The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-18

To the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal
My attention has been called, at this late date,
to an Article in the Journals issue of Aug g,
entitled Indiana Literature in which is given
long list of Hoosier writer's who have won an
honorable fame. The article referred to did an
injustice. unintentionally no doubt, to one of
our own townsmen, who has long been before
the public, at home and abroad as an author
and extensive contributor to periodical ltera-
ture.
The name of Rev. j. @. Fletcher certainly de-
serves conspicuous place in any history
of Indiana literature. In justice to the
absent will make brief statement respecting
this gentlemans literary career He began to
write for the press early as 1845. first for the
Providence Journal r. l., J the late Senator An
thony being editor He continued to write for
that paper up to 1862 when he was appointed
consul to Oporto Portugal. In 1646-47 he be-
gan to write for the Indianapolis journal, then
under John d. Defrees. In those years he con
tributed valuable series of articles under the
head of Indianapolis Quarter of a Century
Ago" He was the first to inaugurate column
of local items His historical sketches and
"reminiscences have furnished important ma
teria TO our local histories. His foreign letters
have been numerous, and still continue to ap-
pear in this paper. In l849 he became a regular
European correspondent of the New York OBJ
letters written for this journal were collected
and published in book form. in Calcutta, India
without the knowledge of the writer. In 1852
when in Brazil he became correspondent of the
New York Journal Of Commerce, under the
elder HaIock. editor. He wrote much for that
paper for ten years. both as correspondent
and editorial contributor. From 1862 to
1869 he was a regular contributor to the New
York Evening Post in the days of William Gull
len Bryants management of that paper For
some years he was a regular correspondent of
the Boston Journal and frequent contributor
to the Transcript. the Courier and Traveller, of
the same city He wrote articles for the North
American Review. for the Atlantic Monthly and
for Harper's Weekly. Amongst his contribu-
tons to the last named were the important bio
graphical articles on the elder Agassiz and the
poet Whittier. He has written also extensively
for foreign periodicals, including some of the
English quarteres. At the present time his
letters published in this city, New York
London and Paris
Mr.. Fletcher is best known as an author by his
Brazil and Brazilians" an 8vo volume of more
than 600 pages, written in connection with Rev.
Dr. Kidder; but it is well understood the princi-
pal work was by Mr. Fletcher. The book has
gone through nine editions-ive published by
George w, Childs of Philadelphia. and four by
Little d Brown, Of Boston. This book had the
honor of being the first production of an Indiana
author republished in England. Prescott, the
| historian and Washington Irving gave the book
the highest praise The London Athen@um, the
urSt literary duGnOrlCy. Satu Brazil was never
before SO fully, so faithfully and artistically
photographed" In Brazil the book was heartily
| received, and was translated into the Portuguese
| and took its place as standard.
The omission of Mr. Fletcher's name from the
Indiana authors mentioned in the Journals edi-
torial is the more remarkable from the fact that
of the forty-five names mentioned none of them.
with very few exceptions, appear In Allibone's
Dictionary of Authors Mr.. Fetchers name is
one OF those exceptions. In the circumstances
ht.tr To-
this brief statement of his literary services
should be made public. H.