Year: 1879

The life of man who has gwen so much genuine
pleasure to thousands and thousands of people. men,
women and children. has Charles Lever. cannot
fail to find eager readers. The rolicking. roaring
side of Levers Life has been given piecemeal in
his novels for he made free of his experiences in
his books and drew from life the characters he has
made famous. Memoirs of the Irish novelist have
appeared from time to time in the newspapers. but
they were necessarily short and incomplete. The


first life that has attained to any dignity complete
has just sued from tho press of Chapman &
Hall, London written by w. j. Fitzpatrick
LII. D.. well known biographer of Dub
lin. DR.. Fitzpatrick says that he was moved
to undertake this biography for the reason
that Levers contemporaries are rapidly passing
away and that of those left felt equal to the
task. He has hundreds and hundreds OF Levers
letters placed at his disposal and has been furnished
with material anecdote and reminiscence by some of
the novelsts personal friends, among them his in
innate ana lifelong companion. certain Major D..
of Dublin. Levers letters not used for solid
extracts, but merely to help the biographer, who
runs them in. as it were, with his own writing.


Charles James Lever was born in Dublin, August
81, 1906 Mentioning this fact to q friend he added
the wish that the month had only thirty days SO
that he might have the and tear OF this
work-a-day world. His father Engishman
and carpenter and builder. James Lever is de-





his prowess at athletic sports and socially
q great favorite. HE told story better
than any, heard" says one
of his relatives. "his not excepted" He mar
ried for love and made excellent choice. Charles
Lever, his youngest son. began school life at the
tender age of three years; but his infancy did
not protect him from the brutality of the school
master. who used to fog him along with the older
boys. 1t Is satisfaction to know that this wretch
finally set upon by enraged father and logged
from the town. As the little Lever grew older he
displayed remarkable talents for practical joking.
and there was seldom any mischief brewing that he
not at the bottom of it, At the age Of twelve he
developed taste for theatrcss and fitted up a
theatre in vacant loft. He was scene painter.
prompter played the fiddle sang all the songs acted
all the chief parts and dressed all tho performers.
The favorite pieces of this nfantile company
"Bombastes Furioso" and the "Warwckshire Wag."
with an occasional dash At tragedy. One Of
Charleys jokes to affect to read aloud
from the morning papers to his parents all
sorts Of stirring occurrences. The old people
would listen attentively and gravely dis
cuss the matter, and sometimes vainly search
the journal for those wondrous details. In the
way he read long stories to his fellow pupils,
holding text book before his eyes and pretending
to read therefrom. The boys entranced and he
would continue this romancing from chapter to
chapter. Notwithstanding all his fun making he
was remarkably apt pupil and learned with per-
haps too great facility He the leader in street
fight between the boys Of his school and another,
which might have had serious results if not stopped
in time. for Levers army had worked mine and
laid several pounds Of blasting powder under the
ground where the enemy to be next day
gagged. AS it explosion did take place infict-
ing some slight wounds upon both armies. When
not engaged in fun and frolic young Lever spent his
time haunting the bookstands of Dublin. and passed
hours bareheaded in the streets absorbed in the
pages of some old romance.


While yet q scboolboy Lever attracted by q
pretty little girl who lived in the Marine school, and
thither he used to steal to get sight of word
with her almost daily. His comrades generally ac-
companied him and engaged the attention of the old
jantor while he talked to the little girl. 1t speaks
well for the constancy of Lever that this first and
only love aferward his wife and that he was
much her lover to the day of her death he was
when she wore pinafores. This before he
entered college, At this time friend writes. ''He
prime ravorite with satten. the French fencing
master and the pride Of Montague the professor of
dancipg." He was always gayly dressed and had
pony to take him from the school," He was the
"ony boy in the school who could cut Ave.
favorite pas of the professors Levers boyhood
very unlike that of his great contemporary. Dickens
While Lever riding to school on his pony and
dancing with the pretty girls Dickens labelling
blackng jars at window before which small crowds
would stop to watch his marvellous rapidity ut
work. No wonder the girls sang Charley Is My
Darling whenever the faxen curled boy
bounding in among them with his bright smile and
merry JEST wonder that he enjoyed life. 1t had
always been made pleasant for him and he knew
nothing for many years of its sorrows


t1,as NJ civ ba rivikxy
Dublin; not Cambridge. the biographical
dictionaries have it, Lever went through his
course without incurring any disgrace and
without earning much distinction. more cred
itably. perhaps. than Goldsmith and with
less diligence than Sheridan. OF his college
Qualifications he has made good use in his novels.
At that time ballad singing was one of the features
OF Dublin streets Many Of these old ballads were
aud scurrillous, but occasionally found
bits Of passionate feeling and native wit. In the
composition Of many of these ballads Lever was no
doubt. concerned. ION OCCASION" writes fell
low student. 'hsving hired the uniform and accou-
trements Of the prototype Of Rhondlum he went the
length Of singing. in of the most frequented
parts of Dublin, political ballad of his own compo-
sition, judged to be strong by the regular pro-
fcssionsls. A great ensued, but party of fell
low students were at hand to rescue the amateur
singer and bear him off in triumph"
Another night he successful in
pleasing his audience, and succeeded in
carrying home thirty shillings in half
pence. His careful study OF the Irish
ballad singer stood him good stead after The
important role played by Darby, disguised as a hag
of this character will be remembered by the readers
OF Tom Burke" Lever always a favorite
among his fellow students and associates, and al
though his name constantly heard of in connec-
ton with all of wild and daring exploits it
was well known that he mixed up with
anything Objectionable. and this. doubt. was
owing to the fact chat he not q drinking man.
He drove and rode much, and the ''currcle" rather
than the curriculum attracted his thoughts. His
chum Boyle figures in "o'Malley" as Frank wcbbcr
After leaving college in 1927 Lever studied medicine
and In 1929 obtained medical charge of an emigrant
ship bound for Quebec. Becoming tired OF the