The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-02
MARTIN FARoUHAR TUPPER.


and intended, in company with his daughter.
She stops 1T home at Anerlcy, Norwood; which
London suburb Is the present residence OF the
family. Mr.. Topper starts on the Goth, and hai
taken return ticket, limiting his sojourn to
six months. His route. as yet, ia not defined,
but IT win include the principal American cities.
aud possibly California, whittier he has invita-
tions. and where he has a relative living In San
francisco. Organizing In New York he will be-
come the guest Of the Rev. DE witt Talmuge,
and in all probability, make his first appearance
in that gentlcmans pulpit His readings will
comprise selections from his proverbal Phi
losophy" and poems, his dramas OF king Al
fred" and "liilegh," and his unpublished play
Of Washington" Of which shall have more to
say D rcsently.
There Is not much to relate concerning Mr..
Tupuer's history. with the exception Of his
great literery success 1t is that Of thousands Of
Englishmon Born to all tho advantages OF
modern civilization, OF mn ancient and honor
able family, he received his early education at
the Charter House (where no had Thackeray
and Leech rs schoofcilows), went to coaRe at
oxford, took his degrees Of u. A. and N. A.
croditatly, became a law student, was called to
the bar but never prnctsed-thnt IL all. Omit
ting their less respectable University antece-
dents, Pcndennls and Warrington run just the
same course In Thackeray's novels But prob
ably your readers would like to know some
thing about Mr.. upper and his personal char
acterlstlcs, and hence this letter.
lie is, then, n fine looking nan OF eixty-six, or
rather In his sixty.seventh year; his last birth
day having transpired on July II. lie has
been thought 30 like that very different author,
W Harrison Ainsworth, as to have been fire.
quently mistaken for him indeed, their pub
lished photographs Especially the ones In pronle)
present distinct resemblance. Ainsworth
once very handsome, a. those who remember
the portrait prenxed to his Jack sheppard" In
1910 will admit but most probably more OF a
dandy or swell" than Topper; nor Judging
from engrayines Of the latter Of about that pc
rod was the similarity between them then APP
parent, II IL existed. Years have developed II.
Considering his age, Mr.. Tupper may be pro-
nounced youngish-looking, although the silyery
wilderness Of his hair and beard give MIN some
thing Of a venerable aspect. lie looks tho
kindly and reflective person he is: a hale,
elderly Englshman Of quiet tastes. He Is
OF medium stature, neither tall nor short, Of
comfortable figure, and dresses simply.
His lie has been one Of retirement and indie
pendent means, irrespective Of literature or pro-
fession. lie prefers the country to town, and
home life to 1.-THE world" lie has never Joined
q club, though often solicited to do so and sell
dom goes into fashionable society, albeit no
body uu4- abundance to 81 caster. In the FIRST
and second respects be- essentially differs from
his whlome schOolfcliow und CONTEMPORARY.
lhackerury. who belonged several clubs. used
To he engaged 10 dinner parties months deep,
and positively killed hims. " by his cpicurean-
ism. Mere wisely. Mr.. ruppor loves his books,
his leisure, and his home.
lie knows comparatively few folks personally.
but is, however, vel known OF them, aud has
numerous ffiends uoth English aud American.
lie is, or hos been. well acquainted with many
celebrities as lhack ray and Lccch afOresaid,
w. T.. Gladstone, lis fellow student IN the Aris-
tot I'll NJ IA. and for
fufty-nNe years his intimate friend Dickens,
iennvson Ainsworth. kingsley, Sniriey Brooks.
Whkie Collins. BRYANT, LOngfellow, Kennedy,
willis, and Others. IL was doubtless at MIR.
Gndstone's recommendation. during bis Pre-
miershp that Mr.. lupper received his pension
on the tiVil Iist, conferred upon him 10y the
Queen a. the author of "ProveTOial Phlioso-
Iny." luis honorarium was larger than Is usual.
ths "Proverb'alist" Is rather "A fav, rite Of
Queen Victoria. VINO has received HIM al
| Buckingham Palace, Windsor ana FTogmore
~ private as well "a frequently at court.
