The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-08-03

he has invested old Ocean for SO many
minds, would thus be owing to a quiet
little lake among the hills. Never was
the "child" more truly "father of the man"
than in Cooper. At thirteen he entered
Yale. He would have been too young
had that institution been what it now is,
but still he was old enough to prove him
self an apt and ready scholar. DR.
Dwight was then president. his wellwon
reputation as teacher outlives his claims
as poet. College then as now, perhaps
more so,was the road to ono of the learned
professions, but Coopers tastes induced
him to seek more adventurous career,
and after four years he left it for the ma
Wy. There were no schools in the Amer |
lean navy then, therefore it was usual
for q young candidate for nautical hon
ors to make voyage before the mast in i
merchantmen by way of initiation and |
experience, custom which Cooper. in |
looking back on his own course, was far
from approving. In his case, however.
few can regret it, for it made him nti-
mate with sailors, with the hardships,
the excitement, the pains and pleasures
of sca-life, which surely he could never
have painted so faithfully but for
that year and a half in the forecas-
tie. 1t was in a round jacket and tar
paulin that the future guest of Rogers
and Holland House first set foot on En-
glish ground, his imagination kindling
with the recollection of all that lie had
heard and read of her glory and power,
and his heart thrilling with the idea that
he was in the land of lis fathers He
soon made himself at home in London,
went through the usual sightseeing,
peered from under his tarpaulin at the
wonders of the Tower and the beauties
of the west, aud in the evening lie anu
Sod his shipmates with anecdotes and the
account of his days rambles. The voy-
age was long and successful it gave him
some rough experience of the Bay of
Biscay, carried him up the Straits, affor-
ded running view of the coasts of Spain
and Africa. rendered him familiar with
the hcadlands and coasts of the Channel
and the dangerous navigation Of those
crowded waters, enriched his memory
with anecdotes, scenes, and outlines of
character. while it fitted him for the ac-
tual duties of his profession. In the
Bay of Biscay they were brought to by
pirate, and only escaped in consequence
of the timely appearance of an English
cruiser: Cooper earned some more ex-
perience too during this memorable voy.
age.
The "Sterling" had hardly cast an
chor in English waters before she was
boarded by man-of-war's boat, and ono
of her best men taken from her to be
forced into the British navy. At London
another was lost, and the captain himself
was seized by press-gang. On their
return they were boarded by gun-boat
officer, who attempted to press Swede.
Cooper could not endure this insult to
his flag, and began TO tell the English
man his mind, but the captain COMPEL.
ed him to be silent. Such was some OF
his carly training in rough but manly
school. On his return he pursued the
study of his profession in its higher
branches, and how successful was the re
suit of his studies will be seen by his
writings.
In 1911 he resigned his commission
and married Miss Delaney; whose amia
Bile disposition and domestic virtues were
admirably calculated for calling out the
earnest affections of his nature, and nur-
turing that grateful intormingling of ac
tion and repose which are SO necessary
to the freshness and vigor of the mino
He took up his abode in a quiet little
J house, which may still be seen at Nam
oroneck in Westchester county, where
he enjoyed his books, the rcpose of coun
try life, the cheerful sunshine of home
1t was this apparent monotony that was
: the means of onlightening him as to his
: real calling He was reading a new nov
/ el to his wife. .Pshaw ln said he; 81
could write a better novel myself y and
l by the way of proving himself in earn.
est, he Immediately set himself to the
task, and wrote the first chapter of Pre-
l caution"
, "Go on" was Mrs. Cooper's advice
whom she had listened to it as young
l wife may be supposed to listen to hel
t husbands first attempts at authorship
Q and the work was finished 1t was thu
: least successful of his books. The scene
t was laid in England, but it was from BIZ
Q recollectious Of books that he wrote, anc
5 not from his own observations of life ant
i knowledge of the society which he pain
! ted
His vocation was now decided. II,
/. had overcome the mechanical dificultiei
$ of authorship, and henceforward followed