The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-11-28
WRITER'S IN POLITICS.
Men of Letters Who Have been Favored
With Public Positions.

Men of Letters Who Have been Favored
With Public Positions.
Especial Correspondence
NEW YORK, Oct. 30.-Only one person who
has made of literature profession is now
very prominent In public life = Senator
Lodge of Massachusetts, who is quite ably
maintaining those qualities which make
the successful public man which he most
interestingly described in several biogra-
phies of Americans who won public re-
nown. DR.. Everett. now a member of con-
gress from Massachusetts, has been liter
airy man all his days, although rather as a
teacher than writer. Thomas Wentworth
Higginson was once asked to run for con-
gress, and at one time there was suggestion
that Mark Twain be nominated for mayor
of Hartford.
Professor Sumner, widely known as an
economic writer was once member of the
board of aldermen of New Haven, and
David A. Wells has been an unsuccessful
candidate for congress. James X. Pauld-
ing and George Bancroft were the most
conspicuous men of letters who entered
public life, although it has been the custom
of presidents to recognize great literary
achievement by the bestowal of foreign
missions, which Washington Irving, John
Lothrop Motley, James Russell Lowell,
Bayard Taylor and Andrew d. White were
honored with. Bret Harte was made con-
sui to Glasgow, and other writers have been
sent abroad as American consuls.
1t is now understood that man of letters
and unusual achievement as the publisher
of the literature Of others will probably be
sent to the next congress as one of the rep
resentatives from the city of New York
a man who probably has had more extern
sive correspondence with the most famous
writers of the present generation than any
other American, General Lloyd Bryce.
General Bryce has already served In con-
gress for single term, yet he was not then
known as a writer, but only rs a man of
charming personal characteristics and
great culture. 1t was while he was MEM
Der of congress that he published his first
novel, and since he retired he has written
two others, one of them having been most
favorably received. 1t was his intention
when he finished his first term in congress
to devote his life to literature, having am
bition to write novel picturing life in GER
tain cultivated American circles with
which he has been most familiar. But a
tragedy sudden and most sad altered for a
time the purpose of General Bryce and
placed him most unexpectedly in the chair
Of editor as well as post Of proprietor Of
the leading American review. That expe-
rience has a touch of romance as well as
the pathos of the sudden end of bright
promise and fond ambition.
Although not of the same political party,
there sprang up warm friendship be-
tween Mr.. Rice and General Bryce. They
were fellow Americans at the Oxford uni
versity in England, and they had common
tastes and sympathies. Mr. Rice, pre-
pairing to go to Russia for four years alb
sence, turned to General Bryce and asked
him to take charge Of The Review during
his absence 1t was an unexpected oppor-
tunity for General Bryce and one which he
accepted with something of hesitation.
Mr.. Rice one afternoon a few days before
he expected to sail for st. Petersburg was
discovered upon the car of an elevated train
by the then mayor of the cityAWilliam r.
Grace-who thought Mr.. Rice seemed to be
suffering ~ am very SICK" he said to
Mayor Grace, who then took him to his ho-
tel, procured nurse, who put him in bed.
from which he never rose He died from a
diphtheretic attack within a few hours Of
the time when he expected to sail as minis
ter to Russia.
When his will was read, it was discov-
cred that he had bequeathed The North
American Review to General Bryce as a
mark of his friendship and esteem, so that
the young editor found himself with the
greater responsibility of proprietorship.
For five years he has conducted that maga-
zine upon the lines laid down by Mr.. Rice,
and has it SO well in hand that he is pre-
pared to accept the proposition made to
him that he again return to congress.
II. j. EDWARDS.