The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-04-20
Beginnings of y y y
~ ~ American Fiction.

AT time when the literary market Is flooded with
novels nnumerabe It is interesting to look back to the
humble beginnings Of American fiction Charles Brockden
Brown Philadelphia is often spoken OF as the Father
Of American fiction" and his "Wieland' published in
I7oS) is cited as the first American novel But as is
pointed by Mr. Oscar Wcgen in the Literary CoIlec-
tor New York February Brown, while probably the
American to seek livelihood from literature. by
means first novelist. Mr. Wegen
'As early IVA years before the signing of the
Declaration OF Independence little pamphlet Of twenty
nine pages bearing the following title "A Pretty Story
Written in the Our Lord 1874 by Peter Grievous
Esd ABODE issued from the press of John Dun
lap in Philadelphia This little work which is as far as is
known the first work OF fiction written in America,
written by Francis Hopknsoh signer Of the Declaration
and the author of the famous revolutionary ballad The
Battle OF the Kegs
The Pretty Story which Is written in tho style Of
Arbuthnots John Bull is said to have with great
which probably for its great rarity. CT
have discovered but eopy 1t represents England
nobeman possessed Of valuable farm and having
great number of children and grandchildren for the govern
OF whom he had entered into various compac Par
Lament is represented his wife The fortunes of the
American settlers also depicted and the encroach-
ments OF parliament orcby described in rather
ven The chapters end with this broken prophetic
tenes The harsh and unconstitutional proceedings Of
the overeer highly rritatcd Jack the other famies
of the New Farm that. CeSro dsSHnt.S
Much better known than Hopknsons political novels
cite is The Power Of Sympathy written by Mrs. Sarah
Wentworth Morton and published in Boston in 1882 This
novel of social tendencies followed BY the Rev. Jeremy
Beltuaps THE Foresters" humorous tale Of country
manners, Mr. Wegeln continues
The best selling work Of fiction during the early days
republic Charlotte Temple written by Susanna
Rowson popular writer in this field, and also known
Tor her dranlatist and performer the early
American stage Charlotte Temple first published la
/ England in 1900 but the authoress prominently
identified with America from 1903 until her death. which
occurred in Boston 1874 believe II worthy of notice The
FIRST edition issued this side Of the Atlantic from
the press Of Matthew Carey in I7o4 and continued
be published at short intervals 70 the middle of tho last
century, which is rather remarkable How many of the
novels published today will be read fifty years heneef
Mrs Rowson also sequel 10 the above work,
titled Lucy Temple, the Tires Orphans. and In 1895
'Rehecca the File dc Chambre while in 1898 sha
published Reuben and Rachel; or, Tales of Old Times.
With the exception Of Charlotte Temple however thesa
writings forgotten, and today of interest,"
only early specimens OF this class of literature"
Even the historical represented IN ths carly
of American literature. In 1913 Hugh Henry Bracl-
eprdge Scottish birth but graduate of Princeton and
ut his death 1916 judge OF tho Pennsylvania supreme
court published Modern Chyalry; the Adventures of
Captain Farraso and league ORegan, His Servant" It
tale OF the whisky resurrection in Pennsylvania and
quite appropriately issued from the press OF the Pitts
burg Gazette
Commenting these examples Of Eighteenth century
the United States the Chicago Inter Ocean
Thus early literary history had specimens of
the political satire and tale of local OF tho ten
dancy problem novel the historical romance and
domestic tragedy Quite in the modern way the latter
decred altogether too realistic There living
vhcc careful mothers forbade them to read Charlotte
Temple In these planted the seeds Of Shacklett and
David llarum' Of Richard Carve and The Portion of
Labor and OF all the fiction dealing social and sexual
relations, abundant of late years.
So in the United States fiction OF all kinds Is of
lqutc respectable antiquity.'-Ihe LaerGry Digest