The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-09
Represented London Paper During
Our Civil War. Was In France I'm
1870 and mt Rome In 1875.
PUBLISHED MANY BOOKS
AND WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE,
BEsT-PAID WRITER'S OF THE DAY.
A Disciple of Dickens i'm His Youth
Death of II. Thanc Miller, n Noted
Cincinnati Educator.

LONDON, Dec. s.-George Augustus Sala.
the distinguished journalist, is dead.
George Augustus Henry Sala was among
the best known men in the world of letters
OF his time. He was the foremost repre-
sentative of the lighter side of modern
Journalism, and achieved a unique reputa-
ton in that department of literature. Mr..
Sala was another instance of a man of
genius who discovered his vocation by
cident. after cropping about for some time
In other directions; only in his case he
might, with fair opportunities. have been
almost equally successful in other walks
OF life. His versatility was surprising. and
manifested itself when he was quite
boy. His father was an Italian gentleman.
who married an English lady well known
in her day as a charming and accomplished
singer.
Born in London in 1873. young Sala re-
ceved his early education at the College
Bourbon, at Paris. but between the ages
of six and nine he was afflicted with total
blindness, so that at nine he could neither
read nor write. He has himself borne low
ing testimony of the devotion of his sister.
who cheered this dreary period of his exist
ence by reading to him by the hour. After
ne was sent to a school at Turnhamgreen,
near London. chiefly for the purpose of
learning his mother tongue, of which ne
was at that time almost entirely ignorant
In the course of a lively address delivered
few years ago at the inauguration of
school OF art in that neighborhood Mr.
Sala appropriately related that his earliest
artistic effort was an ambitious design In
alto relieve, intended to ornament the
facade OF his old school. According to his
own account this juvenile achievement did
not meet with much appreciation; but 1t
Is at least certain that he was one of the
most promising pupils of the school, and
had attained remarkable proficiency in Ian
guages. drawing, music and other special
Mr.. Sala was originally destined for
painter, and at an early age ne commenced
10 sDs study art, art he He was soon forced how
livelihood, and found the process involved
many painful vicissitudes. He commenced
when still lad to make political carica-
events in the fashion then in vogue. He
turned out many hundreds of these "skits,"
which found a ready sale, and he became
a clever draughtsman, photographer and en-
grayer. But the remuneration he received
was so insignificant that he could scarcely
always weak, unified him for this kind
OF work For several years, therefore. he
frequently reaching very low water. in
deed, but never losing his cheerful self
confidence; He was blessed with buoy
ant, reckless. happy-go-lucky disposition.
which enabled him to enjoy TO the utmost
brief CLEAN of prosperity and bear up
a ss,an eVi times with philosophical
MS chief means of subsistence. but he tried
everything that afforded prospect of MAX
painter and translator of French farces
at a London theater to the business of an
s0cs agent LECTURER on life assur-
pill.
WHEN HE STRUCK OIL.
Mr. Sala was for more than thirty years
a consistent Liberal, but the advertising
columns of the Times for July. 1850. show
him to have been the editor of a monthly
publication called the Conservative Mag
azine, bearing the eminently Conservative
motto. borrowed from Constantine's stand
ard-bearer. "Hic optime manebimusr' This
rival TO Blackwood was. happily. very short
lived AT length he gave literatue turn
as other things had failed, and this time
he struck ile.'' as the Americans saw.
Ii Is said that his article. 1.-The Key of the
Street." which first brought him into,
notice, and attracted the attention OF
having had to spend the small hours of a
summer morning In perambuating the
of the house. At all events, it was a
turning-point IN his life, and from that
time Forward he became a constant con-
made his mark. Mr. Sala freely acknowI-
edges the deep debt OF gratitude he owed
70 eS III n,ieKens. VINO. writing to John Forster
OF MS ietest recruit about this time saws.
mo him very conscientious fellow
When he gets money ahead. he is not like
the Imnecfie youth who so often do the like
in Wellington street. and walk OFF hut
only works more industriously / think he
improves with everything that he does He
looks Sharply at the alterations in his arti-
cies. observe. and takes the hint next
time Mr.. Sala continued to be Intimately
associlted with Dickens until the LATER
died. Most of his published works an
peared In Household Words and All the
Year Round; and Dickens may be said
disciple. Observing. with MS Usual keene
ness of perception, the bent of Young SaIa's
genius ne urged him TO enter the lists
or journalism, and watched his progress
with deep interest. The Daily Telegram
was at that time in its early youth. and
Mr.. sala soon became valued member OF
He was also an extensive and regular
contributor TO the Welcome Guest, the
Magazine, for which he wrote the stories
OF The Seven Sons Of Mammon' and Cap
tain, tam D ,I a contributor TO the IL
zine, All the Year Round. and many other
English periodicals In 1868 he came to this
London Daily Telegraph and on hia rat1 ,ie
at the close of 1864 published the result OF
his observations under the title of "Ameri-
a series OF graphic letters for the Daily
Telegraph from Algeria. and revisited that
country and Morocco in 1870. In ls7 Mr.
sala was at Metz and in eastern France
as war correspondent for the Daily Tele-
graph After witnessing the fall of the
empire in Paris on Sept T. he went To
Rome to record the entry OF the Italian
army into the Eternal City
In January. 1870. he visited Spain on the
occasion OF the entry of Alfonso MI and on
his return in the following April he was
Awarded
Ii1freaS Honnrc-W neld,s Raie