New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-11-24

graphical luxury and forms Of the most sumpuous
pift-books Of the seasoD.
The admirers of Mr.. Cooper may be surprised 70
learn that it was not until he had attained his thirty
first year that he gave any indications OF his vocation
ar a writer At that time he was living upon small
fam some FIVE and twenty miles from New-fork, ana
though he had received the highest advantages OF edu
cston which the country then afforded and was recog
nized in rociety person Of uncommon talent hio
ts'es were practical and POLITICAL rather than literary
He lmfelf looked forward only to the life Of farmer
He was deeply interested III rural improvements 70
certain degree be anticipated the love Of landscape
gardening which has since become favorite pursuit
with 80 many; and engaged, with not little entbusi-
asm, in the embelishment Of his grounds. With the
arrival of the monthly packets from London or Liver
pool the latest productions Of the English press were
eagerly looked for and soon found their way to the
quiet households Of Westcheser in which Mr. Coopers
residence was situated 1t the era Of the immense
uorulrty of the Wyerley novels before the secret OF
their authorship wasdivulged and long did the contents
of the new volume form the subject of discussion before
the iresides of the whole ncighborhood Mr. Cooper
was one Of the warmes admirers Of these novels and
never doubted that they written by Sir Walter
Scott. He had delightful gift Of reading aloud, and
during inc long IL SNNAisA
was the fayorite recreation of the family. Poetry was
often chosen which he read with singular correctness,
and deep poetic feeling. For Shakespeare he was al
WAYS ready, delghting in the spirit Of his works,
whether tragedy or comedy Pope, Thomson, ana
GRAY were also in favor but Milton was too cold and
classical pease his taste New books Of course were
in special request; and rapidly az the Scotch novels
succeeded each other, something more was needed 10
ELL up all those rural evening hours. On one occasion,
new novel CHANGED to lie on the table, which ne was
asked TO read The title and appearance OF the book
wee not 10 bis taste; he opened it, however and be-
gan; when suddenly after wsding through few
RACES he threw It aside in disgust excaimng, can
white Won better book than that myself He was
payfully challenged to make good his promise and at
once began TO throw together the outlines Of tale,
something in the style Of the rejected volume THIS
WIS tie origin Of Precautlon," the first venture
which be made in fictitious composition. At TINS time
no man could have been further from any inclination
for autlociaf lie had not the slightest taste for the
sight of looscap pen and ink no secret parlaA'y
for notebooks diaries, and extracts His portfolio
was entirely empty; he was hardly indeed provided
with etter-paper for an occasional correspondent the
mere mechanical drudgery Of writing was Tksome
TO him.
Still some incidents of his toyhood ;so remembered,
which seem to have betokencd his future career As
child he had taken great delight in certain od-fash-
oned heroic romances taste which he might have in
herited from bis mother who was much given to read
ing works of imagination. When about eleven years
old he pored over several strange old tales Of tins class
with payfeow Of bis own age one Of them, en-
titled Don Beans Of Greece" made great impress
sion and when he had finished the reading he gavely
informed lis comrade that he should write book him
self Ii Was to be grand heroic romance, with
knights and squres, and horses and ladies, and cas-
tles and banners He should begin at but the
penmanshp presented an obstacle. After due debera-
tion bright idea suggested itself 1t was agreed that
Il new book should be printed without the usual pre-
lminary labor OF writing it. little blue, dngy news
parer WAS then published in Coopersown by the father
of his companion IL agreed that while the press
vas resting from its weekly abors the projected
nance should be dictated and printed in the office by
the two boys. The young Beaumont and Fletcher,
accordingly, commenced their tasks. Several
chapters were actually printed, when the author
grew weary of his labor and threw aside. This
Coopers earliest composition and for many years it
remained an isolated production.
Ii was not till he had made considerable progress in
suggested to him. The idea of taking his friends by
surprise pleased him, and gave zes to the task The
manuscript was read in portions several persons and
hey all advised him to print it, One excellent lady
paid him the compliment of reusng to believe that he
wrote it, declaring that he spoke in pleasantly when
he asserted that the manuscript was original and that
she well recoected hearing that very tale years
earlier Even after the publication Of the Spy" aud
Id.
that Mr.. Cooper could never have written Precau-
ticn as the author was evidently woman
Meantime the novel was printed in August, 1890. 1t
attracted some attention, and in point Of literary merit
was pronounced respectable bat not 1t all brilliant.
Evep body took for granted that it was written in En-.
gland, and by woman and when at last, 1t was de-
cared by the publisher that il was American work
and written by gentleman of New-York not a little
surprise expressed, curiosity called forth
but mott Of Lhoe who read tie book continued quite
increduous. When the name of Mr. Cooper began to
be whisE cred the author, the incrcduly rather III
crcased the suggestion regarded 4 piece Of
pl, asany 1t was thought out Of the question: that
an American naval officer Should write book 20 En-
Plsb, and 80 wonany in tone and execution. For
long time, it attributed to an English lady near
connection Of Mr. Coopers
The Spy which made its appearance in about
year after the publication Of " Precaution' was the
int work which bore the unmstakabe impress of Mr.
Coopers genius, and laid the deep foundations OF his
fame The scene of this story was laid in Weschester
where he then lived and is not difficult to describe
tie local circumstances by which wassuggesed The
incidents Of the Revolution had not ceased to be the
topics of conversation among the people of the neigh
borbood. Many who had taken an active part in the
great struggle still survived The gray -hared house