The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-08-24
AUTHOR OF RORY o'MoRE. /"
samuel Lover was C'"'cd Artist as Wen
as writer.

as a Writer.
Mrs. Fanny Schmid, daughter c
Samuel Lover and mother OF Victo
Herbert the American musician, con
tributes paper of "reminiscences O
1.-THE Author of Rory O'Moore' " t
The Century. After describing Lover
first employment in his fathers counting
room Mrs. Schmid says: At l6 years o
age he left his home in spite of the OPP
position of his father and resolved to &,
his own way, depending solely on his
own mental exertions for earning his
bread. This shows his character in it
true light, for, although distinguished
by an enchanting amibility and cheer
fulness, yet he had an iron will, an UNI
firing industry and perfect self depend
ence.
| AT first he managed TO support him
self by executing for physicians draw
ings, which were destined TO appear in
| anatomical works, and had, of course,
TO be remarkably accurate. 1t is the
more extraordinary that he was able TO
| do this, as he had never been taught to
draw and had up to that time practiced
the art only for his amusement in
leisure hours
With patient industry he daily i'm
proved himself in miniature painting
and was soon able 10 establish himself
as portrait painter in Dublin. This re-
manned his principal profession through
life although he practiced many branch
es of art besides.
Having painted everybody in Dublin
who wished TO be painted Gas he himself
used to express it, after the lapse of
considerable time he decided on shifting
the scene of his efforts TO London, where
an endless field Of action presented it.
self The groundwork of ali his future
activity had III the meantime been laid
in Dublin He had been contributing to
various magazines, and also making
many charming drawings for them,
which had appeared as wood cngravings.
The first and second series of the hu-
morous and racy Legends and Stories
of Ireland" had appeared in London and
had been received with great favor by
the public and the press in England as
well as in Ireland.
The first song which he succeeded in
selling 70 a publisher he would not take !
money for, but arranged to take guitar |
in exchange, as he had long wished to |
possess such an instrument, but had as |
yetnot been able to buy one. How little
ne dreamed at that time of the thou
sands of pounds thatSwould be made by
lls songs in tic futurel Unfortunately
he publishers got the lion share of the
profits
l may here remark that he PLAYED
10Th the piano and the guitar exceed
ngly well, although he had never had
essen on either of these instruments.
lie was most eager in acquiring every
ort OF information, and had, for in
lance, out of his own scanty earnings
S youth, after he had left his fathers
ouse, contrived to pay for lessons in
french from the best French teacher in
dublin, and he spoke that language flu
ntly. ltwas then still more necessary
accomplishment in society than now,
nd at school he had learned only Latin.
After his first song had sold we'll sew
raj others followed, and it was easy to
nd publishers for further compositions
4 London.
His first dramatic work was brought
ut at the Theater Royal, Dublin. It
'eated Of the principal incidents in the
fe of certain real or legendary queen
Ireland, who was an Amazon and a
reat heroine
Before transferring his place Of resi-
ance from Ireland to England my IA
Ter had exhibited large and beautiful
portrait of Paganini at the
oval Academy, London. Most portraits
Paganini We're hideous caricatures,
aking him look like demon, while
y fathers portrait of him was won
'rful likeness, representing the master
he really was and doing justice TO the
lritual and benignant expression of I
5 extremely interesting face. The pic '
re at once procured for my father a
ost honorable rank as an artist in Lon
N and actually grounded his reputa-
In there. [