc
Rod, his attention being divided between
his residence in Burlington and his new set
tlement in Osteco County, New York, to
which he gave the name Of Cooperstown,
and where his family have since resided.
Mr.. Cooper was educated at Yale College,
where he graduated in 1906, and then en-
tered the navy as midshipman. In 1911
he resigned his commission and married
Miss Delaney, sister of the Bishop of West
ern New York. Since that period he has
devoted himself to literature, his first pub
lished effort having been the novel "Precau-
tion," the scene of which was laid in Eng
land, where it had greater popularity than it
has enjoyed IN this country. To this sue
ceeded ''The Spy" which had extraordinary
success. Then followed "The Pioneers"
"The Pilot" "Llonel Lincoln" and 'The
Last of the Mohlcans"- all of them, except
"Lionel Lincoln contributing to raise the
fame of their author. AT this period in his
literary career Mr.. Cooper visited Europe,
where his novels had been translated, at
tanned popularity only second to those of
Scott. Here he published several other fc-
tions. His EMOTIONS of the Americans" his
"Gleanings in Europe and his "Sketches
in Switzerland" were also part of the fruit
of his European residence, which lasted
number of years. Mr.. Cooper also publish
ed "The American Democrat good work
on American Society and Institutions.
In 1889 appeared his "Hstory of the Ma
Wv of the United States,' the most elabor-
ate of his works, and one which led to many
controversies. 1t is, however, conceded to
be the best Naval History We have ever
had. The novels written by Mr.. Cooper
since his return from Europe lack the spirit
of his earlier efforts. Most of them are of
too ddactic character, and even when
writing of the sea, the prarie or the forest, he
betrays an unpleasant dogmatism on social
and political subjects, which robs his fictions
of their charm of freshness and truth to ma
ture. In one series of novels he became the
champion of the landlords in the Ambient
controversy in New York; in others he
was the defender of high churchism in the
Episcopal Church, and in all there was too
palpable display of the partisan defending
a set Of political, religious or social tenets.
But there are passages in all the later nov
els worthy of the early genius Of the au-
thor, and the evident sincerity of the SEN
timents in every page is sufficient defence
against all criticisms of their pecularities.
Mr.. Cooper was not only the most Popu-
lar but the most prolific of American novel
lists. He has written more than thirty works
of fiction, besides his Naval History,a series
of Naval Biographies, books of travels, 81 9TH
er works and reviews. In social life he was
much esteemed, and as the head of a lovely
family, he was universally beloved and ad-
mired. He was however, unpopular among
the critics particularly those of the daily
press. In the hostility thus engendered,
originated numerous libel suits, which, how
ever Just they may have been, added moth
ing to the public respect for Mr.. Cooper
Of late years this species of warfare has
been suspended, and the popular mind has
returned to its just appreciation of MIR.
Cooper's extraordinary talents. 1t is a
pleasant reflection that his last days have
not been embittered by controversy, but
that Americans have been enabled to look
admringly upon the character of the man
who has done more to make name for
American Literature than any other of their
citizens.-Phu. Il. Bull