The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-08-31

Among LnO6o VINO nave 6uHereu bHo
misfortune Of being on the unpopular
side in the recent Parliamentary elec-
tions in England, is the author of those
once popular romances, king Solomon's
Mines" and the wonderful "She." Mr..
Haggard stood for election in East Nor
folk and his canvass was attended with
various lively and exciting incidents
which perhaps may serve him as the
warp if not the wool for some future ro-
nance of real life. since they failed to
serve his political purpose. He saved
his head from being broken by some Of
his belligerant opponents in the canvass
only to have it badly fractured in po
litical sense when they got at him at the
polls. II this sudden and calamitous
ending to his political aspirations has
the result OF turning Mr.. Haggard's
energies into literary channels again the
reading public may gain more by his
defeat than the House of Commons lost.
Mr.. Haggard has not been much in
evidence lately in literary sense. but
the qualities manifested in the produc-
tion of such remarkable stories as "King
Solomon's Mines" and Jess surely
justify the belief that we have not
heard the last Of this versatile and pow
erful writer. Mr.. Haggard is still
young man, only thirty nine last March.
and is therefore good for many more
years of work as life usually goes. 1t is
worth noting in this connection that
Mr.. Haggard's first book was of politi
cal character. 1t related to events in
South Africa and appeared in 1882. 1t
had no better success than the writer
himself has had in politics recently.
Two years later he published Dawn
and year after 1.-THE Witchs Head"
both stories of adventure. They caused
not much comment. Dawn" was rather
crude, but 1.-The Witch's Head" indicat-
ed that the power to write stirring
story for boys lay in the author. In the
autumn Of 1885 this power was revealed
when king Solomon's Mines" was pub
lished. book that was highly praised
by the critics and that Immediately &C.
quired wide popularity. The presence
of new force in fiction was recognized,
force that brought freshness Of method
and great vigor and virility of treatment
to the development Of an old idea-the
hazardous search for hidden treasure,
which was nothing less than the dia-
mond mines from which King Solomon
was supposed to have got his jewels.
Such story of daring adventure. how
ever, in which the interest was not only
maintained but was increased from the
beginning TO the end, was well nigh
unique. though it by no means repre-.
sented the highest form OF romance.
Writing of this story which made him
famous Mr.. Haggard says: liking Sol
omon's Mines was written as an expert
ment in boys books. 1t would be inn
possible for me to define where facts
end and fiction begins in the work, as
the two are very much mixed up to-
gether. may add that its success was
quite unexpected by me. as the work,
undertaken at haphszard. was carried
out at odd hours for the most part after
long day at chambers" Mr.. Haggard's
information regarding South African
scenes and native character was gath
cred at first hand. For when only nine
teen Mr.. Haggard accompanied Sir
Henry Bulwer to Natal. and during the
two succeeding years he served on the
staff of Sir Theophilus Shepstone, the
Special Commissioner to the Transvaal.
He withdrew from the Colonial service
in 1879, and returning to London and
marrying the only daughter of the late
Major Margitson. Of buckingham
House. Norfolk. became a practicing
barrister OF Lincoln's Inn.