El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-09-12
Hooks Wit His Best Asset
Famous EnElIshman Remained q
Bachelor After His First
Love disappointment.
By Madison c. Peters

FDWARD Hook has. by common
consent been placed at the head
Of the 18th century wits; he was
a -punster, mimic and loved nothing so
well as a practical joke When hungry
he would put his wits together ana
evolve a plan which would get MIN an
invitation to an excellent dinner
At very early age he wrote comic
opera, to which his father. VINO was a
music teacher, supplied the music, rms
was followed by plays OF ~ t alle-Le9t
though in f3tsr years HOOK never
wrote for the stage and II IS as a VII
that he viii be longest remembered;
Coleridge the famous poet, once salo
Of him. Il have before in my time met
with men Of admirable promputude OF
Intellectual power and play OF VII, out
1 never could have conceived sucn
readiness of mind and resources OF
genius TO be poured out on the mere
subject and impulse of the moment
Classmate Of Byron
Hook was born in 11SS, the same year
as Byron. and later at Harrow ne na4
the future poet as a classmate, though
! they we're never great friends
II was soon after leaving OXFORD Inal
Hook had his first serious aII3lr OF
the heart He was a guest OF Col
I WoodfOrde and one Of the other guests
was a beautiful girl who had Just re-
I turned to England, her stepLatner nav
Z ing been an officer comIhlssi oIleI %
/ name 'sAIerelina, my fair Merellna, as
Hook was wont TO call her,
They were most cOnEenlal trlendS
| which soon caused them 10 become ar
dent lovers They kept their engage
! ment secret for a few days, and then
confided il to the young woman s
! mother. who would not under any con-
] sideration hear of the fair Merellna's
Z throwing herself away on young man
I with no prospects and It proved that
! she was a most farsighted woman. for
] Hook was far too temperamental TO
make a good husband
/ The lovers were plunged in the
l DEPTHS OF despair at the termination
: Of their short lived romance, but they
l soon got over it, Hook fell in love
I many times. but there is no record Of
. his having been engaged more than TINS
Is short In His Accounts.
] In 1912 Hook was appointed treasurer
Of the Island of Mauritius, with a
. salary Of 1000 pounds year. There
l he Jared EloriOusly until ISIS. when
l grave deficiency was detected in the
| public chest He accused clerk OF
! the defalcatiOn, but was Immediately
/ arrested and sent back to England;
I Even in the face Of disgrace he could
| not resist a joke. At St Helena he met
| an old friend going out 10 the Cape,
. who, surprised at seeing him on his re-
turn voyage after a residence OF only
/ five years. said Ct hope YOU are not
. going home for your health" Why,
. am sorry to say that they think there
is something wrong in the chest was
I Hooks reply.
Upon his arrived in England. though
. criminal proceedings were dropped in
1923 he was pronounced a crown debtor
Z for 1900 pounds. and was again ar
] rested In 1925 he was released from
+ the Kings bench. but not from the
( debt however. he made no effort to
q discharge it,
Involved in Another Affair.
/ While society was condemning Hook
I for an offence of which he may have
! greater sin. sin which caused Hook
| more qualms Of conscience than his
! public disgrace Soon after his return
] from NauritiuS. Soon after his return
I in the questionable neiEhborhOod OF
! Somers Town. Here he sought solace
| in the cOmpanionship Of young girl
who although Of a station far beneath
his was nevertheless a good innocent
I young woman. who loved and trusted
f the young handsome fellow too we'll
, He should have married the girl but he
I could not bear 10 give his name TO a
woman whom he felt TO be so far be-
starts the ~John Bull
In 1920 he started the famous John
! Bull" which was not periodical OF
D the highest order according to a writer
| Of the time. "Scurrility. scandal libel
. / baseness Of all kinds formed the fuel
| with which il blazed, and the wit. Bit
/ ter and unflinching- unsparing, which
puffed the flame up, was it's chief
! recommendation"
In mis- later years Hook took TO the
/ two dissapations which could most
I easily divest him Of his money-cards
I and drink He lost heavily and died
] penuiless-
He died in 1871. the woman who plays
/ such an important part in his life
/ is not known by name. for he sought "a
| keep her out Of sight as much as pos
! sible.