New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-28

after vain and ruinous struggles -'c'ci o"cico''
Sinms did cause his name to be known 70 Nor'herh
men Of letters, and among these he made aoqua!n'-
ances who proved useful when he came North in
search Of publisher His romanees succeeded
almost from the beginning, but whether he made
money by them or to what amount, PROFESSOR
Trent apparently has not been able to ascertain.
Smms was n tremendous worker, but care
less one. 1t is said that he never revised bis
manuscript. nor even read il over before sending
il TO the printer But he dashed of copy az an
amazing rate, though Professor 1rents story
about his sitting down and preparing enough III
half an hour TO keep the printer going Tor week
is altogether too tall for acceptatlon Ills
hands however were always full. After his sec
ond marriage and establishment at the plantation
Of Woodlands. he was not content win turning
out two or three novels year. with CONTINUING
10 half dozen magazines and with writing verse
profusely: but he maintained heavy CORE
spondence. and took steadily increasing interest
in politics lie was a red-hOt advocate OF saw
cry and champion of Qualification. and. later
strong supporter Of secession. Professor lIcho
quotes with sufficient berality from his writings
and letters at this period TO show that II any
thing he was rather in advance OF his STATE III ue-
handing separation. and that he was peculiarly
subject to those political Nightmares. as MS d.
oarapher happily calls them from when the wioio
South suffered during the CESSATION OF rebellion.
Nothing could seem more extravaganza To-Day 'h'''
the language he used about tie North and abont the
military power aud proves of the SOUTH anu ~
is a rather curious circumstance that he should
arbor so fierce an enmity TO the North, whehee
nrincipallv he had derived success and reputation.
and cling with passionate loyalty 10 the SCUM.
and cspecially TO South Carolina, when hau
nd NEGLECTED him. and c3uScu Ine
failure of his every Southern venture
Incidentally Professor Tr,nt gives highly IN
terestinr view of Southern pro-savery sentiment
TIc brings ont clearly the impOssibility OF mee'ihg
tbe demands of sclf-interest by any mp
meals to reason or ethics. and h shows 'ha' ,he
most wild and indcfcnsible positions were 'lu'
held by men whose intelligence was not less III
disputabc than their sincerity. At the Nor'"
tn, arrogance and greed of the South was ai"ii"-
ing the public. At the South the iavori.e '''"'
was the arrogance and greed OF the ianhe,'
Tho mon who declared "thc South in danger the
rort ,be intrusion Of the slave territory was
threatened rcallv believed that their rights were
;,,oded II is not easy for the Northern nina 10
rcolizc this but it is important that 1t soonid u
onnreherded. and this life Of Smins tnI""s "
GREAT deal of light upon the SITUATION IL" ''"
of the moor author when the war came was lnu0'"
pricvous lie lost his wlfe ana neN'f'i o
his homo at Woodlands, with his extensive ipraiS
and mass Of invaluable his'orical oocun''nS'
vas burned by the enemy; his house at Charles
ION was likewise destroyed; all his property OF
cverv description was swept away; ana ne
ororced from the struggle completely ruined
and imnovershcd man. But he possessed
COURAGE that was indomitablc, and buoyancy
that could not be kept under. lie soon rose ABOVE
his accumulated misforunrs and went TO WORK a9aih
with his non in the accustomed strenuous manner
He rebuilt wing Of Woodlands, and applied MN
self 40 fprcely that during nine months ne scarcy
ever left the house. The natural result was
brcak down in his health. but his necessities droNe
him 10 his desk soon as he was aple 10 WI"
again. and he kept mp this course un'ii near INV
end when all his powers failed.
Simms nlaved an important and useful part IN
encouraging Young Southern writer's lie gather'"
about him band Of friends, such as PAUL iiaShc
and Henry Timrod. and Giles. who looked mp 10
him anu whom he helped with his experience h"h
advice L. may indeed be said OF his position 'hht
/, illustrated the French Proverb, In the country
ot thc blind the onc-cycd man is king" and no
1o,,h, ,his is truc 10 some extent When the new
South came upon the stage Simms felt that MS
orecr ,yas over He wac too old IN change lie
conld submit. but he could not perceive that he
had been in the wrong. This was NATURAL no
doubt nor did H. really matter much, for his season
for work had passed He had led n laborio"s me-
vet had enjoyed II perhaps more than many 10,
bis sanguinc and energetic temperament cHrneu
him easjl , over the rough places professor ilrnt
does not think that his work viii pao into oplNoh
entirely and the question can hardly bc dlScusSe"
With nrodt The estimate Of him by his intimate
friend. Uovne. will appear 10 most Students oil ms
c,reer reasonable and not improbable. however
For the rest. Professor Treat mas given Ifs snsn-
,arly interesting and well-written life oil an Amer
lean man Of letters certainly deserving such
tribute.