The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-04-06

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Among our younger literary men, there
are few who have won reputation so
rapidly-a reputation which rests on
good and solid foundations, and which
promises to be enduring-as Francis
Marion Crawford. In the early part Of
1882 he was unknown. Before the half
Of the year was gone "Mr. Isaacs' was
in everybody's mouth, aud it's author
was famous. His experience was not
unlike that of Macaulay, Dickens and
others that might be named. His first
effort was success and his fame has
been abiding. "Mr. Isaacs' is book
which has many merits-merits which
it was impossible for the reading public
not to recognize. and for the critics to
overlook. "Mr. Isaacs," however. would
hardly have been sufficient to great
reputation, il it had not been followed
| by works of at least equal ability.
Happily such works have not been want
ing. Since the date of his first novel
volumes have come thick and fast from
Mr.. Crawford's pen; and few books have
been in greater demand.
There is not much mystery about Mr..
| Crawford's life or work. His career,
however, SO far, has been full Of interest.
He talks to us freely about himself-tells
us the story of his life, and explains the
character and method of his work. Born
! at Bagni di Lucca, Italy, in 1858, he is
only in his forty second year. His
father was Thomas Crawford. Scotch
Irishman, born in the west of Ireland
and brought to this country when very
young. Trained to wood carving, but
ambitious of higher role in the world
of art, he was sent to Rome. where he
became pupil of the famous Thorwald-
sen. 1t was there he met and married
the mother of the novelist, Miss Louisa
Ward, who was travelling with DIR. Sam
uel F. Howe, and his wife, Julia Ward
Howe. Thomas Crawford, who is re-
membered as Americas most original
sculptor, died in 1857, when his son
Marion was only three years old. In
those days young Crawford was residing
on farm with some kinsfolk near Bord-
entown, New Jersey. After his fathers
death Marion was sent to Europe, where
his education was superintended by a
French governess. and where he acquired
mastery of the French language, which
he speaks and writes with as much
readiness as English.
When he was about twelve years of
age he was back again in America and
attended st. Paul's school. He went to
Harvard, but did not complete his course.
Back again in Europe, he studied sue
cessively at Trinity College, Cambridge,
England. and at Karlsruhe and Heiiel-
berg, Germany. He was in Germany
from 1874 to 1876. In the latter year he
went to Rome, and at the university there
studied Sanskrit, becoming deeply in
terested through his tutor in Buddhism
and other Oriental religions. He re-
NAMED in Rome till 1878. Already, and
some years prior to this date, the finan-
cial disasters which followed the panic
of 1873 had brought trouble to his
family. The fortune which his mother
inherited from her banker-father was
lost. Young Crawford, therefore, now
found it necessary to earn his own living
Having borrowed one hundred pounds
he sailed for Bombay, and not long after
his arrival he found hims elf in charge Of
the Allahabad India Herald. After an
eighteen months residence in Bombay
he returned to Europe, remaining for a
few months in Italy. and setting out FOR
America early in 1881.
1t will be seen that alike by education
and experience Mr.. Crawford was fairly
we'll equipped for writing novels. at least
of certain class, although it does moi
appear that he had seriously thought
of giving himself to such work. He wai
now about twenty-seven years of age
Undecided as to his future course ht
entered Harvard and took Professor Ian
mans course in Sanskrit, and between
1882 and 1883 he wrote book reviews anG
other articles for the periodicals. moi
making much money, but always finding
a good friend in his uncle, Sam Ward
the we'll known favorite of Boston. New
York and Washington society. 1t wal
at the instigation of Uncle Sam that be
wrote "Mr. Isaacs." 1t was based or
his Indian experience. Begun May
1882. it was finished June 13 Of the same
year. Accepted and published by the
Macmillans. il was an immediate success
Having tasted blood" Mr.. Crawford