The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-07-05
A MILLIONAIRE WRITER.
Thomas Hitchcock, the Author of 1.-THE
Loves of lien of Genius"
fC,,nninl

lSpeclal correspondence.
NEW YORK, June 22-Alr. Thomas Hitch
cock in his declining years appears before
the public as an author. His case is an
other illustration. of which we have had
so many il the past two or three years, Of
men who have gained regulations and for
tunes in the stern activities of business
who turn in their Older years to the de-
| lights of literature. Mr.. Hitchcock has
just written, and a leading publishing
house has issued, truly interesting book,
in which the sorrowful loves OF men of
genius are described. The book suggests
in some respects the delightful work of the
elder Disraeh, in which the characteristics
of men of genius are grouped and set forth.
Mr. Hitchcock, however, possesses a style
which, it is no discredit to Disraeh, the
father, to say, will appeal more to the pop
ular taste than that which characterized
the distinguished sire of Lord Beacens-
field.
Mr.. Hitchcock has taken the story of
ten or twelve men whose genius was such
that their achievements have brought
them immortal fame, and he has told the
story of their courtships, their affections
and their unfortunate marriages to women,
some of whom were most worthy persons,
but who managed to make their particular
husbands miserable. Such theme requires
both delicate and yet discriminative treat
ment, and Mr.. Hitchcock has proved
wholly equal to the demands made upon
him. The tales that are told have ali the
charm of romance, but yet romance which
is sad and not joyous.
Those who know the author intimately
are not surprised at the fine literary flavor
of his work or the evidences of extensive
reading and Of the careful and yet exhaust
i've analysis of those about whom he
writes. But those who know Mr.. Hitch
cock only by his reputation as q fnancier,
capitalist and q trustee of the Sun news
paper corporation, will be surprised by the
evidence of exceeding great literary abil-
ity which is displayed in this book.
Thomas Hitchcock is one of the most
interesting and in some respects talented
of men who have to do with affairs in New
York city. He is of New England birth
and was trained at Harvard college, ex-
pecting TO become a lawyer. His talents,
however, are not of the kind which would
be content with the drudgery and the dry
ness of technical pleadings, and he soon
after gave up all idea of practiCing law
and plunged into commercial pursuits.
He attracted attention as a young man by
his judgment, which was singularly accu-
rate, and by his ability to deal with COM
plicated financial problems, and he hal
gained for himself q fortune at a time
when most young men are hoping only to
get one.
When the Atlantic cable project was sug-
gested by Cyrus w. Field, Peter Cooper
and others, Mr. Hitchcock had abundant
faith in it, and he invested his money with
perfect assurance that bis rewards would
be liberal He was one of the very few men
who was not frightened at the failure of
the first cable. His faith never left him.
He believed that the failure was due only
to temporary accident, and that the Allan
tic cable would become as certain as the
land lines are. AS result of his faith Mr..
Hitchcock had the good fortune to see his
investment bring him splendid returns.
He was associated with Mr.. Charles A.
Dana in the purchase of the New York
Sun, and he found in the editorial work
which he selected tasks most congenial 10
him and of the utmost value to the paper.
He was large stock holder, and his coun-
sci in the business management was always
esteemed as worthy of the most careful
consideration. The editorial page of The
Sun owes not a little of the reputation
which it has as the ablest editorial page in
this country to the work Of Mr.. Hitchcock
His style is singulariy lucid, and at the
same time is as smooth and fascinating as
that Of Thackeray, which, in some re-
spects, IT suggests. Besides that, his work
always indicates not only the thinker, but
the scholar, the man Of research.
About two years ago Mr.. Hitchcock be-
gan the contribution Of a weekly financial
article written over nom de plume. IL
attracted instant attention In some re-
spects il Is the most successful special
feature in the history Of Journalism in New
York city. IL was a revelation Of what
literature, when applied 70 s5ch dry SUD
ject a. the money market, could do in the
way Of fascinating the ordinary reader.
The essays were brilliant specimens of the
best sort OF literary workmanship, aud a.
the same tine they told story Of subjects
Of vital interest 10 the busy nen Of Wall
street. TO the economist and 70 tie states
man Twice Mr. Hitchcock has tried 70
suspend these publications, but lie has been
compIimented By pubiic which has in
sisted upon more The little book which
he has Just published IS al excursion into
the realm of pure literature almost, and il
viii De sure 20 attract attention % the
talents Of this remarkable nan
Z J. EDWARDS