New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-06-24
DEATH OF DOUGLAS JERROLD.

Ihe suuOeh ueCedse vi WI. IVuShhs JeiiOiuj hhiOh
is announced among our foreign news this morning,
has been the occasion of general expression OF sur
prize and sorrow in the circles which were accus-
toned to listen to the bursts of wit and pleasantly
which marked the social intercourse of tibet popular
humorist and pungent writer. lie died on Monday,
June g. after brief attack of rheumatic gout, retain
ing his intellect until few moments before his death.
Douglas JerrOd was born in London Jsn 3, 1903,
and was consequently in the 55th year of his age when
seized with his last illness. His father manager
of the provincial heater of Sheerness and doubtless
this circumstance gave impulse to the strong
dramatic tastes which at later period distinguished
the character of the son. At an early age young
Douglas was smtten with passion for going to sea,
and through the influence Of Captain Austen,
brother of the celebrated novelist obtained berth as
midshipman in the British Navy. He soon tired OF
the service however, and returning to the ngorous
life of q landsmsn, was appfehtced to printer IN
London. While employed in this occupation, be be-
came mbued with ardent love of literature, and
devoted every moment of leisure that he could obtain
to the devourng of books Pursuing irregular course of
selfnsructon he acquired the knowledge of several
but gave his best hours and deepest enthu-
siasm to the study of Shakespeare. While working
"a a compositor in the Office of London newspaper,
he first tried his hand at literary labor, and gained
great admiration by several articles which he had Sc
cretlv contributed to its columns. His first attempt
was criticism the opera of Der Freischutz,
which so pleased the editor that the Anonymous writer
was requested to favor the journal with other articles
from his brilliant and effective pen Soon AFTER while
still under the age he wrote the pop
Mar drama of Black Eyed Susan, which is said to
have been SO successful that it postponed the ruin of
Drury lane Theater for whole season. The Rent
Day met with a no less triumphant reception, aud
fixed the vocation of the author as dramatic writer
From this time his productions were numerous they
are perhaps without exception thoroughly English in
| their character, intoxicating q wholesome vein
Of sentiment and sparkling with true wit. Douglas
| Jerrod was leading contributor to Punch from
the first establishment of that humorous journal His
papers are strongly marked by their keen observation
mordant SATIRE and singing invectve. In 1916, he
| commenced the publication of weekly newspaper
bearing his own name, which he afterward sold, and
for several years past has been the editor of the largely
circulated "Lloyds Weekly
As a journalist he was unfincbng, often audaeious,
but always impelled by deep and honest convictions
His independence certainly approached the borders Of
cynicism but those to whom he was best known are
loud in their assertions of his intrinsic kindness of
heart which he never sacrificed except for the sake
of in6uleing his sarcastic wit He was the nveterate
foe of everything which even resembed pretense or
sham. With no respect for mere conventionale', he
often blured out homey truth, accompanied by less
grace of manner than strength Of expression. His ma
ture was Of too masculine cast TO yield servie def
erence to the trammels of etiquette. A high moral
courage was inwrought in his constitution, and he
never quaied before the face of authority nor shrunk
from the assertion Of unpopular truths. His sympa-
thies were with the neglected classes of society and
with none of the professions Of the technical reorme
his heart beat high in the of humanity. Ofrude
and unpublished exterior, of defiant bearing. and Of
merciess speech, he yet admirable specimen Of
bluff English marliness and as such will be remem-
bered by the men of another age.