Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-07-12
A DEAD NOVELIST.

ly plans and prospects IL recalls the
legend of the wish angel. who hovers
continually about mortals, hearing
them express their most cherished de-
sircs. He grants their wish sooner or
later, but under conditions which strip
it of all joy. lie humblcs human be-
ings by giving them what they long
for, and thereby proving the illusive-
ness of all dreams OF happiness.
Very little is known of Hugh Con-
way. whose name in private life was
Frederick John Fargus. He lived,
aspired, strove, and in some measures
achieved. then died Just as life seemed
to open before him. That much is
known. The cllipsis in the short chap
ter can be readily filled by the imagina-
ton Of any one who knows how steep
and rugged is the pathway that leads
even to the boundaries of success.
He was only thirty-scven years old,
had had his share of struggle, self-de-
NAL, privation, and bailed hope, of
course, since none who strive are
strangers to these dragons that crouch
by the road to emineuce. Two years
ago Mr.. Fargus, who was an auction
eer in Bristol, wrote "talled Back, q
story now known to two or three hun
drcd thousand readers here and abroad.
1t was published in Arr0USmith'S AR-
nndI, and lay unnoticcd on the Lon
don book stalls for weeks, and perhaps
months. One day Henry Labouchcrc,
going on a journey, picked it up to be-
guile the tediousncss of travel. He
read it. was pleased with it, and after
ri crnly, nf Ia YfrJtyh
clever story. Then all London wanted
to read it, and did read it, The an
nuaL was soon exhausted, and Called
Back" was brought out in a new form.
A hundred thousand copies were soon
sold. 1t was rcpublishcd in this coun-
try, and had an enormous sale. 1t
was dramatized and had long run in
London and also in New York.
As work of art, Called Back had
its defects, but it also had what offset
the dcfects-an indctinable charm. 1t
had force and feeling, the germ and
life of all art. One felt that its author
had 4 strong personality. 1t depicted
no new phase of life, revealed no hid
den things. 1t simply grouped some
old, old figures of fiction in more
striking way. There was n flavor Of
P'ycho'oSlc iiyatory ABOUT IT, ana
surprise ~ tio ciin Vi u" inc charac-
tc's "hich hSuie.' III IT. ",iu WHOSE iato
nau Such potent charm ior SO many
lhou9unoS oi lc""Gr3 were "A uilhu
''i'n "iio ,c'o'''c MS S'- "' oJ tno "s"-
al surgical operation, Il beautiful mad
woman. two very daring and success
'"' 'i'iai'i'' WIN ial'hiul nurse anu
oio VI WV o'nct 'Ip"'tS in tno snaps
VI oo'o"to '.i 'i'oia' 'io ao'en-
t"ics al" c"ta"Sie'''tn'S Vi thosc per-
sohases coiiiliiai'uco 'H0 PuOA'c "arm-
cS' attention. 49,. .n r,,
~ io" 'i'o,ttn' m 'at'i -, h1iN lays
aPP'uio"' ih'S ia" sun sIo"'cr sue
was also Il beautiful mad woman, and
it had captivating surprise in the last
chapter. II was steady, unmitigated
tragedy from the first to the last
word. 1t was serious to the point of
depression, never dcVlatlng INTO the
slightest approach to the comic or flip
pant. 1t was an intense story, dramat-
ic"Ily told IN the first person. 1t had
not line OF philosophy. Indeed, there
was not word IN 1t unnecessary to
the simple telling OF powerful tale.
Its author had acted upon the Old idea
that story should simply be story
nothing more, nothing less. He DEM
onstrated that 1t needed nothing but
power and ieellug to make 1t take hold
ON Its readers.
These two BOOKS brought gold and
honor TO their author anu opened the
way Tor future achievements IN the
fields he had long hungered 10 enter.
Then, just as he had fairly begun to
breathe the air OF his dreams, he died.
Close attention to his work left him eX-
hausted. Seeking recreation and rest,
he went to Rome, ana there probably
contracted the malaria which cuimlnat-
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