The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1921-06-16
HENRY G. WELLS

Wells, British novelist. which was
written and given before the Faculty
Club at it's last regular meeting by Mr..
J. B. Meyer, are printed below:
Quoting from Life a librarian asked
patron: What kind of a book do you
want-fction, historical, philosophi-
cal ~. -|nL
Patron: Oh, any kind that H. G.
Wells hasn't written. -..
Librarian: We have none.
George Herbert Wells an English
novelist was born in 1866 at Bromley,
Kent. His father was shopkeeper
and his mother, who had been lady's
maid became housekeeper to exc out
the family fortunes. He says himself
81 was born in that queer indefinite
class that We in England call the mid
die class. am not bit aristocratic."
The winning of scholarships enabled
him to study at the Royal College of
Science and at London University,
where he took his B. Sc. with honors,
having studied under Professor Hulk
ley. Earlier however he had been a
drug clerk and dry goods clerk: Aft
err graduating from the university ne
taught biology for several years.
His beginning in literature were
contributions and reviews. among
them the Pail Mall Gazette, Nature,
and the Saturday Review. His first
hit was made with The Times Ma
chine 1885,, one of number of pop
ular romances or fantasies, which in
cludes scientific and sociological fore
casts, and some of which are not with
out their indebtedness to Jules YER
mes stories. Among those may be men
toned The War of the Worlds (1889)
in which our planet is invaded by mon
strous creatures from Mars; When the
Sleeper Wakes (1899), which pictures
the world where men are the slaves
of a huge tyranical trust; The Food Of
the Gods (19O4), where we are
amongst the giants; and In the Days
of the Comet (1906), in which human
nature undergoes sudden change for
the better. In a group Of his books
concerned with socialistic theories and
a variety of sociological topics stand:
Anticipations (190D, which presents
picture of society organized by the
engineer with perfect scientific effl-
cheney; A Modern Utopia (19O5?, an
imaginary realization of the soclalls-
tic state, governed by sort OF bene-
ficient Samurai; and First and Last
Things (1908), a general statement
of the foundation of Wells sociallstlc
creed. But it is likely that Mr.. Wells
will be longer remembered as a novel
list than as popular writer of ro-
mances or as a social thinker. Among
the novelists of his day he holds
foremost place, thanks to his skill IN
Characterization, his story-teller's gift,
his whimsical humor, his interesting
presentation in the form of fiction OF
advanced social and moral ideas, ana
his studies of contemporary Enghsn
life and manners. ,.n
Representative if widely different
novel his are: Tono Bungay
$1,000; Ann Veronica 5000; The
New Machiavelli (191D; The Passion
ate Friends (l913); The Wife Of Sir
isaac Harmon (19l4); and The Re-
search Magnificent (1915) which was
hailed as one of his most notaoie
achievements. His writings mcluoe
also The Island Of DR.. Moreau (lo9o);
The Invisible Man (189D; Tales OF
Space and Time (1899); Love and Mr..
Lewisham $4,000; Mankind in the
Making (19O3); The Future Of Amer
lea (19O6), result Of the authors
visit to the United States in the year
proceeding it's publication; War IN the
Air (19O8), one of the most engaging
of impossible chronicles; Social Forces
in England and America (1914); Beal-
by (1915), in a quizzical gaity resem-
hiinc Mr.. Pollv: and What is Coming
(1916).
In 1897 volume of Wells essays,
Certain Personal Matters, made it's
appearance, and in 1911 a collection OF
his best stories-The Community OF
the Blind. Boon; the Mind Of the Race,
etc. l915, a group of satires though
not published under his name was un-
doubtedly from his pen. In 1915
Russian edition of his novels was
brought out. =,
be regarded as viewing life from
reasonable distance. By good fortune
he avoided the influences OF his early
training, which was too Intellectual to
leave any permanent mark upon HIM
His readers may infer from certain
descriptions in Kipps, and The His,
torv Of Mr.. Polly, that Wells himself
sincerely regrets the inadequacles OF
that "private school of dingy aspect
and still dingier pretentions, where
there were no object lessons, and the
studies of bookkeeping and french
were pursued (but never etfectually
overtaken) under the guidance OF an
elderly gentleman, who wore non
descript gown and took snutt, wrote E
copperplate, explained nothing and
used a cane with remarkable deXsterlty
and gusto." But properly considered:
that inadequate elderly gentleman
may be regarded as our benetactor'
If he had been more apt in his meth
DDS. he might have influenced the
blessed normality Of his pupil, and
bound upon him the spectacles Of MS
own order. Worse still, Mr.: Wells
might have been born into the leisured
classes, and sent to Eaton and Christ
church and if his genius had found
anv expression after that awful exper-
ience, he would probably: at the best:
have. written polite essays or his
tory of Napoleon. during the intervals
of his leisured activities as member
of the Upper House.
uoop;1v Fate nrovided scheme