The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-09

Anthony Troilope affords one of the most remarkable examples of industry that the world of letters has known Born in 1915. he published his first sue cessful novel at the age of 9, and from 1S4i, when "The Macdermots of Bally- cloran" appeared, until An Old Mans Love" was published two years after his death), there was scarcely year that did not see romance from his pen. while some years saw two. And for the greater part of his life he was engaged in active work as a postoffice inspector or, later as an editor.
 Forty-four novels, two '1ives," a book of travels and an autobiography make only partial list of his literary output. As an author his place is certainly along side of Charles Reade and below Dickens and Thackeray His literary style is much better than Reade's, but, while he would wish no one of his books un- written the student of his works feels that had he written less he would have written better; that had the genius diff fused over so many productions been concentrated upon a lesser number its possessor would have achieved a higher place in English literature-for ''the root of the matter was in him.
 "Orley Farm" Is one of Trollope's best stories, but even his admirers could wish that it's ending had been happier
 TT Is the duty of rich city knights to
 found families" and 1t is their 4 pleasure to marry young wives Sir
 I,Io 1t,tx nd took his pleasure.
 His son by his first marriage, Joseph Mason, Esq, lived at Groby Park an estate which the knight had purchased in Yorkshire and there played the coun- try gentleman. His daughters were all married and handsomely lowered. His first wife had long been dead, so why should not Sir Joseph, living alone on his property of orley Farm, about twen- ty-five miles from London, indulge him sel in a wife forty-fve years his junior? certainly the second La Mason saw no reason why he should 5t. Brought m as A lady, educated in the hard school of poverty and taught from her earliest infancy that money was all in all she accepted the praised hand of the aged knight as a matter of course. Devoted to such a destiny from her cradle, she accepted 1t willingly and performed all its duties with exactitude and discretion. Sir Joseph survived his second mar rlage about three years and then dled' leaving A young widow to mourn With perfunctory propriety, and son, Lu- efs. ? years old who did not mourn at all
 When Sir Josephs will came to be proved 1t was found that there was codicl to 1t by which Orley Farm was be- aueathed to the infant Lucius. Joseph Mason. Esq, of Groby Park, was sur prised indignant, incredulous. His Ia ther always had assured him that Orley Farm should go at his death to swell the real estate held by the head Of the family"
 I.ady Mason often had urged Sir Joseph to make this provision for his infant son. but the knight always had answered.: "As for you, madam, you shall have enough to support you in comfort for the rest of your life. As for the brat, let him make his way in the world, as l did The head of the family shall not be crippled"
 The codicil was written in Lady Ma son's own hand It had been dictated to her. she said, by MT. Usbech, Sir Josephs attorney the said Usbech being so i'll at the time that he could write little more than his name It was wit messed by young John Kennedy. Sir Jo- seph's clerk, and by Bridget Bolster, housemaid
 "T have been robbed sir, robbed most shamefully by that woman at Orley Farm said the Squire of Groby Park. q have always paid my debts to the last fsrthng-and paid them promptly. have always given exact justice, and expect It." So joseph Mason protested against the probating of the codcl and inc great Orley Farm case was begun.
 But the just Joseph lost. The two wit nesses distinctly remembered having beea called to Sir Joseph's bedroom. where he lay dying, on the date of the od.cil, and there having witnessed some ocument-doubtless the will. MT. Usbech had died before Sir Joseph, so his testi- mony. which would have been conclusive, vs not available. But Lady Mason won, and Lucius Mason grew to mans es- tate and became master Of Orley Farm, which was a snug little property
 The great neighbors of the Masons were the O,mes at The Cleve. Nobdy in that neighborhood was quite such great man as Sir Peregrine Orme, and with him re- sided his sons widow, Mrs. Orme, ana his grandson and heir. young Peregrine, who was of the same age as Lucius Mason.
 Lady Masons widowed life was suc- cessful and the worst thing people could find to say about her was that she would not drink tea with Mrs. Arkwright of Mount Pleasant Villa because she had the privilege of entering Sir Peregrine's drawing room. Of course there could be no real social equality between the widow of a city knight and the daughter of one baronet of James creation and the daughter-in-law of another, even though she was called my lady" and the other was only plain Mrs" But Sir Pere- grine had come forward as Lady Ma sons friend at the time of the lawsuit anu by degrees an intimacy had grown up between the two widows.
 Lady Mason went to Sir Peregrine for advice about her business affair, and about the education of her son, and if there was anything the stout old bar onet loved 1t was giving judcous ad- vice to people who would follow it. But Lady Mason was discreet and knew her place. and was not at The Cleeve near Iy as much as the great people would have liked to see her there.
 Lucius Mason was educated at pri- vate school and then had gone to a Ger ma ! university, while young Orme. of Ssnse. went to Harrow and Oxford, as