The Washington times., 1909-04-10
H NE CITY H0NORS
NOVELIST'S MEMORY
Official Funeral Services Will
Be Held fer Marion
Crawford.

SORRENTO. Italy. April f0-The mu-
nicipality today decided to hold official
funeral services for Francis Marion
Crawford. the famous novelist. who died
at his home here last evening.
The City Guards are keeping watch
at the Crawford home as a mark OF
special honor. Shops and public build
ings are closed. and the black drapery
Of mourning is in evidence everywhere.
The moment the novelists death was
announced, the news was teiegraphed
20 x-President Roosevelt at Port Said
Mr.. Roosevelt ana Mr.. Crawford were
warm friends. and one of the novelists
last regrets was that he was unabie to
meet Mr.. Roosevelt while the latter was
in Italy.
Mr.. Crawford's death was due to pueu.
monia. He was desperately in from the
first. but early In the week he seemed
10 show a slight recovery. Yesterday
his condition changed again and the
physician informed the family that there
was no hope.
Bonn An American.
F. Marion Crowford was born OF
American parents at Bagni di Lucca,
Italy. August 2. 1854. and has spent most
OF his life in that country, although ne
has made frequent visits to the United
States.
The earlier years of the noveIlst's life
were spent in the schools and colleges
of four countries. On the death of his
rather, Thomas Crawford. In 1851. Mrs.
Crawford, "A descendant Of the distin-
guished Ward family OF Rhode Island,
returned to America, and young Craw-
ford was placed in the 1ublic schools of
New York city. He was prepared for
college at ST. Paul's school. Concord.
n. II. Later he entered Harvard, TAX
Ing an elective course. The years from
1870 TO 1874 were spent in England. prin-
cipally as a student at Cambridge. AZ
ter two years at Karlsruhe and Heidel
berg, Germany, he entered the Univer-
sity OF Rome in 1876, where he spent
two years. paying especial attention to
Sanskrit.
Worked On Newspapers.
Financial misfortunes overlook the
family following the panic of 1873, and
young Crawford turned TO Journalism
for q livelihood. After two years In
India, wEere he continued to study
oriental languages while employed on
a paper at Allahabad. he returned to
New York and Boston. contributing to
current periodicals.
1saacs, appeared Soon afterward he
returned to Italy where most OF his
time since has been spent. So COM
Identified with his adopted country, that
but few of his best-known works are
American in theme or name.
Up to recent years. endowed with re-
markahle health. the amount OF work
he did-always with pen-was almost
prodigious. He has been known TO write
a complete novel within less than
month. Between Mr.. Isaacs," his first,
and Casa Br4cchiO," his twenty-fourth
novel Qs90, but twelve years inter-
xened. he always considered Casa
lWnr - TNuHH 4frr
Of hts latter works are more favored
by tine critics.
Best Known Works.
Among the best known and most
thoroughly enjoyed novels that have
come from this gifted writer's pen are:
Children Of the King" "Saracinesca," E"
SAINT Ilario. Don Orosino.' and Cor
leone These. as group. have not
been surpassed by any other American
writer, ali things considered. Among
others, a few of which rank in merit to
toned Paul Patoff. Marzio's Cruel
fix. With the Immortals." The
...riS Mitch ,,,s oi d. Prague. ,'GTefenstein. .
and Marion Darche'
To what may be called his American
group ri, ~ novels belong such works as
erdale." and The Ralstons.'
Two or his novels. "ZOrOaster'' and
NaTziOs Crucifx.' were written in
French, as well as in English. and for
this he was awarded a prize Of l,OO0
francs by the French Academy His
books were translated into many Euro
peab Languages, many Of them spoken
BY the author himself
MI Crawford was married in 1884 TO
an american woman. Elizabeth Berdan.
daughter OF General Berdan. OF civil
war fame. They had four children. The
nOvelists s home Of late years has been
splendidly located villa on the Bay
OF naples. near Sorrento, and here IL is
tnat many Of MS most famous Italian
FOnances were written.