The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-01-04
EeniRore Cooper.

Resigning his position In tho navy,
Mr.. Cooper, at tho age Of twenty-five
married Miss Susan De Lsncy, sister
Of the Bishop Of Western New York
and now that twenty years have pass
ed since the graves OF husband and
wife were made In the little church
yard ander tho pines, comment may
be permitted, and with the more free
dom since, sooner or later, the lives
Of eminent men must necessarily be-
come the property of the public.
Among the sad heart histories which
tho Biographies OF men of genius are
almost sure to reveal, the charming
story of FenimorG Cooper and his
wife shines out with pure radiance,
an ideal picture of happy marriage.
A lovely, accomplished woman, Mrs.
Cooper was blessed with the un-
changing, tender devotion of her
husband through forty long years !;
and even in death they were not sep
aratcd, for within four months after
the husbands departure his gentle
wife followed him, a ht resident for
that heaven for which her whole life
had been one Of constant separation.
MS. Cooper was retiring and fcmi-
nine in every movement, word and
action. Her strong, impetuous hus-
band-massive and vigorous in frame,
decided and Independent in action
Welded to her a chivalrous devotion
most beautiful and rare. She was
his preferred companion above all
others, and in his daily drives to his
mountain farm, called the Chalet, he
always wanted her by his side, while
in the evening his iavorite amuse-
ment was a game of chess with his
wife as antagonist. Although chill
dren grew up and around them, al
though the hospitable mansion was
often filed with distinguished and
delightful guests, although time pass
ed and they grew old, the husband
and wife never sank into the mere
father and mother, but to the last
day they cherished for each other that
fresh affection which is 80 seldom
seen after the bloom of youth and the
charm of novelty have passed away.
The fair, gentle women who hover
over Coopers pages were patterned
after his beloved wife, who, happily
occupied in her own quiet sphere,
was content to follow the old-fash-
ioned rule of the Bible, that "the hus-
band is the head of the wife, even as
Christ is the head of the Church, IN
every thing"
After his marriage, Mr.. Cooper
lived for a long time at Scar'dale, in
Wostchester county, New York, and
here ho wrote his first story, "Pre-
caution" tale of English life. lie
was reading an English 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 immedi,
ately composed a few chapters and
read them to Mrs. Cooper, who en-.
coursged him in the work, and urged
him to publish it when completed,
although at this time he had no in
tention of appearing before the pub
lie. The manuscript, however, was
at length submitted to the late Chas'
Wilkes, and meeting with his appro-
val, was published in 1920, winning
favorable notice both in this country
and England. and showing the germs
Of that genius which, when employed
upon more congenial and original
subject, gained for the author such
triumphant success. In 1921, MIR.
Cooper published the "Spy,' which
was Immediately and brilliantly snc-
cesstul, being the first spirited story
of our Revolutionary war, and thus
opened q now era in American liter
aturc. The "Spy" has been translat-
cd into the languages of Europe, and
even crossed the borders into Asia,
a Persian versien having appeared in
1S47 at Ispahan. ,
From 1921 until his death, period
ofthirty years, Mr.. Cooper published
no less than thirty.nine volumes,
thirty-two being novels-an amount
of mental and physical labor which
Justly entities him to be called a hard
working man; for although he some
times employed his daughters as
amonuenses, still tho work of com
posing and preparing even ono book
for the press is arduou., as any doubt
er will find il he tries it.
In recalling the number of volumes
that the authors pen produced, it
might naturally be supposed that his
whole time was devo 10 writing
but , instead of this, he had many
other occupations. Rising early in
tho morning, he generally accom-
plished all his writing before break
fast, which took place at nine, devot-
ing the hours in the middle of the
day to his mountain farm, the Chalet,
where he found outdoor recreation
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 OBJ
tanned in this way, however, was
heartily enjoyed by Mr.. Cooper and
no donbt this constant communion
with nature and this vigorous open
air exercise contributed to preserve
the healthy, manly tone 80 conspicu-
GUS in his writings. Your morbid,
unnatural authors are generally hot
house dyspeptics.-[ CoSsTAECs FEM
MORE, in Harper's Magazine for De.
cember.
At the battle Of Manassas, Mr.. Cow
an Of Winchester, Tenn, was wound
ed In the leg below the knee, by a
mimic ball, q portion Of which passed
ont the other burying itself In his