The times., 1898-10-21

the education and to the delight of his
fellowmen. He had already written a
really great American novel, the most
artistic and the strongest product Of
American letters In half century, and,
in the quality of perception. the great
est novel ever written by an American.
The world has many writer's Of fiction
which has come to have a value be-
sides the power to entertain; which,
under the inspiration of genius, in
structs even better than our own living
and our contact with the world; which
aids in that education of circumstances
education-the world has many, and
some are good and others are promis-
ing. But among the good are not any
who are better than Harold Frederic,
estimated by his best work, and among
both good and promising not any who
have given such assurance of q great
future.
His first great novel, the product of
wholesome literary Information, came
as a revelation to those who thought
Mr. Frederic had reached his highest
point in THE Lawton Girl and THE
Copperhead," and would be satisfied
with the measure of success they
marked. The Damnation of Theron
Ware" is depressing in tone and belongs
is its realism that the cheerful, opti-
mistic and romantic Scotch preacher
and writer, Ian Maclaren," declared it
was ''the strongest book OF the year."
and he spoke for all of critical England.
In estimating the value of this judg-
ment we must consider that the scenes
and life of the novel are unfamiliar to
readers in England, being peculiar to
the small communities of this country.
All his stories, with two exceptions.
are taken from American life, and in
spite of Mr.. Frederics long residence
abroad thc local color is perfect His
training for his work was ideal. He
spent his boyhood on a farm, in getting
out of bed at five in the morning to
look after the cattle, and until he was
fourteen he drove a milk wagon as a
side issue" in his farm duties. Later
he was retoucher of negatives for a
country photographer. At eighteen he
was a proof-reader for a Utica paper,
of which he became first a reporter
and then the editor. In 1852 he was
made the editor of the Albany Journal
and two years later he was sent to
London by the New York Times. He
had his first real start in fiction in
Scribners Magazine, which selected
one of his tales for its first serial. Be-
| fore his best novel, he wrote "Seth's
| Brothers Wife, I'm the Valley" THE
Lawton Girl" THE Return of o'Maho-
ney,'' THE Copperhead" and a number
| of shorter stories.
There has been no difference of opin-
ton of Theron Ware" They agree that
it is distinctly great. They see II in a
proof that Harold Frederic, alone
among American writers. had the
| quality of self-criticism and refused to
be satisfied with a moderate success,
knowing himself capable of something
| higher. They see in it the originality.
strength, insight and sureness of touch
| of a master. Here there is nothing
| lacking he hau the patience 10 sup
port himself by his journalistic work
while his artistic power slowly ripened.
He had just come into the reward he
had so richly earned, a sturdy, master
full man of forty-two; had reached
that stage Of his career where he could
| devote all his time to his proper work
had just been recognized as the incom-
parable portrayer of whatever is dis
tinctive in American life. when he died
There are no words to measure the loss
| to mankind.