COTTAGE RECLUSE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 10350, 13 March 1925, Page 3

COTTAGE RECLUSE

FAMOUS AUTHOR’S SON. POVERTY STRICKEN OBSCURITY. LONDON, February 11. The discovery of an elderly recluse in an old cottage at Eltham reveals that the only son of William Henry Giles Kingston, the famous writer of books for boys, is poverty stricken in obscurity. He is Dr. Henry Kingston, described as a retired Cape Colony surgeon, with an Edinburgh degree. He is confined to his house,. and does not encourage visits from his neighbours. He opens his door to the postman and tradesmen with a string through the letter-box. The interior of the house is barely furnished, and resembles an eccentric museum. Dr. Kingston is bearded and long-haired. He refuses to go into a hospital. It is supposed that he lost his memory in the war. William Henry Giles Kingston lived from 1814 to 1880. Much of his youth was spoilt in Oporto, whore his father was a merchant, but when he entered busines’s he settled in London. He wrote many articles on Portuguese subjects. These were translated into Portuguese, and the author received a Portuguese knighthood and a pension for Ins services in the conclusion of the commercial treaty of 1842. His first boy’s book, “Peter the Whaler, was published’ in 1851. This class of work proved so popular that Kingston retired from business, and devoted himself to the production of adventure stories for boys. Within 30 years he wrote nearly 130 books. Having a practical knowledge of seamanship his storms of the sea, full of thrilling adventures and hair-breadth escapes, exactly hit the taste of boy readers. Among the best specimens of his work are “The Three Midshipmen,” The Three Lieutenants,” “The Three Commanders,” and “The Three Admirals.