New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-12
DEATH OF CHARLES READE.
SKETCH OF THE NovELIsTs CAREER.

for1shITc squire Of the old school an his mother
formerly Miss WarnGl very brilliant woman.
lie was the youngest of seven children. His father
disked public schools, and the boys early tuition
was conducted at home under private tutors. lie
was presently entered at Magdalen College, Oxford
where ne graduated in 1885 in the third class in
classics, being then twenty-one years of age lie
oblamed his fellowship Immediately, and subse-
oucntlv held the Vinerian Law Fellowship for tho
statutable period In 1913 he was called to the bar
by the society of Lincoln's Inn, but he never prac
tised save upon the occasion when in a controversy
with Mr. Bentley he pleaded his own cause before
the House of Lords, and won his case. His Law
studies. however, were merely auxiliary TO his lt-
erary pursuits. He evinced strong passion for lit
erature Mt an carly age. but the FIRST story which
attracted marked attention was Peg Wellington"
published in 1852. From this he dranatzed
Masks and Faces" which has kept the stage ever
since and il likely to retain its popularity indeh-
nItey through It's clever Dialogue and strong stua-
tions. He wrote another drama, entitled GOld,'
about the same time, perhaps QOr the records
are not harm0niousl LITTLE earlier.
In1SJ4 appeared Christie TOMBSTONE" a charming
Scotch story in which much personal observation is
utilized and which exhibited the mingled fire and
pathos which yivfy his later works. CLOUDS and
sunshine" and Art; Dramatic Tale" published
in 1888. were well received but could not increase
his reputation much. In 1886, however, appeared
one of his most powerful tales, Never Too Late 10
Mend =" in which tho abuses practised IN the model
jas of the period are laid bare in a mastery way.
The power and sustained interest of this remarkable
work may be SAID to have put the author at once In
the front rank of living nOyellss. White Lies, or
the Double Marriage" aud The Course of True
Love Never Did Run Smooth" followed In 1898 he
published Love Me Little. Love BE Long" and
Co. and iapl
of-all-Trades." In 1859 1.-The Eighth Command
ment" III 1861 appeared 1.-The ClOster and the
Hearth" which had been begun in Al the Year
Round under the title Of A Good Fight" This was
another powerfully written book, the hero and
heroine being Erasmus and his wife, and some de-
scriptions notably of German travelling accommo-
dations in the Middle Ages, being excepted from
the "Colloques of Erasmus though the license
appears TO have escaped tho critics. In 1868 APP
poared "Hard Cash; Matter-of-Fact Romance
III which the private insane asyluns were exposed
with the authors characteristic energy and pc
f,Iresoueness This book created great sensation,
and led 10 inquiries resulting in marked reforms,
though the evil attacked by Reado has not even yet
been rooted ont recent case of alleged outrage,
Indicating no less person than Dr. Forbes Wins
low. being even now in course Of investigation. In
1864 ITS Never Too Late TO Mend was produced
on the stage and had long run. In 1865 appeared
Griffith Gaunt or Jealousy" II was published
simultaneously IN England and the United States,
The HtlaaHc UoAtblg being the channel on this side.
The Roupd Table attacked the story a. immoral,
and Mr. Rcade was very angry at the charge, and
brought action AGAINST the journal which was cast
in six cents damages.
In 1867 Charles Rcade and Dion Boucl-
cault wrote Foul Play" conformity. and
it was dramatzcd the sameyear. In 1868 " Griffith
Gaunt" was put on the stage In 1869 Mr Reade
produc.d the play of Dora" In 1870 Unpublished
another of his purposeful stories, entitled Put
Yourself in His Place. in which the abuses and
outrages Of trades-unionsin were asssilcd and de-
picted and which contains some charming women.
notably Jscl Dence. IN 1872 "a Terrible rempta-
ton" appeared, aud WAS dramat2'd "a 1.-The
Double Marriage" In 1873 appeared q" \ Simple
ron " and PLAY " The Wandering Heir; the latter
being published as a novel in 1873. In 1874
"Shilly Shllly" play, was produced. In
1875 Trade Malice; Personal Narrative"
In 1879 Nj Ro2do wrote a series of able and brill
liant letters international copyright for HE
TRIBUNE. which also first published his interesting
story entitled "A Hero and Martyr; a True Ac-
count of tho Heroic Feats and sad Calamity Of j.
LAMBERT This was published in book form in
1876. In 1877 A Woman Hater' appeared in
LhoIrooTs NagatiRe anonymously, and 1t was left
In this the capacity Of woman for the functions of
the physician is argued, and the operate stage is
bouOred by the creation of u noble and sweet prm2
donna In 1873 Joan" appeared and in 1879 MIR.
Reade adapted Drink" from Zoas "LAssom-
mor" Besides tins he joined Tom Taylor in the
production of several successful plays, and his let
ters TO the press are innumcrable. At the time of
his death be was engaged upon story called
Perilous Secret" taken from one of his dramas.
This was being published IN HarPo's Bdt0r.
Charles Rcads was a very methOdical worker, and
neglected no helps. 1t was his habit to form scrap
books containing whatever strange, new or start
ling events or stories appeared in the daily press,
and of these books which he called has brains" he
had accumulated formidable number. Believing
"a he did that an author is entitled to appropriate
matter wherever he finds it, provided that he adapts
if it is not remarkable that he should several times
have been charged with plagiarism, nor that in
some of these instances his defence should have
been rather adroit than satisfactory. lie possessed
fertility Of invention which made him independ-
ent of eXtraneous assistance, however. and his
original work will hear comparison with the strong
est in English fiction, either past or present. lie
has been charged with inOrdlnate vanity The truth
doubtless is that lac was aware OF his OWE ability,
and did not hypOcTitically deprecate it, That he
possessed most sterling character is certain. He
was ever ready to defend the oppressed. careless
of the odds and with fire and energy which moth
ing could restrain. His hand was always open to
piiful tale and the many authentic stories Of his
| benevolonco show him to have had knighty and
tender heart. Irritable and fiery he was and i'm
patient of bores and fribbeS to whom he could not
ALWAYS behave with conventional courtesy. But lie
was n faithful friend, a defender of the lowly,
fierce and impacabe foe TO cruelty, fraud and OPP
preston in all their forms. And when in those
books OF his which will become classic he is in the
full tide OF passionate denuncialCn of wrongs. he
carries his reader away upon the current OF his en-
thuSlasm, and mprcsSes the deepest conviction OF
the truth Of his positions: Tho charming, sweet
ard delightful women of his tales are said 10 have
lad for their models his mother and sister aud
the man may we'll be esteemed fortunate whose es-
innate Of w0manhood is placed so high through the
permanent boon of such relationships
Charles Reade did not make his living
by his pen, though in ms later years