Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-20

A DEAD NOVELIST.

The death of Hugh Conway, the nov
elist, recently, at Monaco, is a sharp
reminder of the mutability of all earth
ly plans and prospects. 1t recalls the
legend of the wish angel, who hovers
continually about mortals, hearing
them express their most cherished de-
sires. He grants their wish sooner or
later, but under conditions which strip
it of all Joy. He humbles human be-
ings by giving them what they long
for, and thereby proving the Elusive
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, stroye, and in some measures
achieved, then died just as life seemed
to open before him. That much is
known. The eliipsis in the short chap
ter can be readily filled by the magma
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-seven years old,
had had his share of struggle, self-de-
NAL, privation, and baffled hope, of
course, since none who strive are
strangers to these dragons that crouch
by tire road to eminence. Two years
ago Mr.. Fargus, who was an auction
eer in Bristol, wrote SCALED Back, q
story now known to two or three hun
dred thousand readers here and abroad.
1t was published in Arr0WSnaitb'S IN
natGl, and lay unnoticed on the Lon
don book stalls for weeks, and perhaps
months. One day Henry Labouchere,
cd fC hn
guile the tediousness of travel. He
read it. was pleased with it, and after
ward spoke of it in Truth rs very
clever story. Then all London wanted
to read it, and did read it. The A21-
nuat was soon exhausted, and Called
Back was brought out in a new form.
A hundred thousand copies were soon
sold. 1t was republlshed 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 defects-an indefnable charm. 1t
had force and feeling, the germ and
life of all art. One felt that its author
had a strong personality. 1t depicted
no new phase of life, revealed no hid
den things. 1t simply grouped some
old, old figures of fiction in a more
striking way. There was a flavor of
psychologist mystery about it, and a
surprise at the end of it. The charac-
tiers which figured in it, and whose fate
had such potent charm for so many
thousands of readers were: A blind
man who RECEIVERS his sight by the usu-
al surgical operation, beautiful mad
woman, two very daring and success
ful villains, with faithful nurse and
one or two other ciphers in the shape
of obscure serYitors. Yet the adven-
lures and entanglcments of these per-
sonages commanded the public's warm
est attention.
A few months later Ozark DAYS"
appeared. This had still greater sue
cess than its predecessor. Its heroine
was also q beautiful mad woman, and
it had a captivating surprise in the last
chapter. 1t was steady, unmitigated
tragedy from the first to the last
word. 1t was serious to the point of
depression, never deviating into the
slightest approach to the comic or flip
pant. 1t was an intense story, dramat-
ically told in the first person. 1t had
not "a line of philosophy. Indeed, there
was not word in it unnecessary to
the simple telling of a powerful tale.