The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-28

America loses perhaps IT'S most popular
Juvenile story writer in the death OF VII
naIn Z. Adams or oliver Optic" as he
las hee.t more commonly known. after
nsariy Aaif 4 century Of uninterrupted
literary work the venerable author has
passed away. having earned generous
reward OF wealth and a lasting affection
In the hearts of .nntnneTable young people
all over the land.
There are few American boys. and, for
that matter, few young. middle-aged or
old men who have not at some time read
the books OF "oiiver Optic and enjoyed
them. The popularity OF his fiction was
phenomenal from the first. and there is
many a gray-haired man who devoured
them as eagerly forty years ago as hts chill
dren and grandchildren have done after
him.
Mr.. Adams was distinctively a writer for
boys. tie was fond OF them, was acqualnt-
ed with their characters. knew their feel
lngs. hopes. fears and aspirations, and
throughout a long life never failed 10 keep
In touch with them. For twenty years he
was a teacher OF the young. and no one
ever had a better opportunity than he 20
study the natures and desires Of children.
Throughout a long lie he never lost inter-
est in them. He was their friend and ad-
wiser always. and the nature of his work
kept him young In thought and spirit.
He had many critics who styled his
stories oyerdrawn and improbable, and he
Ns,x~
succeed IN impossible achievements and
perform deeds beyond the power OF mature
men. The charge can hardly be sustained.
Mr.. Adams characters were possibly boys
above the average IN health, strength,
ability. push and grit II they had not been
IL would have been useless TO write about
them. They were invariably good. active
robust Americans whom any hoy might
take as examples without serious danger
OF going astray or making failure in life.
There are few OF his works that are not
wholesome and Of healthy tone. They
| are fau OF outdoor life with rugged and
| InvisoratlnS experiences. His boys are in
/ the woods ansi fields. amid rivers and lakes
and on the sea. They are active. am
| bilious and progressive with an abund-
aneo OF vitality. honesty and pluck. There
IL not n tale without moral His heroes
prefer right 10 WRONG. and their actions
| are along lines Of the best CHRISTIAN teach
| lnFs.
Mr.. Adams never laid claim 10 any lit
| srary excellence In fact the method and
/ quantity OF hts work forbade his making
! any pretenslons on this score. He turned
| cat books Ike a machine. and while they
/ xers written in a plain English which
! boys hasl re difeulty In understanding.
| there VS. no elegance or beauty 20 bis
! 6ictian. Ills saslisr storlos were perhaps
| more varied 81 Incident. fresacr and mere
entertaining than those 81 s later day.
/ when hs had sged ana his supply Of ma
| teriai Tor exploits and adventures showed
| signs Of drying up. Bls istsr works we're
| sagerly soaSAt for hy re yoanS. however.
/ And Il 5 said that - aemsnd for bis
| stories has Shown rs signs o. falling or
! darinx reosa: years.
! Tacre save bson many American asthors
OF iavcune Gctio1 wso Save produced in
dlv idtai works x Ia greater merit than
/ t,osss % oliver op,sa" but there have
/ never been Any who ws-s IN
/ closer communion with TIE American
/ yoush thar -. Ths boys were always as
! friends ard tee announcement GO rs
! aeata wsH brink up rsc3,leessoas IA theSs-
/ ans ~ American homes ~ mary
/ pleaar: Aogr passed IA TIE company OF
| Dss stur71y aa4 iatersvesos yosnS heroes.