Life and Writings of Frank Forester (H. W. H.) . Edited by D. W. Judd ... Illustrated

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[Frontispiece] LIFE AND WRITINGS OF FRANK FORESTER {HENRY WILLIAM HERBERT) Edited by DAVID W. JUDD. Uvoo Volumes in ©ne ILLUSTRATED LONDON FREDERICK WARNE AND CO. BEDFORD STREET, STRAND VOLUME I TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE Frontispiece. (Portrait of Henry William Herbert.) Herbert's Personal Characteristics 5 Henry William Herbert — The Story of his Life . . . . 1 1 Earlier Days in New York it Literary Debut , . 18 Initial Romance 26 As A Romancist 32 As An Editor 51 As A Historian 58 As A Sporting Writer 62 Town Life 79 At the Cedars 86 Sad Suicide 98 The Hawking Party. (Poem) 105 The Wigwam In the Wilderness 110 The Hostage's Release. (Poem) 266 Trouting Along The Catasauqua INTRODUCTORY. HERBERT'S PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS. It is now twenty-four years since his own sad act ended Henry William Herbert's earthly career — time enough to have effaced both name and work had he possessed as little genius and character as some of his cotemporaries maintained.

That now, after the lapse of so long a period, his writings should be eagerly sought for and subscriptions volunteered for a monument to his memory, clearly demonstrates that he was endowed with genius and heart to no ordinary degree. Frank Forester lives in spite of enemies, despite himself. As in the case of Byron and Poe, appreciation of his better nature and admiration for his talents have caused his readers to forget what he lacked and remember what he possessed. Physically, Herbert was a fine specimen of his race. He was tall and erect, free from the stoop which so frequently accompanies study, and when he chose to do so, presented a commanding, distingue appearance. He was scrupulously neat in his person, and even in camp, among roystering companions, never neglected those lit tle bodily attentions which indicate good breeding.

Dur ing his early years in this country, he was seemingly fond of appearing upon Broadway and in salons, to which he had the entree, as a richly-dressed foreigner of distinc tion. Subsequently, when he had become known as Frank Forester, he keenly enjoyed being recognized on the public thoroughfares of Newark and elsewhere in full rural or hunting costume. He frequently appeared, during the latter years of his life, in a large check suit, with a Scotch plaid shawl carelessly flung over his shoulder. While his manner could be refined and engaging, he was generally quick to anger, imperious and overbearing to those differing with him, so much so as to beget fear, and at times hate. This arrogance and assumption were displayed not merely towards retainers and inferiors; with equals he would fairly force disputation, and waxing wroth at opposition, employ exceedingly coarse language and occasionally, when not wholly himself, attempt to substitute physical strength for argument.