William Dean Howells

William Dean Howells One of Seven American Men of Letters, Whom Two Generations Have Delighted to Honor: Howells, Clemens, Stedman, Aldrich, Higginson, Hale and Alden

By Junius F. Wells, Associate Editor Millennial Star

In the death of Mr. Howells, age 83, which occurred in New York on Tuesday, May 11, 1920, the dean of American contemporary literature has passed from life. He was the last of that great galaxy of brilliant men of letters of the Nineteenth Century, whose names and writings will forever distinguish them as foremost among American authors, in the same way that the notables of the Victorian era are upheld among the British. Mr. Howells was born in Belmont county, Ohio, in 1837, and learned the printer's trade in his father's office. He began writing as a news reporter and journalist, and with an occasional poem. He was United States Consul at Venice for four years, 1861-65, and wrote there Venetian Life, later revised and republished as one of his earliest, most successful and delightful books. In 1866 he moved to New England, and soon attracted the favor of Mr. J. R. Lowell, editor of the Atlantic Monthly, and was engaged as assistant editor by Mr. Fields, his life-long friend. He succeeded Lowell, and was editor of that magazine for about ten years. While on the Atlantic he became one of that wonderful literary fraternity, meeting and mingling with Longfellow, Lowell, Hawthorne, Emerson, Holmes, Motley, and Mrs. Alcott. In New York his intimates were Mark Twain, Bryant, Aldrich, Stedman, Alden, Curtis, and, of course, the great newspaper men, Dana, Bennett, and Greeley. In 1881 he engaged with Harper's, and became editor of "The Study," the literary department of Harpers Monthly, and afterwards of "The Easy Chair," in which he continued until his death. For a time he edited The Cosmopolitan Magazine. Many of his novels first appeared as serials in these foremost American magazines; afterwards being issued in book form from their publishers. He must have written nearly a hundred novels, books of travel, plays, mostly farces, criticisms, and poems. Mr. Howells' wit was as keen as Mark Twain's, though less droll, perhaps, and without irreverence or vulgarity. His style and language were the refinement of elegant diction. His plots were dramatic, but not sensational. His portraiture of character was intelligently critical, and wonderfully illuminating in

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its analysis of thought and feeling. His description of travel was unsurpassed. In 1889 I met Mr. Howells. I was having a book made for the M. I. A. reading course by Harper Brothers, and was in the office with Mr. Abner Harper, the manager, who very politely offered to do anything that would make my stay in New York pleasant. I expressed a preference to meet some of the editors, especially Mr. Howells, supposing they were in the Harper building, at Franklin Square. He said, "Why, we never see them! I don't suppose Howells has been here for two months. He travels about, lives in hotels, etc. But I will inquire if he is in the city, or is apt to be, and will let you know." After leaving Mr. Harper I went into the office of Mr. Nast, the corresponding secretary of the firm, and within half an hour Mr. Harper came hurrying in and said, "I'm glad you're still here. The strangest thing happened. You had not left me five minutes when Mr. Howells came into my room. He is there now. I told him all about you and your desire to meet him. He said he was most curious to meet you, so come along." We returned to Mr. Harper's room, and there stood the re- — nowned author a rather short, stout, most agreeable-looking gentleman. His dome of intellectual forehead, and genial, great, gray eyes, windows of critical intelligence, reminded me of Dr. John R. Park, opened upon me as he allowed me to approach him rather than he coming forward to meet me. He extended a friendly hand that held mine for a moment, as he expressed his pleasure at meeting me. Mr. Harper having used the word "curious," led me at once, after saying how glad I was to see him, to add: "I wonder if it might not be with you, sir, as it was with a gentleman I met in my youth in Venice. He was a tall, handsome, white-haired, elderly man, a New Englander, who in all his travels had never happened to see a live 'Mormon,' and had shown considerable interest when told there was one at the hotel. I was brought forward and presented to him by Lieut. Thomas, of the United States Navy. It was in the open court of the Victoria hotel. This gentleman scanned me quite critically over and over again — up and down, and then asked me if I would again raise my hat, as I had already done once, when introduced to him. It occurred to me that he had heard the story that the 'Mormons' have horns, and so I said to him: 'Oh. you want to see my horns!' His face flushed conviction; but he smiled as I took off my hat and told him that I was a young one and they hadn't sprouted yet." Mr. Howells appeared immensely pleased with this narrative, and he and Mr. Harper laughed over and over again at it. And then I had half-an-hour's delightful conversation with him. He asked me to call upon him, and to dine, and said he would mail me an appointment, which he did a day or two later.

