The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-16
THE FINDING OF
! LAFCADIO HEARN.
Story Told in New Orleans Of
the Beginning Of His
Literary Fame.

The late Armand Hawkins, known to all
literary pilgrims to New Orleans, took
pride In the fart that he was the discoverer
of I.afcadio Hearn. MIR Hawkins was the
proprietor Of the Creole art gallery and Of
an old book store. He WAS gentleman
Of the old school, quick to recognizes literary
ability. a storehouse Of valuable re'ninis-
cenoes and the owner Of unique colleo-
ton OF old books. A fire destroyed most
OF these and the loss seemed 70 he VI fficient
to break his hold on life He died shortly
afterward.
This Is the way he used to tell Of his frs,
meeting with IIearn:
Il came down to open the store one morn
Ing. when found healthy looking boy
asleep against the door. ! aroused hito'
and he said with yawn:
"'You must excuse me ./sir: have been
walking all night and just sat down to
rest not expecting to go to sleep.
Il questioned him and learned that he
had but recently come to New Orleans
from Gin cinnati, where he had been con-
nectcd with the Enquirer. Prior to 'hat
he had lived abroad. Since coming to
America he had wandered from place to
place, finally drifting to New Orleans,
hoping to earn living where he had been
lured by ouisiana's warmth and perfume,
or else to die under a sky of purple and
gold.
-IIe dreamed away few days In the
French portion of the CITY, learning the
quaint patois Of Gunbo French, which, by
the way, laid the foundation for his book
known az 'Ghomb Zhebee'-properly 'Ghonl-
bo aux Herbes'
After losing all his money. the young
bohemian became Il cook IN a restau rant ,
hut soon became disgIIsted and left. With
ont money and hungry. he wandered OUT on
Canal stree, where I found him.
81 gave him breakfast, during which
learned more about him. found that be
was born in 1850 at Santa Maura, one OF
the lonlan Islands, that his mother was n
native Greek and his father British army
officer. found furthermore that this young
fellow could speak French. Italian and Span
ish as Huentlv as English
~ had Just begun the translation OF One
OF Cleopstras Nights by Thiophile Gautier
and the thought came to me that would see
if Young Hearn could finish 1t. The first
DAYS work was ample proof OF his ability
In fact realized that my skill as trans
ator sank into iusienificance compared
with his
Il afterward introduced him to The editor
of the Daily Item, who gave him articles 4"
translate all of which he rendered INTO
finished English Well, for nine wears he
stayed right here with me, writing all his
stories and newspaper and magazine ar
ticles in this place.
He was with the Item for four years;
then he be gan work with the Time y Demo-
crot translating selections from living
French authors and at the same time writ
ing his book called Stray Leaves from
Strange Literature
an 1889 he wrote Some Chinese Ghosts
beautiful thoughts from Oriental folk,
lore During the same year he published
his story 'Chta, or Lost Island. which in
storm description ranks with Hugo's Bat
tie of Waterloo. Then Charles Dudley
Warner came and took him away.
~He was sent to the West Indies to write
of it's tropical splendor. Here he created
'Youma. the Story of a Nest Indian Slave
a romance AZ strong as heliotrope or tuberose
in its redolence of the tropics
"Hearn's restless nature later carried
him to Japan, where he went in search OF
Prince Tacamina. whom he met in my
office. He found him, and was afterward
appointed professor Of French and Eng
lish in Japanese college. Subsequently
he became tutor to the court and married
a daughter of the land Of chrysanthemums. "
Mr.. Hawkins had in his possession
among other treasures. love letter
written by Hearn's Japanese sweetheart
TO him prior to their marriage. 1t was
penned upon piece of paper several feet
long and at least one in breadth. 1t held
many blots and many unintelligible words
The only legible ones we're; i love you
much.