The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-16
From the New York World.

From the New York World.
 @ RANGES MARION CRAWFORD, T author of nearly two score nov. V. els, was born at the Baths or Incca. Italy. August 2, 1854. He was son of Thomas Crawford. the sculptor. whose figure of Liberty crowns the capitol dome at washington. He was a nephew of Julia Ward Howe.
 When Marion Crawford was two years old he was sent to this country and lived with some kinsfolk on a farm near Bordentown, N. J. His fatner died in London in 1857 and soon after that Marion was sent back to Italy, where most of his youth was spent When he was about 12 years old he was sent back to America again, and for two years was student at St. Pauf s school, Concord, N. H. The boys knowi- edge sf Latin surprised the masters He explained that he had been taught the dead language in Rome by tutor whose favorite diversion was to carry on con- versations in Latin with his pupils.
 Later he took a course at Trinity col lege, Cambridge. making a special study of mathematics, and taking very active part in athletic sports and boat ing.
 From Cambridge he went to Karis- rune and Heidelberg, where he learned German thoroughly although he was even better French scholar.S He m ished his regular studies at the Univer- sity of Rome, where he took special course in Sanskrit and became deeply interested in Buddhism and Oriental lore
 When Crawford finished at Rome his family lost a great deal of money and he was thrown on his own resources He determined to go to India ana learn Sanskrit thoroughly and become pro lessor of that language in some univer- sity. He borrowed $500 and sailed for Bombay. There he found 1t such hard work to get along that she resolved to enlist in the British army, and he had already made application when he re- ceived a letter from the Allahabad h. dian Herald, offering him the editorship
 
 1s months. Afterward he said it was the hardest work of his life.
 He returned to Italy and then came to America again in 1881, being nearly shipwrecked on his voyage. He en- tered Harvard as a student Of Sanskrit, contributing special articles to periodi- calls and writing book reviews to pay his expenses.
 In May, 1882, Crawford was dining in New York one evening with his uncle, the famous epicure and racon- teur Sam Ward. After the dinner Crawford told his uncle about a queer character he had met at Simia, India, a diamond merchant. Ward said when his nephew had finished:
 That is a good two-part magazine story. You must write 1t immediately"
 Crawford thought well of the sug- gestion and started to write the story, but as he wrote the manuscript out grew the short story page and became his first novel, MT. Isaacs." That novel had such an immediate and enor- nous success that the young author wrote another. Then he made novel writing his life work.
 He went back to Italy, married a very beautiful American girl, Miss Elizabeth C. Berden, bought a magnifi- cent estate near Sorrento, and lived there most of the time thereafter. His wife and four children, one of whom was married to the Chevalier Pierto Roc ca less, than aAyear ago, survive him.
 MT. Crawford's graphic word picture in the World of the havoc wrought by the recent Italian earthquake was about the last work he did before his fatal seizure
 He was a very handsome man, stand ing fully six feet two inches. graceful fond of all athletic sports and most charming conversationalist.
 Among MT. crawfords novels are "Dr Claudius,' An American Politician" !" "Zoroaster," ''Marzio's Crucifx," '"The Children of the King" Tn the Palace of the King and "The Little City of Hope" Many of his works have been translated into foreign languages and as a mark of recognition of his ability the French government bestowed upon him the Monbrum prize and gold medal 4 T1sis.ss '- Y -r. i-t'ns-~ = ,s>- f~ces