Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-01-04
LAWYER, EDITOR, HUMoR,sT.
How . Popular American writer Has b
Ilis Tisue Played Many Parts. =

HARTFORD, Conn, Jan. 2.--Once, d
my early newspaper days, swApped
condolences with an associate, who had
gained more than ephemeral notoriety
for the interesting and graceful produce
tions Of his quill. With flush Of pride
he told mo that he became an author be.
cause there was never scarcity of
books at his fathers house. Ny literary
friend spoke Of period when the steam
press was regarded as great curiosity,
when the printing OF hooks was yet .
costly enterprise and when most Of the
volumes, by authors of established repu-
tation In our language, were imported
from London or Edinburgh.
This incident comes to my mind linked
with thoughts Of the boyhood Of Charles
Dudley Warner. His father was known
as man intelligent above the average.
He loved TO read. His choice books,
however, were of too somber character
to amuse or fascinate a budding Amcrf-
can humorist of the vintage Of 1890.
There is no doubt that piety often resem.
blcs forbearancc, and ceases to be vir-
tue. The home library to which Charles
Dudley Warner had access, while ~
good as any in his native town Of Plain
field. Mass, was, in his juvenile estima-
ton. really good for nothing. He, there
fore, concluded that IL was his mission
TO write better books than those which
his father gave him TO browse over when
he wes tenderling Of four or five years.
What thoroughly United States sort
OF career his has bceni He has related
something of his early life In being
Boy" which was published In 1877.
At the age OF 90 he graduated from
Hamilton college, taking the first prize
for English composition. Already no had
contributed to the old Knickerbocker
and its now almost forgotten rival. Put
nams Magazine. II was in 1853 that he
became one of surveying party on the
prairies Of Missouri. Within . year he
returned to New England. Then he de-
cded there was more money in litigation
than In literature providing you are
counsel for tho litigant who has the most
money and the greatest amount OF stub
bornness. So, in 1855, he graduated from
the law department OF tho University Of
Pennsylvania. The four succeeding years
he practiced at the Chicago bar, with
before tho Twentieth century aickersd
and expired.
There was an evening paper hero In
Hartford looking for an assistant editor.
He was tho fortunate applicant. In
twelve months he had full charge Of Tho
Press and made 1t attractive enough to
be respected. About the year 1867 II
was consolidated with Tho Hartford
Courant, Of which Mr.. Warner was sp-
pointed co-editor. In 1869 he went be-
yond seas and Travelled extensively In
Earope's beaten paths and alluring by
ways for nearly fourteen months. His
letters of travel, written for The Courant,
were so sparkling that his dream Of book
making took business shnpe.
These are the titles OF works that have
made him widely and favorably known;
"My Summer In a Garden" Q670);
"Saunteripgs" (same year.; Backlog
Studies QS73S; "The Gilded Age" in
collaboration with his brother humorist,
Mark Twain (1s73); "Baddeck. and That
Sort of Thing" Qs7D; my Winter on
the Nile QS18j "In the Levant' (i87D
"In the Wilderness 1S7S); "Capt. John
Smith," "a burlcsque biography, written
IN 1881; "Washington Irving" In the
Men OF Letters series (the same year,
"Roundabout Journey" Qss3; Then
Pilgrimage" 1886; "On Horseback
Through Virginia and North Carolina
| usSs), which volume includes his MEX
lean Notes." and his recently published
book containing 'Studies In tho South
and West, with Comments on Canada
In 1884, Mr.. Warner succeeded thu
late William A. Seaver as editor Of tina
humorous spice box known TO all reader
of Harper's Magazine as "The Drawer.
This connection has brought him close
than ever TO the people who greatly ad
mire him for the force and sprightlines
of his writings. His latest novel, en-
titled "a Little Journey in the World,
has Just been completed. 1t was writer
as serial, during 1889, for Harper
Magazine. More than any Of his previ
GUS works it strongly reflects the genial
philosophic humanity of Charles Dudle.
| Warner. His portraiture OF tho gro
tesque has long been regarded, by thos
competent to pass Judgment, rs being o
the highest order Of literary art. Their
is depth as well as breadth in his quain
fancy. Mr.. Warmers greatest charm
tho undercurrent Of tender sympath
with and for all mankind. He Is stou
friend Of the toiler. His hand is extende
to help; his words written to encourag
and instruct, quite as much as to lighte
and brighten honest labor.
He has found time to interest himsel
in social science. His thoughtful essay
on prison discipline have attracted tn
attention of foreign governments, an
many Of his suggestions have been p,
to trial with happy results. Asa lecture
on miscellaneous topics he has won fave
by telling his audiences something thu
they liked to hear and which was {
benefit TO them and to others. Chari'
Dudley Warner is a Samaritan rath'
than a sermonizer He had quite enoug
of prosiness, without active Performance
. in his youth. Born and bred in an a
, p,osphere where il was sinful to laug
/ between sundown ON Saturday and SUI
! rise on Monday, his healthful mental a.
tivity is direct result of travel and
keen habit of observation. He Is no
90 years of age.
|. Mr.. Warner wears a full beard, co
$ tented (serious) expression, and upon
4 casion neatly fitting dress clothes. Lii
. James Russell Lowell, the poet-humo
d ist-diplomate, Justin Winsor, the err
dite librarian of Harvard college, an
: John Charles Fremont, the soldier, pal
!, finder and veteran claimant, he par
: his hair in the middle. This peculiari'
!, does not in the least affect the nice pa
~ ance of his brain.
y In 1879 Yale college conferred upo
y Charles Dudley Warner the degree
= master Of arts. Twelve years later u
y same honor came to him from Oar