More than once there have been ruInofs that lie
has been offered bMonetcy. winch indeed his
George Ill. refused twice. The poets elder
brother. Peter, likewise declined the same
| honor On account Oi his having no heirs. lie
wac a diplonatist during the Peuiusular war.
Until recently Mr. upper has lived at Albury
House, IN me parish OF that name, near Guild
| ford. Surtev. 1t Is "A nne old p ace. three nun
| dred years OLD IN some parts ana has been, for
| century, IN the POSSESSION Of his family. with
| the estate, 1t WIS Inherited from his mother
| direct descendant - Col. Marris, n koyal1st
| soldier In the tinlc Of our great civil war lie
held POmfret Castle toT Charles the First against
| the Puritan General Lambert. Albany Is ricn IN
| books and Ilcturer, and for three hundred years
| has been the home OF the Jumpers. Here the
| poet has Hospitality entertained many Amgri-
cans, INCLUDING Hawthorne. WHO counted the
gables Il the old Iile aud found them to be
twelve MIR. Iupper II an antiquarian as well as
Npnet and philosopher, ana Las done a great
| deal toward exploring and illustrating the an-
! cient history ofthe ueighhorhood, In particular
| he originated SERIES oil excavations On Farley
Heath the site 81 an Aboriginal biit,h vill4-e
ana Roman camp On the lk"nild or lceni
! way, discuvern "imperal money of some
forty hve CesaIs, several hundreds N number,
| ranging from Nero to llononus," together
vi pottery ana ancient weapons ana even
| gems. inliid brooches aud npulR. ~ the Brit IA
! Museum wil testify quote from his novel
john the loo lty Of which Is priuci. ally In
| the vcinityo ~ AiOury ana. generally, throughout
| surrey lie has, too. written boom Oh Farley
| Heath. His crock o. Gold" another story,
| has similar local features. that tale by The
| way. he wrote ~ Furze Hill House, Irrigation,
| where he resided IN INA.
lie has four sons ana three daughters. the lat
heredity. having themselves published volume
OF " Poems 10y Three sisters, a. well az " ii ans,
| lations from the swedish aud Original Poems"
Nc. They also contribute 10 Nalious maeazines
and ew-papers.
The writings Of Mr.. Upper are. a. Mr. Wal
| ford tells US poured forth with exceeding
case and par,ake much OF the character OF in
| provisation." lie writes spontaneously. alter
| long musing. HIS various productions are the
| natural outcome Of his mind and LIE. AZ iur
| the enormous detraction. di.iavur, and criticism
| To which he hrs. more tnsn any author llyIng,
becn SUBJ cted, he tai es It all very good humor-
| edlv aud WI. osophically.
" I'm used 10 running The gauntlet" he one
| day said to a friend, "and don't care a bit Tor
SANDER. ridicule, or even libel. Let them rave.
No shuttecu OK can DIV hloft without Dattle-
doree; ana ~now well that all such only help
success"
He has. AZ Alhury eighteen volumes folio or
large puaftul tGil 81 all tue ucwsui per cuttings
and gAIlne reviews, squibs, trtVes. les, paio-
dicr. notices and illusions, favorable nd ui-
favorable, concerning himself, that he could
readily obtain, from time to time, as theN az
peared. II Is curious he wrote speaking 4
these volumes, "and instructive to juy, ulIe
autnnrsulp To observe In TINS large collection,
how strangely diverse In numerU us Instances
are the verdlcts ui our self-sNled judges OF 1t
erature about tAoNerl same pass g,s, coudcmn-
ed and applauded with "a marvellous III
consistency. According to pArtisauship ia
pontics and religion, AN author seems 10
he systematically praised blamed, not
for lis own qualities, tut according TO tho
accidents OF the critical review Whcn affects To
judge him." His sentiments at large On tuis
subject may DO IOuuI ia "lrONerbldlll nilu-,-
pny," under the heads Of "Inilism" aud "Of
lhis Books story"
lie reads more or less dramatically, and
his Int0ndtious and changes Of voice, es .t-
ciry IN his plays. where difference OF character
| has to he Indicated, nave been noticed as re-
mark bic and elective. lie can he heard dis
| Unctiy over large areas, and II quietly conf
dent, from moral courage, but ~ no means
from insensihlty; for a. no once remarked,
" Ihe effort takes good deal OUT Of me. aud
al