The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-11-30
TODAY IN HISTORY
Birthday of the Creates. satIrlst.
WEDNESDAY. NOV. 30. 1910.


Jonathan\ Swift, one OF the greatest
satIrists the world has had, was born on
November so. 1857, He was likewise the
most eccentric and few brilliant men on
literature have had such good and such
harsh things said about him. surely no
man ever cared less for what opinion
any man might hold against him From
his early years his Independence was one
of his chief characteristics. He never
counted the consequences of his satire.
nor did he care whether or not II Woulo
bring him fame or blame.
An 1rshpan by birth. nc inherited
considerable OF the characteristic wit OF
the race. He was given liberal educa-
tion. took holy orders. and for a cor
life and on the income Of all obscure
country clergyman. He began his po-
ltical writing In lTol and had as assocl-
ates such distinguished literary lights as
Conceiving, however, that he was neg
lected by the Whit, ministry, he switched
over 10 the Tory administration, where
he was welcomed with open arms. He
carried with him shining weapons for
party warfare-irresistibe and unscrupu
lous satire. steady hate and daunuess
spirit. The accession OF the house OF
Hanover ruined his hopes, and he re-
turned 10 ireland disappointed man
II was then that the worst side OF
Swift was most strikingy revealed. His
which he immortalized Miss Hester
Johnson. was carried along through "A
considerable period Of his early profes
sional cnreer He never failed TO pay
his devotion Ia her In all the years OF his
London residence. But when he returned
10 Ireland he had engaged the affections
Of another young lady. Miss Ester Van
homrigh who followed him from her
home In England and took UP a residence
near his.
Swift was naturally hattered that a
girl Of Is, beautiful and accomplished
should sigh for a gown Of 45." He tried
i1,t ,...iIYo If Inc ~
but al length nc could carry the deccp-
ton no further. Ester wrote to Stella.
to ascertain the nature OF her connec-
ton with Swift. The latter intercepted
the letter. ana rode instantly 10 her res
Idcnco and, when asked 70 sit down. he
flung the letter on the table and instant
ly departed When Ester opened tho
packet and found only her letter 10 Stel
la. il was her death warrant. She sur
vivcd this last interview but few
weeks
Stella and Swift were at last seeSetIy
married In the garden of the deanery;
when on her part all but life had faded
away, Just before her death he offered
10 acknowledge the union, but she re-
piled: at is too late" ,,.,,. ..,.ou.o,
In a few years the malady came which
Swift, had long foreseen and dreaded, anG
his reason gave way His almost tota'
life (for -thc last year he spoke not q
word) appalls and ovcraWes the imag-
nation He died on October 10, l745: and
left his fortune. about $4,000. TO found
a iunatic asylum in Dublin.
, "Cunlver's Travels and the Tale OF
a Tub are the chief corner stones OF
his fame After DR., Johnson had I'm
ished these books he expressed a doubt
as To whether Swift had written them,
and Swift himself was heard TO mutter
in later years. as he turned the pages
OF "A Tale of Tub, Great COD
What genius had when | wrote that
book.
On November 30. lIS2. the preliminary
treaty Of peace closing the revolution
was signed In Paris. Today is the birth
doy OF Andrea Faladio,. the Italian
architect U5ls(, Lawrence kearney, thr lns
naval officer who opened negotiations Tor
our first treaty with China O7SSl Cyrus
w Field. merchant; famous for his ,s,n1 con.
samuel l. Clemens Mark Twain
uss5). Today is ne desthday na Ia OF IGrii nrd
Raltimore, in 1915. Maurice Marshs1
SAKE U75W: John Dunlap. first printer
of congress (1St2). and James Sheridan
Kuou,leS dramatiSL GS621.