The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-06-22
THE REAL DAVID HARUM.
story by Next Door Neighbor Who
Knew Him.


popular novels of the past two years.
.as for it's leading character New
York State countryman. This joVial
character, which seems to have won
a permanent place in American lit
erature, is the portrayal OF a man VINO
vas evidently 10 less amusing in real
,.te than in Edward WestcOtt's book.
a former ne.ghbor of both the author
and his hero tells in the letter which
follows tie actual facts about the peo-
pie and the country village which are
described IN the book.
was formerly a resident of Homer.
New York state. where the sceDes u
David Harum' were laid, and | have
also lived in Syracuse. where the
author of the book. Edward Westcott,
resided. / took up the booked read be-
fore / knew that it concerned former
townsman of mine.
When / heard of this David Harum
story | did not connect 1t with the Ed
" ard Westcott l knew or with the
David Hannum l remembered, whose
home was in Homer. Cortland county.
Mr.. Westcott on his death-bed wrote
this book which ii is needless to say l
became much interested in-hoping it
" ould be a success, for he was very
anxious to leave an income to educate
and support his children.
\ Mr. Westcott showed remarkable
Judgment in his selection of a subject.
People like to laugh, and no one who
ever lived in a provincial town ever
caused more laughter than David
10 Htl
one, every one knew him; he was al
ways ready to talk to every one; jolly
word here and a jollier one there-al-
ways the same. Mr.. Hannum believed
In building up his own town. His house
stood on a large plot of ground. and,
understand, 1t was through his influ-
ence that a street called Hannum
avenue was opened on one side of his
residence.
While he had no early advantages, as
told In the book, his wit was keen and
his ambition was great enough to make
him anxious for success in whatever
ne undertook.
l could mention many instances o.
people who have read the book tina
were acquainted with David Hannum
and they universally point out ever
J figures of speech, one and the same
r true to Hannum and Harum. MIR. Johi
3 Rankin. ex- Mayor of Binghamton. New
York. the John Lennox OF the book. con
? tributed an article in the Februar,
. number of the Home Magazine whicl
proves points of similarity and remuv e
any doubt that the most skeptica
might have.
MIR. Westcott married a relative o
David Harum $50 called in the book
and as the families were thus relate
= he was perfectly familiar with the wild
I humur OF David. In casting about 10
e a title for his book he decided ~ cal
: II David Harum" the change tror
e Hannum To Harum seeming a wise one
= When l was younger than ! am now
a lived in a town near Homer. n. Y
r which the author calls bonneville in tn
book David Harum was a familia
figure In the town. always driving fas
horses. and. once seen. always known
From all have known and heard 4
the man during his life. The story
= true enough to the character. l hav
OF late years been i'm the habit of spend
n ing some time in Homer during tn
y warm season. and In my daily walk
!. about the town I always passed III
!, David Hannum residence. The tire.
have been crt down in the yard and til
fence has been removed. The house
- also somew hat changed. 1t is larg,
= oid-fashioned structure. with larg
rooms. and Is very pleasantly situate
u IN the main street. II is. in short. OF
Il of the old landmarks During r.
a cent visit In Homer friend shove
me the picture of this house as 1t wa
- when the Hannum family were aliv
q and living there.
a I asked this friend If could take In