The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-01-05
LAWYER, EDITOR, HuwoaIsI.
How a Popular American Writer Has In
His Time Played Many Parts.


he told me that he became an author be-
cause there was never q scarcity Of
books at bis fathers house. Ny literary
friend spoke Of period when tho steam
press was regard I'd rs great curiosity,
when the printing Of books was yet a
costly enterprise and when most Of The
volumes, by authors Of established repu-
tation in our language, were imported
from London or Edinburgh.
Elis incident comes 20 my mind linked
with thoughts Of the boyhooi OF Charles
Dudley Warner. His father was known
as q man intelligent above the average.
Tie loved 10 read. His choice books,
however, were of too s0mbera character
to amuse or fascinatc q budding Amori-
can humorist of the vintage Of 1929
There is nodoubt that piety often resc1n-
bles forbearanco, and ceases 10 be yir-
tue. The home library TO which Charles
Dudley Warner had access, while as
good as any IN bis native town Of Plain.
iold, Mass, was, in his juvenile estima-
ton, really good for nothisg lie, there
fore, concluded that it was his mission
To- write better books than those which
his father gave him to browse over when
he vas a rendering Of four or five years
What a thoroughly United States sort
Of q career his has beeul He has related
something Of bis early life in "Being a
Boy" which was published in 1871
At the age Of % be graduated from
Hamilton college. taking the first prize
for English composition. Already he had
contributed 20 the old Knickerbocker
and IFS now almost forgotten rival, Put
nam's Magazine. 70 was in 1853 that he
became one of % surveying party ON the
prairies Of Missouri Within a year he
returned 20 New England. Then me de-
cilcd there was more money in iiti cation
than in litcra,me-proviing you are
counsel for the liiigant who has the most
money and the greatest amount Of stub
bornness. So, ia 1866. he graduated from
ihe law department Of the University of
Pennsylvania. The four succeeding years
he practiced at the Chicago bar, with
fair prospects of being elected a judge
before the Twentieth century nickered
and expired
There was an evening paper here DID
Hartford looking for an assistant editor.
He was the fortunate applicant In
twelve months DE had fun charge of The
Press and made { attractive enough 10
be respected. About the year 1861 il
was consolidated with The Hartford
C0urant. of which Nr. Warner was APP
pointed co-editor I'm 1869 he went be
yond seas and travelled extensively in
E1rope's beaten paths and alluring by
ways for nearly fourteen months. His
lettcrsof travel. written for THE Courant
were so sparkling that bis dream of book
making took business shape.
These are the titleso of works that have
made him widely and favorably known.
My Summer la q Garden $50.
"Saunteringan aame year.; "Backi0e
Studies" Gs72l; "Thc Gilded Age in
collaboration with his brother huM0rist.
Mark Twain 1818: "Baddeck. and That
Sort Of Thing" 08iE "Ny Winter on
the Nile Iei6l: "In the Leyant" (l8lo.
I'm the Wilderness ISIS; capt. John
Smith" burlesque biography. written
in 1881; Washington Irving IN the
Men of Letters series Che same year..
Roundabout Journey lss3G "Ihcii
Pilgrimage ls5G. son Horseback
Through Virginia and North Carolina
ISsSl. which volume includes his "McX
lean Notes" and his recently published
book containing "Studics In the South
and West, with Comments ON Canada.
I'm 1891, Mr. Warner succeeded the
late William &. Seavcr as editor of that
humorous spice box known to AN readers
of Iarpcra Magazine as "Ihc Drawer
This connection has brought him closer
than ever to the people who greatly adj.
miro him for the force aud sprishtliness
Of his writings. His latest novel. en-
titled "a Little Journey in the World, y
has Just been completed. IL was written
as q serial. during 1889, for Harpers
Magazine. More than amy Of his previ
Gus works it strongly reflects the genial
nhilosophic humanity of Charles Dudley
Warner His p0rtraiture Of the gro
tesque has long been regarded, by those
competent TO pass Judgment, as being OF
the highest order of literary art. There
is depth as well as breadth in his quaint
fancy. llr Warmers greatest charm l.
the undercurrcnt Of tender sympathy
with and for all mankind. TIE is stout
friend of the toilor. Ills hand is extended
TO help: his words written to encourage
and instruct, quite as much as to tighten
and brighten honest labor.
lie has found time to interest himself
i'm social science. His thoughtful essays
on prison discipline have attracted the
attention of foreign governments, and
many Of his suggestions have been put
10 trial with happy results. Asa lecturer
ON miscellaneous topics he has won favor
by telling his audiences something that
thev liked to hear and which was of
benefit to them and To others. Charlie
Dudley Warner is . Samaritan rather
than a sermonizor. He had quite enough
of prosiness. without active performance,
in his youth Born and bred in an at
mosphere where it was sinful 10 laugh
between SHUTDOWN ON Saturday and sun
rise on Monday, his hoalthful mental ac-
tivity is direct result Of travel and a
keen habit Of observation. lie IS now
60 years Of age.
HIr. Warner wears n full beard, a con.
tented (seriousl expression, and upon oc.
casion neatly fitting dress clothes. Like
James Russell Lowell, the poet-humor.
ist-diplomate, Justin Winsor, the cru.
dte Librarian of Harvard college, and
John Charles Fremont. the soldier, path
finder and veteran claimant. he parts
his hair ia the middle. This peculiarit.
does not I'm the least affect the nice bal
ancc OF his brain.
I'm 1872 Yale college conferred upon
Charles Dudley Warner the degree OF
master of arts. Twelve years later The
same honor came 10 him from Dart
month. Henry CLAY LCKENs.
Infantile Protectors.
Writing of the risks OF travel in on
~ tho .-nv narfs of China Mr. Col