The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-09-16
HENRY GEORGE
Author, OF Progress and Poetry,
Sketched In Graphic Style.
Description Of His PersOnelle- How he
Came TO Write the Book.
An Editor, Author an Gentleman


Is seldom that work dealing with hard
social problems finds such an army of read
ers among the great masses of people rs
Progress aud Poverty" by Henry George.
It's radicalism almost startled the country,
and its ultra theories have become the
theme OF widespread and increasing discus
sion. 1t Is q little strange that while the
b )ok itself has aroused such iurore. the
uriter himself is almost unknown.
ii seems to have succeeded in eluding The
interviewer of the press, and while half his
readers are asking "Who is this Henry
George Where did he come irOm2'
probably few persons this side OF the Pa
citio coast, could give any information in
reply.
The writer of progress AMI Poverty" is
California thinker, and IL Is s8f1 TO say
that most of his theories were formed and
elaborated during the long period which he
spent In San Francisco. Mr.. Henry George
or Harry George, without the prefix, as he
Is commonly styled in San Francisco,
was born in New York. Migrating to Cali.
:ornia In the gold. fever time2 he shared the
usual ups and downs OF the early days. He
Is now about iorty-five years Of age. His
radical racket" as his former friends on
the Coast style IT,, has only been public
property for about three years. During u
large part OF his life in California, jonrnal-
ism and politics occupied his attention al.
most excessively. In San Francisco he
was known by almost every
one, not as the great radical
thinker Ne Is to-day, but as the editor OF
tho Post Of that city, and also us one of the
most active leaders OF the democracy in the
state. But the Post assumed republican
proclivities and George resigned. Then
followed period of some four or five
years OF seeming obscurity. In those day'
on one OF the quletest streets and against
one of the most modest Of frame houses
might have been seen the sign Henry
Ge0rge--lnspector OF Meters" while
almost any hour of the day CT
night, seemingly loaiing about .he princi-
pal business thofoughialcs, Kearny or
Montgomery streets, or IN those haunis
where the leaders OF the local democracy
were wont most to c0ngregate, apparently
doing nothing, but In reaity very busy.
The inspector OF meters period was In fact,
with him. Il season OF hard study and keen
observation. Progress and Poverty"
would probably have never been written
had Mr.. George continued at the head Of
the Post, or had he assumed the editorship
of any OF the dozen democratic dailies,
which alter the TildeL- Hayes campaign
were always about to spring into lie IN
Frisco. The proposed journals came not
into being, but the kearny agitation arose
aud from the local land questions involved
IN its issues II Is more than probable that
Mr.. George first applied himself TO those
studies which have led TO his present start.
ling general conclusions regarding owner
ship In the soil. Those OF his uCQuaint.
auCes who have marked his great
strides IN radiCalism OF late,
can hardly help wondering that he did not
throw himself into the kcarny movement
and become its leader. Tho truth PROB.
ably was that George was feared by the
Sand Lot party, and did not care himself TO
seyer his intimate relations with the demo-
cacy. SO for four or five years he pursued
the even tenor OF his quiet life, inspecting
meters Whiting Tor the press, making
political speeches and delivering an oC-
cisIonal lecture IL is curious to
note that In his writings and speeches at
this time there was little mention OF the
social questions with which he now deals
80 radically. His political speeches were
like those Of the average democratic cam
paign speaker. There was no monopoly
talk When he leotured he took for his
subject the Hebrew Moses or some topic
equally removed from modern questions.
lie was, in TACT, posing through period OF
Incubation, and Progress and Poverty
WAS the result. When he
came before the world some three or fouif
years ago in hisnew character ola radical, he
lef. the Golden state and has since spent
much time studying the land and labor
questions in Europe. Those who know
tire man will not be surprised II he were
vet TO play an important part In national
politics.
The personal ppearRuce of the author o
Progress and Poverty" is not striking. lie
Is an undersized man with reddish hair
aud beard. HIS features are small; eyes
blue aud face rather void OF Iositiye eN-
preston. From his general appearance one
| would be apt to set him down as rather u
neutral, commonplace sort OF u person. II
requires, however, but q few minutes talk
| with him 10 convince one that
he is man Of great int uectull force
As u matter OF hls he
Is q torclblc sort OF person In every way.
| lhey tell n good story OF him in San Fran
81 90 IN reference to the notorious Laura u.
| Fair, the murdeIess OF Cnttendeu. This
woman, shortly after her acquittal on the
| ground OF insanity became u periect terror
| To the newspaper offices OF the city. In
| those days the editor ola live paper In San
| Francisco expected moro or less rough and
tumble work from pugnOcious visitors to
his aauclum, but there was ~ rlory IN
eiccting woman from an
olllco or using force OF any
KIND to one OF tue CENTER sex. Mrs.
FAIR was well know1 To be MS ready to fight
~ to eat, aud when she came sailing into
an EDITORS room lreightcd with a pop-gun
aud q grievance the average u.oulder of
public opinion felt like rotractiug without
psrey In due course she got around TO
the Pos, and olllcj ON Mr., Gecrgc, who
WAS then in charge. The fair murdtcSs
stated her grievance and re-.
cawed a most respectful hearing
tom MIR. George. Closing her
tale OF Woo with the Nlrrinius.uko re
mark, There Is no way but this she
slipped her taper fingers Into the dress.
pocket, where she carried her trusty revol.
var. Ladies' don't thrust their hands into
their pockets MS easily as men TO. The
optrltiOn requires some care with them,
otherwise something may rip or become
di,arrangcd, Mrs Fair was quite different
from the rest of her sex In most matters,
but she had their weakness regarding the
pocket. AS she put her hand down she In.
voluntarily looked toward IL. The look was
the merest glance, but when she again
turned her angry eyes toward the editor,
she found herself covered with the biggest
KIND OF pistol Ia the hand oi the still
placid George. ut won't do here, Mrs.
Fp r, he quietly remarked; don't take
your hand out otthOt pocketif you please"
She obeyed and ltfs the office without
making any further exhibition OF the IRE.
pressihle hOmicidal mania Of which twelve
good men and true had declared her to be
possessed.
Among his friends and acquaintance,
Mr.. George is exceedingly popular. lie
has few enemies, and those who dislike him
are generally afraid Of him. In private
life he has tho reputation ot being a pure,
an upright and courteous gentleman
Tho sick worn and daiaNfad vhnulI raaa