The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1851-10-09
James FennimOre COOper.

We have before announced the demise OF
James Fennimore Cooper, the greatest of Amer
lean novelists, which took place on the 14th Of
last month, at his residence in Coopertown, N.
Y Had Mr.. Cooper lived one day longer, he
would have completed his 62d year. He was
born in 1889, at Burlington, N. j. After gra-
duating at Yale College in 1906, he, the next
year, entered the navy as midshipman; but
after six years he left the service. In 1911, he
was married to Miss Delaney, sister of the Epis-
iscopal Bishop of Western New York. Soon
after his marriage, he made his debut before
the public as a candidate for literary fame by
the publication of The PrecautiOn-a tale Of
English society but it proved failure, and is
we believe, now nearly out of print His next
effort was The Spy, which at once placed his
name high on the record of fame, as one of the
most brilliant novelists of the day. After hav-
ing given to the world number of truly Ame-
rican novels, he incurred the enmity of the
American public, by his censures of American
manners. Having spent some years in Europe,
he published two or three books in which he
held up for censure and reform, those faults of
his own countrymen, to which residence abroad
had called his attention. The lesson, however,
though probably well intended, was not receiv-
ed with the same goodwill His books were
savagely reviewed, and he was unsparingly de-
nounced. He took up the gauntlet and waged
a fierce contest against the whole newspaper
press, carrying the war into the courts of law.
But, Notwithstanding this fercely waged
warfare, his works are generally appreciated,
and held in high favor by his own countrymen
more particularly his earlier productions
and no other writer has contributed more ex-
tensively to raise the credit of American Lite
nature abroad, (unless, perhaps, we might ex-
cept Washington Irving.) Wherever the name
of America is known, there will the name Of
James Fennimore Cooper appear as " bright
particular starr in the galaxy of writer's who
have enriched the English language in the de-
partment of fiction. Although his name stands
out more prominently as a writer in the lighter
department of literature, his works in the more
solid branches, history, &c., would place the
name of their author high on the record of lite
rary fame, were they his only productions
His fictitious writings are generally of that class
which may be perused not only with interest
but with profit. Unlike too many of those pro-
ductions which are nowadays sent forth into
the community to carry corruption and pollu-
ton to the minds of tie young, his works are
generally of high moral character, containing
useful lessons, while they serve to unbend the
mind from too close application to the more
austere literary pursuits
He doubtless owed part of his inspiration
to the magnificent nature by which he was sur
rounded-to the lakes and forests, the Indian
traditions and border life incident to his adopt
ed place of residence. That he wrote too much
to write everything equally well cannot be de-
MED but his abundance flowed out of full,
original mind, and his rapidity and variety be-
spoke resolute and manly consciousness of
power.
In his death great man has fallen-the crea-
tive power which brought to life world in
which taste and fancy have long loved to revel,
lies low beneath the scenes which have been
peopled by its own teeming pen. The turf
"hi0h 'ho hiry hoccaSlH VI Le Suptl mas pres
sed, lies lightly upon his bosom-the valleys
through which stockings rife echoed
have received to sleep, till the reckoning morn,
in their silent bosom, the cold form of the gifted
son of genius. Rest his faults and his errors
in the grave with him; while the glory of his
immortal name shall live so long as America
stands to point to his memory as that of her
first novelist