The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-09-02
FREDERICKSBURG Va SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 1899
Middle Age the Period Of Distinction
in Writers Of Ficticn.


in fiction have attained their highest
distraction while ia the first flash oi
youth, inspired by the glow of youth
full romance and passion. II we look
back over the lives of our greatest
nov,hsts We shsll fnd that this WAS
far from beirg the case.
Scott was forty.three before
Waverley" was given to the world.
He had been known in the Fl ii OF
letters for years as successful poet
aud writer for the reviews, but he did
not turn to fiction until his light AS a
poet was beginning to be ecllpsed by
the more brilliant blaze of Byron $
MUS. He wished by the reputa-
tation of the author of Waverley 4"
to restore the waning prestige of
Walter Scott as a poet, aud we know
that he met wi b success beyond his
widest dreams.
Thackelay had reached middle
age before " Vanity Fair" establish
ed his reputation as the FIST novelist
of his day. His matchless style was
not a gift costing nothing to its ere
ator, but it was the elimination and
crown of long years of labor.
Charlotte Bronte was thirty.one
when she wrote Jane Eyre" the
book that made her name famous.
She had passed through varied and
bitter experiences, sand all
through the psges of that wonderful
book we can feel the heart throbs of
her strong personally, stirred and
quickened by her profound knowl-
edge of life and its sorrows.
George Eliot had been known in
the realm of letters for more than
twelve years as editor, essayist, and
translator, when, ,at the age of thirty
nine, by the publication Of " Scenes
from Clerical l. fe" and Adam
Bede " she became the founder Of a
new school in fiction. for she as truly
created the psychological novel as
Scott did the historical.
Charles Kingsley led the life of
busy rector in the parish of Eversly
until he was forty-one when, in
spired by tbs deep sense of the social
and political wrongs of his days, he
penned "Alton Locke" the first
of his strong and brilliant series of
novels.
Anthony Trollope, after youth of
poverty, hardship, and failure, earned
for himself in middle life an honored
name in English literature. Mrs.
Oliphant turned to literature as a
means Of support for an invalid hus
band, and later for her fatherless
children. She has left the world as
an added legacy to her many charm
ing stories the history of one of the
bravest and most unselfsh struggles
that was ever fought by woman
sinRle-handed.
When we turn to our American
writer's OF fiction we find the same
story repeated. Hawthorne had
played at communism at Br OK Farm,
drudged in the Boston Custom House
and as Surveyor of the Port of Salem,
and edited The American Magazine
for some years, before, on the sunset
side of forty, be gave to the world
the /" Scarlet Letter." probably the
greatest of American novels.
Mrs. Stowe, like Charlotte Bronte,
entered the literary arena at thirty
one, when. by the publication of
" Uncle Toms Cabin" she revOlu.
tionized a great Nation an6 loosened
the shackles of Americas aves.
Holmes, the genial Autocrat, was
leader in his profession and had
won a widespread fame as poet and
essayist before he wrote " Elsie Ven.
uer," at ffty-two. In connection
with Holmes, we would mention Weir
Mitchell, because there is striking
similarity in their histories. Mitchell,
like Holmes, had won high distinction
in the medical profession before turn
ing to literature be is, like Holmes,
poet in his " Characteristics, Zone
of his earlier prose efforts, he has
followed very closely the sty le OF the
&" Autocrst." and be, too, had reach
ed middle life before Hugh Wynne"
gave him an assured place among the
frst novelists of his day.
Gen. Lew Wallace had spent near
ly half century in active military
aud diplomatic service before he
took up his pen and gained world
wide reputation by the production Of
"Ben Hur," proving certainly in his
case that "the pen is mightier than
the sword"
could cite numberless instances
along this line, but | think enough
have been given to prove that the
highest laurels in the real m of move
writing have not been lightly won
but that the great creators in fiction
like the great poets, Learned in suf
fering what they taught in song
and that
1.-The heights by great men reached an
kept
Were not attained by sudden fighs,
But they, while their companions
slept, >,
We're toiling upward in the night. .
Sallie MoGavock Lacy.
Fredericksburg, Va, in N. Times