New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-24
WTLKIE COLLINS DEAD.
THE LONG CAREER OF THE GREAT STORY.
TELLER ENDED.
HIS LIFE AND woRKs-FRoM LAW AND BUs.
NESS TO LITERATURE.

NESS TO LITERATURE.
London, Sept. 23.-wIkle Collins, the novelist,
who has been seriously i'll for some time, died today
The family Of the great story-teer whose death is
recorded above existed in former generations In Wick
low Ireland having gono thiher couple Of centuries
ego from Scotland. In the latter part of the last
century however its head removed to London, and
there william Collins, the illustrous landscape and
figure painter, was born. There also were born TO
him and his wifc-a sister OF Mrs. Carpenter, the
portrait panter-two The younger OF THESE,
Charles Allston Collins, welded Kate, daughter OF
Charles Dickens aud became noted as an author ana
a pre- Raphaelite artist The elder OF them, DORM III
1924 was named William willde Collins, after his
father and his fathers intimate friend and fellow
artist David Wnkle lie is the subject OF this sKeteh'
Rorn in London, young Collins was educated al
a Highbury school, and was designed TO be lawyer
But after a few years Of travel and study on inc
Continent and a few more OF commercial lie ana
Of dabbling in law at Lincon's Inn, he resolved 10
become a writer Of books. His first essay was DOG
raphy OF his father, published IN two Volumes III
Is4s; by no great work. IL relates mauE
entertaining incidents, but as whole Is not "ortny
of its subject Young Collins wrote 1t, prompted
nv pride and duty, rather than through any notion
that ne was fitted TO be serious and critical historian.
His next effort was not much moro SUCCESSFUL d.
though made in the direction in which he has since
achieved his best triumphs. This was mover,
Antonna: or The Fall of Rome,' published in leoO
The next year he brought out Z" Rambles Beyond
Rauyaysp a picturesque series Of pen pictures de-
scrptye of a waun tour in the byways OF Cornwall
This was we'll but not enthusiastically received oy
the public The young author had by THIS ume'
however acquired reputation and assured standing IN
the literary world.
His next move was to become contributor TO
All the Year Round7 and then an assoc ate OF
Dickens on that journal. lie thus became very
with an
else who enjoyed that privilege, never allowed MINI
self to become in any an imitator OF hih IL
is probable that this very independence ana SELF
assertion on Mr.. Coinss part caused Drkens 10
regard him with his well-known a1mhalon ana
confidence. II was In "Al the Year R0undD that
Mr. Collinss first great novels appeared Alter
Dark was series OF short stories of marked power
and originality, published in 1856. The Dead
Secret followed in 1857, and In 1858 The queen
of Hearts, ThCSc works showed him 10 be / Z
crary craftsman of skG but did not yet reveal
a 1.-THE of his great powers in constructing plots III
working out details, in conceal ne and reveal NJ
mysteries and in holding the interest OF the reader
spell bound TO the end of the sorry. In 1893 he
published Tho Woman in White' however, and
scored a tremendous success. ELTON aft 7 edit on
was Sold the book locked upon as one " the
very ablest novels Of the age, and Its auihor was
hailed as the coming prince of English sory-teiers.
some time elapsed before Mr. Coll ms attempted 10
repeat this success with another work. Ana when
the effort was made in 1866 with Armadae the
success was greater IN pecuniaiy returns Than in
literary reputation. The sales Of the book were
very large but there was general feeling mat II
did not compare favorably with its predeces'or But
in 1858 IL was more than aioned for, and the former
success was not only repeated but redoubled. The
work through which this was achieved was The
Moonstone,7 which Will pro- ably always be regarded
as Mr.. Colnss most powerful roma ce. In sheer
of cons trucf rs
its superior well nigh imlossb be. IT was followed
IN 1873 by "The New Alag1alen,' which was pub
Hshed as a serial in Temple Bar This work, be-
cause of the startling boldness OF its central idea
made the blood run cold in the veins
Of all sticl1eis for convention
alities. And, indeed. ifs ethics IN
some respects open to severe criticism. But tho
motive of the book is so utterly noble. and It's aim
pure and exalted flat 1t must ever rank among
the worthlest novels of the time. Another novel
With a purpose followed. III 1873. TIT, was The
Law and tie Lady,; not a brilliant success but
highly entertaining and impress work " Man
and Wife" also novel with a purpose, has met
with much criticism, but more pra Sc other novels
ny Mr. Collins " The Frozen Deep" " The Dream
woman" say No!7 The EVIL Genius BAIL"
Hide and Seek Poor Miss Finch" "The Two
De,tlnlcs" The Legacy OF CAIN ard The II .untcd
nctlLs Most OF these, in addition 10 very wide
circulation in all Englsh.s peakins countries. have
Nj COlllns's remarkable constructive ability
naturally impeled him to dramatic composition.
His GIst play The lighthouse played IN
private at Tavistock House, and later with some
SUCCESS at the Olympic Theatre. One of the prin-
cipal parts in 1t was played by Charlie, Dickens.
The Frozen Deep" drailatized, was also produced
Al TavistOck House. and afterward for the Douglas
IerrD.d Fund at the Gal cry o. Illustration. Queen
Victoria afforded one representation OF #: Ihe
Woman in While Man and Wife, and The New
Narda.eD7 were dranatiZed by MIR. Collins, and
have had successful runs In England. America ana
Aus ,ralia ." The New Magdalen' has bsed the most
o. all enh 'Cua" plays. II has been tra,. LATED
into almost eVciy European language, AMI pei formed
thousands OF times tn Continent. In this counfT
Miss GAIA Morris has bli liza ty den lied herself
with the principal role. Tho Moonstone7 only
moderately su:ccssfu the stage It is really
tCo long AMI elaborate story TO be COMPRESSED
nto the init Of pa% Armadae e., vas drama
OF the Theatre Francois, Paris, and Mr.. Collins, and
has been played with great success. particularly
by Miss Ada Cav nd sh. NO Name has also been
put upon the sta Q.
Mr. Collins made a prolonged tour Of America
IN 1873 and 1874 giving read ms from hi own
WORKS He was eve ywherc Zee lived with aprre-
c!8tve enthusiasm and always att9Iwald r'Car't
America tn deep affection; He often declared that
4 fc. he TO the ed Of his life an indu ,irou'
and JalnstaknC literary worker TIL most kindly
critic mast observe IN his latest works a serious
Moonstone7 AMI The New Magdalen," but the most
severe viii scarcely detect In ITEM any tendency
10 slight tie task in hand. All his works We're
carefully thought ont, then written out. and then
until the typesettcls in despair but the public
delighted aud enthralled.