The Arizona sentinel., 1886-11-06
CHILDREN OF AUTHORS.
They Prove That Genius Is Not
 Hereditary"
Emerson's UBappreciative Son-Bancroft, Motley, Lowell, Whipple, Richard Grant White, Curtis, Higgin-
 son, Parton and Phillips
 Alone in Their Glory.

The saying 'Genius is not heredi- tary," has grown almost proverbial, and observation and experience denote that it rests on 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 ury, with the great need of money, young men have reason to be deterred from embracing the inky profession. But those who have strong tempera- mental bias toward calling are apt to embrace it without regard to its proba- bIe 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 hcln Perhaps. then, literature is a compulsory trade independent of the will as it is of re- compense. There are, certainly, very few, if any, visible inducements to em- brace it.
 Cursory consideration of American authors will sustain this position. Ralph Waldo Emerson had one son, besides two daughters, and he is a physician, though not eminent, and without any leaning to letters beyond what man of culture would necessarily have. It is said that he has no sympathy with the poetic philosophy and intellectual ideas of his father, and has often confessed his inability to understand his works. His mind is of different cast, his ten dencies are in another direction. He is devoted to his father 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 sailors experiences. It 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 by hls son, also lawyer, who married one of Longfellow's daughters, and by his grandson, product of that mar riage.
 George Bancroft, the venerable his torian, 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 a son, who should be renowned in letters, but his wish was never gratified.. 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, He went to the war at the head of z company in Massachusetts regiment and his father wrote a very. entertain ing article in the AtLantic: My Searcl After the Captain It gave. as re member, an account of how he haC gone to the front to look after his boy who had been reported seriously, if no mortally. wounded and encountereC him sound and well, with the greeting ''How are you, dad?"
 James Russell Lowell, who is though to have been largely instrumental il preparing the British mind to receiv his friend Holmes with cordial, generou hospitality, had son years ago, but h died, I believe, in Italy, when little nor than an infant. His only other child, daughter, is the wife of young Burnett son of the proprietor of Burnett's co coaine. The former owns the cele brated Deerfoot farm, in Massachusetts and is reputed to be a very pleasant, in teresting high-minded fellow.
 Edwin R. Whipple had son in whor he took greet pride, and ofwhom he ha ardent hopes, while the boy was small But, before arriving at his majority, tn youth became dissipated, and soon san into the condition of a sot, from whlc all the efforts of his father could not re claim him. One of Whipple's deepest because unexpressed, sorrows was O account of his unworthy and intempel ate son, whose birth the bitterly dis sppeInted and mortified agthQF mus