The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-04-18


"seditious and libelous," he was con-
demned to stand in the pillory for
several hours, and his pamphlet was
burned by the common hangman.
But great crowd of sympathizing
friends gathered around him as he
stood in the pillory, presenting him
flowers and applauding him for his
courage, so that he did not feel dis
graced by his punishment.
About two hundred and fifty books
aud pamphlets were published by
Defoe, who was rapid and easy
writer and very quick to seize upon
an idea. But he was a bad business
manager, and so often in reverses
that he says of himself: Il have gone
through life OF wonders, and am
the subject of vast variety of provi-
dences; l have been fed more by
miracle than Elijah when the ravens
were his purveyors; | have some
time ago summed up the scenes of
my life in this distich:
mo man has tastei differing fortunes more.
And thirteen times have been rich and poor"
Defoe loved to wander about in
order to hear and see all sorts of
novel things, neglecting business fer
politics; and for this and his gener
ally irregular though never disrepu-
table ways his wife treated him to SO
many lectures that Defoe made vow
of silence, and for twenty eight years,
from 1886 to TIA, he never spoke to
her.
Defoe's love of fine clothes and of
ostentation was quite remarkable, and
at certain town where he was in
hiding from his enemies he was called
the SUNDAY gentleman" because
once week, on Sunday, he was seen
in the streets dressed in fashionable
attire, with fine flowing wig, lace
ruffie, and swinging sword by his
side.
But how came Defoe's wonderful
book to be written?
The man whose adventures in
spired the story of Robinson Cru
soc" was born while Defoe was stu
dent at Newington. His name was
Alexander Selcraig or Selkirk, and he
was a wild, restless fellow, who ran
away to sea. As the result of quar-
rel with his rough sea companions,
he was left on desolate island called
Juan Fernandez, west of Chill. After
remaining on the island for years, he
escaped and returned to England.
Many people came to listen to his
strange story, and with the others of
course came wandering Defoe. The
account touched Defoe's lively fancy,
and he obtained from Selkirk all his
papers. Six or seven years later the
story of Robinson Crusoe" was writ
ten out by the trained hand of man
who had learned the best and purest
Saxon English in his boyhood by
studying the Bible and by diligent
attention to Master Morton's instruc-
tions, and whose love of wandering
about and of novel adventure, long
years of silence in his home, and close
observation of life, had well fitted
him for the production of work that
was soon to make his name known in
all civilized countries.
The London publishers were not
eager to accept Robinson" after it
was written. Some one gives us a
picture of Defoe going up and down
the streets of London with the man
uscript under his arm, visiting one
book-shop after another without sue
cess. But finally Mr.. William Tay-
lor accepted it, and on April 25, l719,
book of 1854 pages was issued with
this title-page:
"Life and Strange Surprising Ad-
ventures of Robinson Crusoe of York,
mariner: who lived eight and twenty
years alone on an Uninhabited Island
on the coast of America, near the
mouth of the great River Oronoque:
Having been cast on Shore by Ship
wreck, wherein all the Men persisted
but himself. With an Account how
he was at last as strangely delivered
by Pyrates. Written by himself.
London: Printed for W. Taylor at
the Ship in Paternoster Row, .l7l9."
At once the town seized upon the
charming story. A second edition of
the book was called for within seven
teen days; third twenty five days
later; and August Sth the fourth
edition was given to the public.
Everybody wanted to read it, and
Mr.. Tay lor realized fortune, though
| II i l. 60