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When I called at his hotel, The Albert, in lower Fifth Avenue, he was waiting for me, and said he had invited a young man to join us, Mr. Henry Harland, whom he said was one of the most promising of the younger American authors. Presently Mr. Harland came, and the three of us set out for Moretti's, in Fourteenth Street, a famous and favorite Italian restaurant, in which we were taken to a private room and were served with a very delicious Italian dinner. We sat down at seven and arose from the table after eleven. They plied me with questions in the most gentle and refined way, and drew out from me an account of the first vision of Joseph Smith the Prophet, to which they listened with amazed if incredulous interest; of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon; the or- — ganization, rise and progress of the Church, and then which — was the theme they most desired to have expounded an account of the social life of the "Mormons." At the time of this interview, the prosecutions of the "Mormons," under the anti-polygamy laws were most vigorous. The several enactments of Congress depriving them of their civil rights, confiscating their church property, and providing severe penalties of fines and imprisonments for violation of the social statutes, were before the people and constituted the leading theme of press and pulpit all over the land. Mr. Howells was a social philosopher, without religious creed or prejudice, and he viewed the action of the government, in passing and enforcing laws against what he called "the Mormon social experiment," with horror. He said, in effect: "Why, it's the last thing in the world that Congress should interfere with. It's the most interesting experiment the world has ever seen. The government should rather aid than hinder its development. 'Mormonism' is practical Christianity, with this patriarchal institution of marriage added on, it presents, and apparently will demonstrate that it possesses a solution of the two social evils of our civilization which we are unable to successfully cope with. For to our discredit, in spite of all our learning, our wealth, our religion, which is a profession — of Christianity, but not the religion of Christ the "Mormons' come nearer to having that than any others, for it is an every- — — day matter with them I say it with shame in spite of all that we call civilization, we have the burden upon our shoulders and conscience of the prostitution of our womenkind, and the destitution of our poor. The 'Mormon' system presents a solution of these problems. I do not say it is the solution for our people or for the world, but it is a solution. The 'Mormons' should be let alone to work out their theories, and the government ought rather to help than hurt their people while they are doing it."

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I corresponded occasionally with Mr. Howells for several years; sent him the "Mormon" literature, and had the pleasure of meeting him a number of times in New York and Boston. He always treated me with respectful courtesy and kindness. He recommended me to read Tolstoy, whose "American apos* tie" he was sometimes called. I have wondered if it might not be that the great Russian author came by his knowledge of the "Mormons" through the matter sent first to Mr. Howells. and which, in the discussion of social themes between them, could very well have served its purpose. Tolstoy knew enough of "Mormonism" to say to the American minister, Andrew D. White, that so far as he had investigated the system, one third was Scriptural, one third was superstition, and the other third he could not decide: "Perhaps it is the truth!" Did he get that view through Mr. Howells? I have often wondered. Liverpool, England

A Glimpse of the Spirit World 0, where is the spirit land? Is it far, in the starry sheen? No, no, not so! ithand is close at With only the veil between, The gossamer veil like a vapor pale, That hangs o'er a shadowy river, Where spirits are coming and going away, Coming and going forever.

I on the other side, see 'Neath their beautiful, cloudless skies, The hills and vales where, across the tide, Are the mansions of Paradise. And, gathering there, are the angels fair, By the shores of the shadowy river, Where spirits are going and coming away, Coming and going forever.

This beautiful land so fair, And the holy city of light, Are ever and ever welcoming there Our loved ones who pass from sight. Mv loved ones I see are awaiting for me, Just over the shadowy river, Where spirits are coming and going away, Coming and going forever. Joseph Longking Townsend.