The Arkansaw traveler. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1882-1???, 1889-02-09
Wrtucn for The ArkdnsaW Traveller.
AMONG HOME AUTHORS.
A Chaplet of Criticism.
ny nc l.

the hHickcrbOcker Magazine established i'm
1898. To the columns of this once noted periodi-
cal afterwards ably conducted by Timothy
Flint and the twin brothers Clark of Onondaga)
were contributed the sketches by Hoffman, pub
lished in this country and England with the title
of "a Winter in the West" At the time these
two volumes appeared, big swath of what was
called the ,res by American tourists, lay east of the
Mississippi river Chicago was still Fort Dear
born. The prairies that Hoffman traversed on
horseback, were mainly in Illinois, then fifteen years
old as a state. Iowa and the territory due north
of it were as little known as the nexplored CEN
tres of Africa Australia. Nobody dreamed of
war with Mexico. The Pacific ocean boundary az
our republic a flight of imagination far beyond
the American eagles broadest swoop. Texan inda
pendence thought of and talked about, but the
chronicles of the Alamo and San Jacinto were yet
to be written. Arkansaw "a bowling wilder
ness" and Michigan the profitable frontier market
of post and coast traders.
HofImans descriptions of this afuent region,
now so densey peopled were as sparkling and
bright as his famous banquet song. second record
of travel, entitled "Wid Scenes in the Forest and
Prairie" was issued in 1897 Then came his
romance, "Greyslaer," founded on a Kentucky
tragedy. Poems of spirit and brilliancy were born
of his active brain. lie had delicate humorous
fancy. His conversational vvacty made him a
popular guest at social gatherings in New York,
where his father, Judge Hoffman, and a brother,
Ogden Hoffman, highly esteemed among
luminaries of the law. Matilda Hoffman, his beau
tiful and cultured sister, was betrothed to Wash
ington Irving Her early death prevented the
union.
For period of nearly thirty five years. Charles
Fenno Hoffman, ian ardent lover of Americansm
in art and letters" inmate of the asylum for
the insane at Harrisburg, Pa. He died at that
institution on the Eth day of June, 1884. Turning
over the Cosy Nook epistles, ind most interest
ing one this subject from DIR. - Here is
part of ii:
week ago was in Philadelphia where, with
other reverent admirers OF genius lamentably dark
ened, | attended the funeral of q man who, as
essayist, critic, novelist and poet, has left the
impress of master upon our native literature
Personally, did not know Charles Fenno Hoff-
man. He has been mentally dead to that world In
which for three decades | have been a satisfied
worker. When the release came he had completed
his eighth and SEVENTEEN year Since ls49 all had
been cloudand to this erst- powerful intellect. 1t
was the duke of Wellington, illustrious victor at
Mont st. Jean, who said Hoffman's metrical pic
ture of Monterey" was one of the grandest battle
poems in our common language When it first
embellished print the pulse quickening stanzas
were recited and recited with fervor that has
had no parallel in national enthusiasm. unless
Thomas Buchanan Reads graphic delineation of
"Sheridan's Ride" be the sole exception. Here are
the virjle opening lines:
Before the hSs i Tan slee. sSas s;Eod
let many a gallant wouId
Give half his
Have been with Monterey.
A large concourse of literary people followed
poor Hoffman's remains from his sister in laws
residence, in South Seventeenth street, Philadel-