The New York herald., 1921-02-10
James Gibbons Huneker.
Essayist Enjoyed World Repu-
tatiOn in the Realm of
Arts and Letters.

James Gibbons Huneker. known in
ternationally as one of the most brilliant
of critics and essayists In the realm of
music, letters and the arts, died after a
brief illness Of pneumonia last evening
in his home. 1918 Beverly road. Brook
lyn. He had just passed his 61st birth
day.
AS music critic for The World Mr..
Huneker did his last active journalistic
work last Saturday afternoon, when he
attended the concert of the Boston SYM
phony Orchestra in Carnegie Hall. Later
in the day he became Ill. Pneumonia de-
veloped speedily and he died shortly
after he had fallen into a seemingly
peaceful sleep. His last words, spoken
to his wife a few minutes earlier. were
illustrative of his loyalty to his profess
sion and to his comrades.
81 must get up and get to work 10
write my Sunday article" he said. Il
don't want all the work to fall on
Franks shoulders" referring to his
colleague, Frank Warren. Of the musical
| department of the newspaper
Mr.. Huneker was born in Philadelphia
on January 81, 1860, the son of John
and Mary Huneker and the grandson OF
James Gibbons, an Irish poet. and OF
John Huneker, widely known organist
Both his musical and his literary bent
therefore, may be said to have been
hereditary. He was graduated In 1873
from Roths Military Academy. Phila-
delphia, and afterward studied law and
conveyancing at the Philadelphia Law
Academy.
Turning his attention to music, he
| studied the piano with Georges Matthias
| in Paris and the nfor ten years was as
ISOLATED with Rafael Joseffy as teacher
| Of the piano in the New York National
Conservatory.
! Mr.. Huneker in 1902 was the musical
| writer and critic for the SUN and became
its dramatic editor in the same year,
when William J. Henderson succeeded
him as the SUNS musical critic. He had
served in like musical capacity as q
writer for the old New York Recorder
the Morning Advertiser and the New
York Times
! His last two literary works were
Painted Veils," novel which he pub
llshed for private circulation among his
many friends. and within the last few
weeks, there was published from his
pen, under the title of THE Steeplejack. '
a book of essays and biographies. The
best known of his literary works prob
ably was Chopin: the Man and His
Music which was given to the world
in 1900. 1t won high praise not only
In this country but abroad. where It is
conceded to be standard classic.
| Other books of which he was the
author were; 'Mezzotints in Modern
Music" published in 1922 "Melo-
maniacs." in 1902: "Overtones." in
1904; 'Iconoclasts--a Book of Dramat-
lists" in 1905; Missionaries" also in
1905; "Egoists--a Book OF Supermen,
/ in 1909; "Promenades of An Impress
sionist," in 1910; "Franz Liszt," in 1911 ;
THE Pathos of Distance" in 1913 f;
Ivory Apes and Peacocks," In 1915 ;
New Cosmopolis." in 1916. and Uni
corns," in 1917.
Mr.. Huneker was elected recently a
member OF the National Institute OF Arts
and Letters. lie also was member OF
the Authors Club of London. Among
his friends were Enrico Caruso. Gatti-
Casazza, general manager of the Metro
| politan Opera Company: Nine. CALI
! Curci. coloratura soprano. and Alessan-
dro Bonci. lyric tenor of the Chicago
| Opera Company, all OF whom paid trib-
utes to his memory when they heard
last night of his sudden death.
| Mr.. Huneker is survived by his wife,
son. Erik, and a brother. John H.
Huneker OF Philadelphia. Funeral ar
rangements have not been made.