Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-11-25
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE


J. Kenmore CoopER's LIFE Constance
Fenimore in the December Harper. Resign
ing his position in the navy, Mr.. Cooper, at the
age of twenty-five. married Miss Susan De
Lancey, sister Of the Bishop of Western New
York; and now that twenty years are passed
since the graves of husband and wife were made
in the little churchyard under the plues COM
ment may be permitted, and with the more
freedom since. sooner or later the lives OF emil
nent men must necessarily become the property
of the public. Among the sad heart histories
which the biographies of men of genius are al
most sure to reveal, the charming love-Story Of
Fenimure Cooper and his wife shines out with
pure radiance, in ideal picture Of happy mar
riuge. \ lovely, accomplished woman, Mrs
Cooper was blessed with the unchanglng, ten
der devotion Of her husband through forty
long years; and even in death they were not
separated, for within four months after the
husbands departure his gentle wife followed
him, a fit resident for. that heaven Tor which
her whole life had been Que constant prepara-
tion Mrs. Cooper was retiring and feminine
in every movement, word, and action. Her
strong, impetuouS husband and Wig
orous in frame, decided and independent in ac-
liou-yiclled to her a chivarous devotion most
beautiful and rare She was his preferred
companion above all others, and In his daily
drives to his mountain farm, called the Cha
let, he always wanted her by his side, while
in the evening his tavorite amusement was
a game of chess with his wife as antagonist.
Although children grew up around them; al
though the hosptable mansion was often filled
with distinguished and delightful guests; al
though tme passed and they grew old, the
husband and wife never sank into the mere
father and mother, but to the last they cherish,
"a for each other that fresh affection which is
80 seldom seen after the bloom of youth and the
charm Of novetly have passed away. The fair,
gentle women who hover over Cooper $ pages
were patterned after his beloved wife, who,
happlv occupied in her own quiet sphere, was
content to follow the old fashioned rule of the
Bible, that the husband is the head OF the
wife. even az Christ is the head of the Church,
IN everything.
After his marriage Mr.. Cooper lived for some
time ut Scarsdale, in WestcheSter county, and
here he wrote his first story, "Precaution,' a
tale Of English life. He was reading an En-
E,h novel aloud to his wife, when suddenly he
threw down the book and exclaimed. II be-
lieve | could write better myself. Following
the impulse he Immediately composed few
chapters and read them to Mrs Cooper, who
encouraged him in the work, and urged him 10
publish it when completed, although at this
the pubic The manuscript, however, Was at
length submitted to the late Charles Wllke's
and, meeting with his approval was published
in lS2O, winning favorable notice both IN this
country aud England, and showing germs OF
that genius which, when employed upon
more congenial aud original subject, gained tor
the author such triumphant success. In 1871
Mr.. Cooper published the Spy, which Was
immediately and brilliantly successful, being
the first spirited story OF our Revolutionary
war and thus opening new era IN American
literature. The Spy has been translated into
all the languages of Europe, and even crossed the
horders into Asia, Persian version having ap-
p";red in 1871, at ISpahan.
rrom 1871 until his death, a period OF thirty
wears, Mr.. Cooper published no less than thlr-
ty nine volumes. thlrty-two beng novels-an
aluount OF mental and physical labor which
man for although he sometimes employed his
dauehtcrs as amanuenses, still the work OF
composing and preparing even one book tor
the press is arduous, as any dOubter will mud II
he tries it.
In recalling the number Of volumes that the
authors pen produced it might naturally be
supposed that his whole time was devoted to
writing: but instead Of this he had many other
occupations. Rising early in the morning, he
geucra!ly accomplished his writing before break
fast, which took place at nine, devotlng the
hours of the middle of the day to his mountain
farm. the Chalet where he found out door re-
creation in an obstinate contest with the stony
soil, he being determined that the crops should
grow, and the mountain being determined that
they should not; it is said that the mountain
won the day, since during all the years Of the
contest. the farm only paid its expenses once
The relaxation obtained in this way, however,
WAS heartily enjoyed by Mr.. Copper. aud no
doubt this constant communion with nature
and this vigorous open-ar exercise contributed
to preserve the healthy, manly tone so con-
spicuous in his writings.