The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-27
Death of Oliver Optic at
the Age of Is Years.
For Nearly a Generation He
Entertained Boy Readers.
In Early Life He Was a Successful
Teacher In Dorchester.

Boston, March 27.-william T. Adams,
the well know writer who under the pen
name of Oliver Optic has entertained boy
readers for nearly generation, died at his
home at $50 o'clock today. He was 20
years of age. He had been i'll for some
time with fatty degeneration of the heart.
gThe late. William Il. Adams, ESQ.,, other
wise "Oliver Optic f" the author of vari-
Gus popular juvenile books was born at
Midway, Mass. July 30 1922. He was a
descendant of Henry Adams who settled
at Braintree (now Quincy in 1880 and
from whom the race of distinguished
statesmen of this name originated. His
father was widely known as hotel keeper
in Boston, and was for many years the
proprietor of the Lamb Tavern, which
stood on the present side OF the Adams
House-built by and named for the enter
prising landlord OF the old tavern-so
familiar TO the travellers of the last gener-
alton.
Mr. Adams was self-educatcd man.
He received only an ordinary common and
high school education, and completed his
course under the direction of private
instructor. Ee was great reader in his
childhood and was especially fond OF voy-
ages travels and stories of the sea. In
1912 he was appointed Principal of one Of
the grammar schools of Dorchester, ad join
ing Boston, where he was a successful
teacher for more than three years. After
an interval of two years, during which,
with his father and brother he was en-
gagged AS hotel keeper he returned to
the profession of teaching and was ap-
pointed usher of the Boylston school In
Boston in 1S4S
He was promoted to the position Of SUBJ
master after "A service of five years and on
the resignation of Hon. Charles Kimball
afterward Sheriff of Middlesex was unan-
imously elected Principal of the school.
In 1861 mt his own request he was trans.
ferred to the Bowditch school, then just
organized in which situation he remained
until the demand for his literary labors
induced him to resign his office in 1866.
His first efforts as writer for the press
were newspaper and magazine articles.
His first literary venture ''in covers"
was "Hatchie," volume published
under an assumed name, by B. b. Muzzy
q Co., Boston, in 1858. 1t was followed
the next year by ''ln Doors and Out"
collection of short domestic stories and
his first juvenile work. "The Boat Club"
published by Brown, Bazin a. Co. The
decided success of his STORY for young
folks, " seemed to indicate the field of the
authors future literary labor, and it was
Never, and "Try Again. issued by the
same firm. His works then passed into
the hands of Phillips, Sampson & CO.,
whose SUCCESSORS Lee 81 Sheppard, still
retain them. His entire Juvenile pro-
ductions are comprised in the Army and
Navy Stories, y the BOAT Club Series, p"
and the Riverside Stories, in all 30
Volumes besides "a Spelling Book for
Advanced Classes" published by Brewer
a. Tileston, Boston. The Army and
Navy Series" embracing six volumes,
under the respective titles of THE Soldier
Lieutenant" "The Yankee MILDLY,
Fighting Joe, " and Brave Old Salt, T"
are founded upon events and personal
history growing out of the recent war,
and have had an immense sale While
they are written in "a style happily adapted
TO the capacity and taste OF the young,
they have an irresistible charm for
readers of maturer years.
Mr.. Adams was about of the medium
height, well proportioned and active. He
had fair-siZed, symmetrical head, with
"a countenance expressive of more than
ordinary intellectual capability. His fea-
lures were bold and prominent, while not
at all detracting from the handsome con-
tour of the whole. The prevailing cx-
preston Of the face was that of serious
ness and Effectiveness, but his disposi
tion was rather cheerful and buoyant
than otherwise. As may be Judged from
his being "A successful teacher, he had
very attractive qualities of character and
was altogether "a most genial gentleman.
He was one Of the self made literary
men Of the country. His fondness for
books helped him 10 an education, which,
under other circumstances, he would not
have obtained, and the whole effort of his
life was To reach higher and higher pro-
ilciency in mental requirements. With
many a man the business opportunity
and profits offered I'm the keeping of large
hotel would have been sufficient To have
decided his career for life; but not so
with this midnight toilor with books and
the pen. His mind was already soaring
i'm the flight OF literary ambition, and
while Inc found himself competent to in
struct the young, he at the same time
pressed forward in the career of author
| ship. Before his 4ith year he had fully
succeeded In both branches OF his effort.
Some years ago, when careful estimate
| was computed tand when large allow
ances under tho actual numbers published
| were made) the following results were
| reached:
| Boat Club Series volumes. Sale 100, 600
| Woody lie Series, Volumes. lOO,O)
| unios ......,.................. " 75OO
Riverdale scrici, II volumes. ..... " i25,0.0
| Young America Abroad. vol
| uines l3 out and IN process) " 1900
out ard in J,'r, process, 'V' ''''''.. ". g,p
i
Total. H6 volumes, with sale OF. -. 49, .0oo
Mr. Adams had lived during nearly all
| his literary career at his Dorehcster hnpe.