The Washington herald., 1908-07-12
LUCKLESS LITERARY LIFE.
Authors often Pass Away without
Making a Will


That "Ouida' should have died as she
did IN poverty and loneliness. an exile.
though a voluntary one. from the land
OF her birth. was an undoubtedly pitiful
ending TO an exceptionally brilliant career.
Equally sad has been the fate reserved
FOR some literary geniuses IN the past
For instance. Richard Savage. the gifted
poet. died in a debtors prison at Bristol.
England. after enduring the pangs OF
semi-starvation for years. Chatterton.
driven desperate through hunger. pois-
oned himself at the age Of eighteen.
Swift died mad. as he had ali along pre-
dicted he would
Dr. Dodd whose Beauties Of Shakes
pears" is well known. was hanged for
forgery. George Gissing. after suffering
hardships that embittered his whole ex-
lstence, died just as fame was beginning
TO be assured TO him.
Eugad Allan Poe whose Raven has
been adjudged the finest piece OF fugitive
poetry in the English language. and 10
whom also belongs the credit Of having
invented the detective story, drank him
self TO death in the prime OF his life.
Robert Tannahill. the Scotch weaver poet.
author Of that world famous lyric.
Jessie, the Flower o. Dunblane." was
driven by want 70 take his own life.
Every one almost is familiar with the
story OF Otway having been chOked with
a piece OF bread which ne devoured I'm
the rage OF hunger. There Is reason TO
doubt the literal accuracy OF this. but
there can be no question about his hav-
irg died miserably poor and destitute
stow, the famous antiquarian. author OF
the Survey Of London" became in his
old age a licensed beggar. asking aims
from door to door through thirty-six
counties Wycherley, from being the
spoiled idol Of London society, fell 10 the
lowest depths OF 5istitutlon, and was
eventually consigned 10 the Fleet Prison
for debt, where he remained seven years.
Cotton also spent many years n a debt
ors' prison, and eventually died there By
his own hand.
Robert Burns. writing only fourteen
days before his death. implored his friend
Cunningham 10 use his influence with the
commissioners of excise In order TO get
his salary raised from e25 a year TO $50.
otherwise, If 1 die not OF disease, l must
perish with hunger
L.orente. the learned and talented his
Photographer Of the Inquisition. was glad.
during the close Of his brilliant but unfor-
tunate career, TO hire himself out for a
few sous a night 10 keep watch over
the dead bodies Of the Parish morgue. and
died eventually of starvation. Camoens
begged his bread from door 70 door. until
compelled to take refuge in an aims
house. where he died
1t is told of Ben Jonson that when, in
his last illness. King Charles sent him a
small sum Of money, he returned IT, He
sends me so miserable donation" cried
the dying poet, because / am poor and
live in an alley. Go back and tell him
his soul lives In an alley"
Very sad was the fate Of Ulrich Won
Hutten, one of the greatest writer's Ger
many has ever produced. Unable to earn
a living. he was reduced TO tramping
through the country, begging food and
shelter from the peasants One bitter
winters night he was refused both and
next morning was found frozen stiff and
cold in the drifting snow outside the
village. The only thing he died pos
sessed OF, besides the rags he wore" saws
his biographer, Zuinglius. was a pen
st. Simon, the celebrated French author.
who wrote The Reorganization of Euro
pean Society" was twice driven by want
10 attempt his own life. and. although he
died a natural death in the end. Il was
among the most lamentable surroundings
For fifteen days" he said. writing 10 a
friend Just before the end came. Il have
lived upon bread and water, without a
fire; / have even sold my clothes