The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1913-01-23
Back Numbers.

a good attendance.
Back Numbers.
In reading "Backwoods Sketches" by John F.
Sprague of Monson l found mention of Frank
Forester" whose writings l enjoyed in very
early YOUTH as did those of N. P Willis. The
works Of the latter have been kept before the
public ever since, in new editions, in collec-
lions Of his poems and prose works, and his
life has been portrayed in the American Men
of Letters series published by Houghton g.
Miff1n. Not so with Frank Forester, although
as writer on field sports he has not been ex-
celled by any later author. Frank Forester"
was the nom de plume of William Henry Her
bert, who was born in London in 1907, the son
of the Dean Of Manchester, and was educated
at Eton and at the University of Cambridge
He to New York in 1881, and two years
later, conformity with A. D. Patterson, he be-
gan the publication of the American Monthly
Magazine, of which he was editor for three
years. His first work of fiction was The
Brothers, Tale of the Fronde, published in
1924. Mr.. Sprague says: "Soon after coming
here he lost his property through the dis
honesty of a trustee. For nearly twenty
years, or from 1887 to 1855, he was an indus
trous author and publ shed no less than thirty
volumes upon variety of subjects, many of
them being historical romances. But his num-
erous works on field sports, horses and horse
manship, fish and fishing, game and birds, and
GU tdoor life constitute the greatest and mos
enduring monument to his fame in the world
of letters"
One incident in his life, related by Mr.
Sprague, is new to me. l was not aware that
he had ever visited Maine, or that he had
married Maine woman. Mr.. Sprague saws:
''1n 1889 he an intimate friend of
Joseph Scoville, connected with the New
York Herald. Mr.. Scovile, who is de-
scribed as talented ard eccentric Individual
was engaged to marry Miss Susan Barker of
Bangor, Maine. Mr.. Herbert accompanied his
bosom friend to that city to act his grooms-
man. 1t was case of love at first sight. AS
soon as he was introduced to the young lady
he was, as his biographer relates, himself at
once enslaved by her youth and beauty An
other account of this affair says: With the
variableness of woman Miss Barker made
during shadow over the life of her former
suito," 1t is but just to add that this mar
riage did not prove to be one of entire bliss,
and she died within few years from its con-
summation. Following brief and romantic
acquaintance with a lady of Providence, he
was again married in 1885, which was also an
unhappy union.'' Herbert died in 1858.
The Journal of January 9th published poem,
"Carcassonne." translated from the French
of Gustave Nadsud by John R. Thompson, and
perhaps those who read the poem would like
to know something of the translator. Only
poet could have made such melodlous verse
from words in foreign language; and John R.
Thompson was poet and one of the foremost
literary men of the south in ante belum days.
He was born in Richmond. Va in 1923, attended
school at East Haven, ct, and graduated at the
University of Virginia in his twenty second
year. After two years of reading he returned
to the University of Virginia ard took the de-
gree Of Bachelor of Law in 1916 He practiced
law about two years. For fifteen years i'm
mediatey proceeding the Civil War he was
editor of the Southern Literary Messenger
the longest lived, and IN the main, the most
successful of all the southern monthlies
During that time he wrote many poems and |
essays and was successful lecturer While |
the war was going on he wrote several poems
of unusual merit, one a threnody on the death |
of Gen. ]. E. B Stuart, from which l quote a
single stanza
No wailing trumpet and no tolling bell
No cannon save the battles boom receding,
When Stuart to the grave we bore might tell
With hearts all crushed and bleeding.
In 1864, Mr. Thompson's health having fall
ed, he went to Europe, and remained year or
two in London after the war. connected with
the editorial staff of the London Herald and
contributing to the Cornhill Magazine and |
Blaxkwood. Returning to this country he be-
rame resident Of New York city and q men,
per of the editorial staff Of the Evening Post
Of that city, and there his life ended. G. AP.