The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-11-03
CHILDREN OF AUTHORS.
They Prove That Genius Is Not
Hereditary"
Emersons Unappreciative Son-Bancroft,
Motley, lowell, Whipple, Richard
GRAFT White, Curtis. Higgin-
son, Parton and Phillips
Alone in Their Glory.

lhC ottS iiiS uCiIltiS Is uOU H0Tbul-
tary,' has grown almost proverbial,
and observation and experience denote
that it rests on Il basis of truth. OF lit
erary genius it seems particularly true,
since authors of note very rarely have
sons who distinguish themselves in the
fled OF letters, or ever pursue letters in
any form. The prospect of compensa-
ton is so small that, in this age of lux
airy, with the great need of money,
young men have reason to be deferred
from embracing the inky profession.
But those who have strong tempera-
mental bias toward a calling are apt to
embrace it without regard to it's proba-
bile or possible rewards. The fact must
be that, if a passion for literature is felt
by one member of a family, it is not
likely to affect any other member. The
writing habit may be so unnatural to
humanity at large that the contraction
OF it is entirely exceptional. Gifted
authors write, they are prone to say,
because they can not help it. Perhaps,
then, literature is compulsory trade
independent of the will as it is of re-
compense. There are, certainly, very
few, if any. visible inducements to en-
brace it.
Cursory consideration of American
authors will sustain this position. Ralph
Waldo Emerson had one son, besides
Hryn III rrht hn
though not eminent, and without any
aeaning to letters beyond what man
of culture would necessarily have. 1t
is said that he has no sympathy with the
poetic philosophy and intellectual ideas
of his father, and has often confessed
MS inability to understand his works.
His mind is of different cast, his ten
denotes are in another direction. He is
devoted to his fathers memory, but not
to his method of transcendental think
ing.
Richard Henry Dana, one of our early
poets and essayists, who lived to be past
ninety, left son, who, albeit lawyer,
wrote one book, 1.-TWO Years Before the
Mast, " that has grown famous as an
actual record of a sailors experiences.
1t is still widely read, though it is more
than half a century since, on account of
an ocular disorder, he made the voyage
described from Boston to California, a
region almost unknown in 1884. He,
too, is dead now; but the name, Rich
ard Henry Dana, continues, being borne
10y his son, also lawyer, who married
one of Longfellow's daughters, and by
his grandson, product of that mar
rage.
George Bancroft, the venerable his
torlan, IS generally regarded as child
less, but he has two daughters and a
son, who is decorator and an artistic
house-furnisher in Boston, with much
local reputation in his speciality, though
he has not, and has never had, the
slightest leaning to authorship.
John Lothrop Motley IS said to have
been very anxious for ason, who should
he renowned in letters, but his wish
was never gratfied. His daughters are
more interested in society than in books,
though they are highly cultivated and
accomplished.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, lately re-
turned from his greatly-honored jour-
ney abroad, will have no successor to
his authorial renown. His son, named
after him, is conspicuous barrister,
and at present on the bench in Boston.
lie went to the war at the head OF a
company in Massachusetts, regiment,
and his father wrote very entertain
ing article in the atlantic: "My Search
After the Captain" 1t gave, as | re-
member, an account of how he had
gone to the front to look after his boy,
who had been reported seriously, if not
mortally, wounded and encountered
him sound and well, with the greeting:
"How are you, dad2''
James Russell Lowell, who is thought
to have been largely instrumental in
preparing the British mind to receive
his friend Holmes with cordial, generous
hospitality, had a son years ago, but he
died, believe, in Italy, when little more
than an infant His oily other child, a
daughter, is the wife of young Burnett,
Son of the proprietor of Durnetts CO.
coaine. The former owns the cele-
brated Deerfoot farm, in Massachusetts,
and is reputed to be very pleasant, IN
teresting high-minded fellow.
Edwin r. Whipple had son in whom
he took greet pride, and ofwhom he had
ardent hopes, while the boy was small.
But before arriving at his majority, the
youth became dissipated, and soon sank
into the condition of sol, from which
all the efforts of his father could not re-
claim him. One of Whipple's deepest,
because unexpressed, sorrows was on
account of his unworthy and intemper'
ate son, whose birth the bitterly dis