New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-15

His splendid generosity, his genius for finding out
made BIackTnore man apart--a personality unique
always stood. He beat no drum cIamored az ne
corner OF the marketplace, permitted curiosity
home; and so it happened that generation sucked
on modern Journa ism supposed that he had retired
from the Of the fight; but there he was to the
end and there he labored. watchful, Jealous and
jealous for his beloved art
The tablet recording the usual details and
date bears below these lines:
Insight, and hunor. and the rhythmic ron
OF antique lore. his fertile fancies sway'd.
And with their various eloquence array'd
BIS sterling English. pure and clean and whole
Underneath is peculiarly apt quotation from
Blackmore's book, "Cradock NOVEL;:
He added Christian courtesy. and the humility OF
all thoughtful minds, 10 a certain grand and go-
rtoUs gift OF radiating humanity.
In the memorial window the figures Of Jona-
than, David and Samson were designed to sym
bolze the qualities of BIackmore's hero. John
Ridd-tenderness, courage and strength.
The noyelist's life was a secluded one. A long
time friend, writing in the current ''FortnightIy,
says Of him: Few knew where he lived: he
loved his garden, and he loved his books
game o. chess, and a quiet chat with a personal
friend, and especially a walk round his garden,
pointing out his alterations his well sinkings,
and his new CRAFTS or buildings Of fruit trees or
roses" This friend recalls a conversation with
Blackmore in which the novelist told him that,
he had never gone into court. For four years
he was a echoolmaster, and then he entered
upon his joyous but Improbable hobby Of gar
dening. Only in one season did he make this
pay. He had sunk all he was worth il this pUr-
suit, he said.
It was on this day. When stroiling amid MS roses
heaTd the story so otten no" Fepe1'tQ OF me
three volume issue, and two hundred copies Of this
edition Australia. I
his words TO get rid Of them cheaper
Then it was announced that the Princess Louise
was 70 MARI me MIIq1ls OF IIrle G le '!ttsll
would know all about the MARQUIS Of Lorne, and
dington, for he had some good news to tell
., Lorna Doone IS going to have run a9e' 10!
though they had ignored the three volume EDITION.
thrtv years, and sells more today than ever it did
a dozen years ago Nj Blackmore would SPEAK
have discovered her; but her fame grew and
grew he became annoyed at the persistency Of the
exclaimed: It's a pity the book was ever written
q pity it cannot be destroyed"
When we see that beautiful. wise and witty
book. The Maid of Skier" disregarded, we can
not but sympathize with the authors feeling
But time, il is certain, will right this failure II
appreciation, as time always does
! His friend remembers that if quaint, expires
sive bits continually lit up the pages Of Black
. rIlores novels it with his letters. tor
years he adhered to q very tiny envelope, and
il was always a pleasure to see one Of those
little missives lying on the breakfast table. His
own modesty is so vel exempiifed by note
1Ipon his opinion Of a book. But my opinion,
he writes is Il fear) quite worthless, it differs
/ so often from that of the best judges. Many
books which seem 10 me to be of fine quality
. drop. and are never heard Of. because they have
not hit the view Of the moment or won a ran
dom flip while others (of far less value are
exalted and soar for a year or two upon the
clouds of fashion" The novelist's last years
we're darkened by bodily weakness, even in
tense agony but all this he bore heroically and
continued TO write CHEEKY letters. His friends
final judgement is worth repeating:
T3lacllrnore's aim in life always to get at the
hest TO do good work, to hate shams and to revere
honest purpose and aim, and he was so often dis
satisfied with his own work because he ever stroVe
10 Guido himself. But let those who have read his
work for the stories reread them for the phil
osophy OF life, the ripping humor they SO richly
contain, and they will no longer say that MI
T2iackmore was a one-book author. although thar
one book is a mighty masterpiece in all the love
and passion. tragedy and hurnor. and powerful
description that build up q great novel