The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-09-28
Estimates Of Edward Eaaleston.

Edward Eggleston novelist historian Journalist and
minister of the gospel who died recently his home
Lake George, N " Is regarded very characteristic
product of American soil His death declares the, New
ork Commercial Advertiser serves remind of how
few Of novelists and eers have really
eeeded IN transferring to their vivid and lasting
impression OF the native American in his various phases
The paper continues;
Mr. Eggleston, who came 20 the work Of fiction writing
without the slightest preparation did nevertheless
to HIT off with marvellous the men and women Of
Indiana and Ohio in the early forties. His plots we're
nothing In his FIRST and best book The Hooser School
MASTER he even left good deal wholly unexplained He
injected his villain slap the middle OF the story with
much hint Of why he should be plotting against
the schoolmaster who he But this makes
no difference The story is the thing for his and
women and also his boys and his bowsy girls his
smallest brats actually before YOU their primi-
tive hafbarbaric instincts their usty woodland ways their
broad humor their squalo and their intensely aboriginal
native Amencanism Bret Harte earlier in the field
than Eggleston, but he too did the same thing in a
different way in revealing Americans their brothers.
nartee ATgonauts are hardly real IN themselves.
The writers who have far caught and permanently
for the characteristic types of eountrymen are
still comparatively few Mr.. Howels is the
eessfu with Slas apham who Is his finest creation and
also with LYDIA Blood and with Kinney In "A Boys Town
book which is still but half approcated--he has oree
for all drawn the last and subtles shading the life and
upbngng and the iunemost thoughts fanccs of the
average American country boy Henry James has given
us in Daisy Miller the American girl OF the Nineteenth cen
fury and after Miss Wilkins has fixed forever on the
printed page the oldashoned New England village Harold
Frederic succeeded with Central New York But how mp-y
more writers can be named who have caught National her
than social types1
me Kansas Oy Journal thinks that Mr. ESgleston as
played gift equal to that of Cooper for painting American
frontier life" He wrote Of what had himself lived
the Springfield Republican, 'and showed the people
whom he had known, without eNaggeraton diminutoo
but with large and sympathetic comprehension
The New York Evening Post adds
"Out Of his activity novelist and his keen interest
the shifting social conditions Of his native State of In
diana he acquired fot himself that ideal OF historical
search which is embodied in his The Beginners of
Nation and The Transit of Civilization. This ideal
that OF demonstrating the entire social conditions of
older period Our university students borrowed the notion
and the Observation-Disclosures Germany. They
eepted this OF research and accepted well much
OF the German pedanty with which IL had become invested
Mr. Eggeston turned the history Of culture simply be-
II seemed him the natural and delightful way
Of reenering the He spared pains in research
not because he had acquired scientific method but because
he had been without Hoose conscience The results
of his studies and research delightful much OF
the production seminars repeen the
thoughtful reader II is delightful natural talent
develop 70 maturity through kind OF inner force and udg
Tcrtuian rejOces in the number Of souls naturally
Chrisan-GnitnGe nafGifey ChrsrGe-whieh there is IN
world and every loyal American will the sober
and complete achievement of Edward Egeson grounds for
believing that far beyond conventional academic limits
the abounds minds which scholarly
For several years during his youth Mr. Eggeston
active minister in the Methodist church. travelling the
prares and preaching the settlements whites and
Indians This period of his life found expression In his
well known book THE Circuit Rider" In May 1870 Mr.
and moved TO Brooklyn 10 live, Later, he became editor
Of Hearth and Home. and In this journal 1.-THE Hoosier
Sehoolmaster appeared seriay Thenoeforward his life
given literature with the exception of five years
tan Endeavor, Brooklyn. Among his other may be
mentioned "Mr. Blake's Walking Stick" (I86o) THE
End Of the World (I87a) Roxy" (I878) The Hoosier
Schoolboy" (ISss) "The Graysons (sgs) "A History o
and Dufels (I8oS) Mr. Eggeston was 6s years old at
the time Of his death-L,iterayy DigeSt.