The Press., 1896-04-23
HARDY, NOVELIST.
SHORT SKETCH UNSUCCESSFUL MAN
 OF LITERATURE.

OF LITERATURE,
 How He Abandoned Architecture For Story writing-The Greenwood Incident Shows That There Is Sometimes Something Tn 8 Name.
 Much has been said and written about Thomas Hardy's work, but very little indeed is generally known of the man himself. An obvious reason is the nov. elist' dislike of personalities, his shrink. ing from public curiosity, and the sim' pies serene-almost mediaval-tone of nature that dominates him.
 As a young man he proposed to fol low architecture as a profession and studied with diligence. He went into the office of the we'll known architect, Sir Arthur Bloomfield, A. R. A., in London. While equipping himself for his future career, he used hi7 spare mo- ments in writing novel that he called Desperate Remedies ' This book, aft CT several refusals, at last found pub, fisher, but it did Hardy no more good than harm. Meantime, following hiE architectural work, he carried out his first mmission-naturally modest one. as young architect Is are not usually intrusted with cathedrals. Although his maiden effort in letters had met with comparative failure, his 1l;l was un- abated, for he immediately wrote "Un~ der the Greenwood I4cc.
 At the time this book appeared Fred erick Greenwood, nCw the distinguish ed student of European policies, edited The Cornhill Magazine. It is habit with MT. Greenwood occasionally to "prowl' about old bookstalls. Looking over basketful of cheap books all thrown together, he chanced to light upon "Under tho Greenwood Tree. " For the sake of its name he picked it up, paying few pence for it. The able editor saw at a glance that there was genius in that neglected and discarded work, and, finding out Hardy, then in his thirty first year, he commissioned him to write a novel for The CornhilL It was then that Hardy, forced by cir cumstances as well as impelled by his love for letters, abandoned architecture, and, throwing himself into his work with perfect singleness of purpose, wrote Ear From the Madding Crowd" a book that now stands With a few others among the lasting literature achieve ments of this century,
 Though he is neither listless nor lan- guid, Hardy's appearance is that of a man who has lately recovered from an illness His cheeks are slightly sunken and his skin is sallow, speaking of sed- entary labols, the midnight lamp and of constitution that could not support the sustained strain of an arduous task Yet his eyes tell another tale aud pcs sess that phCsphorescent light that indi- cates energy. The solution of tEese con- tradictory marks must be that he is mentally as robust as he is physically delicate, or it may be that the strong mind has sometimes to struggle against the dropping of the body.
 Hardy is neither tall nor commanding in stature. His manner is free from nervousness, shOwiness or excessive movement; indeed, tranquil, thought full spirit is characteristic of him, and there is nothing in his presence that is 
 of his mind. The most that can be said is that his face is exceedingly keen anG clever. His bronzed hair, now tingeC with gray and brushed back, is becom ing thin. His slender mustache addt point to his finely modelled features: Al though spare in type, his shoulders are broad and give him the appearance of being larger than he is when he is seen sitting down.
 As is the case with many Englisf writers, Hardy lives in the country anC goes to London once every year for { few weeks to brush away the cobwebE by contact with men who keep the rus from their steel and the tarnish from their silver. Hardy's quiet home is no far away from the pretty little town o+ Dorchester, in Dcrsetshire, his native county.
 This home is entirely the work of hil own hands. Every room, window ant hall; every alcove, cupboard and door way is designed to suit his own and hi! wife's fancy. The house stands on, { small piece of land and is surrounded by few acres of garden and lawn. Int manner in which the land came into his possession is interesting.
 The particular piece of ground h' wanted was part of large tract belong ing to a land company of which tht Prince of Wales was president. Though the prince did not know Hardy person ally, he greatly admired his work. Or one occasion the directors of the lant company met, the prince presiding, ane when the report was read MT. Hardy application for few acres of the com pany's land was alluded to, but merel. incidentally, with the remark that i would, of course, have to be declined The prince said: "What Hardy is it Not the author?'' "Yes Thomas liar dy," was the reply. "Then why no let him have the few acres?" said tn prince. "He would not have asked ha' he not set his heart on the spot. Yes let him have the m. ''- Cor. Bostol