MR. HENRY GEORGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6996, 19 April 1884, Page 1 (Supplement)

MR. HENRY GEORGE.

Probably mest our readers are fajxixliar with "Progress and Povdtty" — a book which is said to have been more widely read and more talked about than any work published during the present decade. Mr. HeDry George is not a great men as the world understands that phrase; ho is not even what Lord Beaconsfield would have called "an eminent personage." But the story of his life is nevertheless a highly interesting one. The lessons which it teaches are not without their value. They afford another proof that a man need not be either richborn or a University graduate in order, to achieve distinction even in that field of literature which, perhaps more than any other, is supposed to require for its cultivation the leisure which wealth bestows, and the scholastic accomplishments which come of a (jnivenity education. Mr. George was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth; and his schooling was of a meagre character. When a mere boy he wa3 out in the world earning his own living. .In all respects he is a self-made and a self-educafced man two terms which are often used iu a contemptuous sense, but which are as honourable as any that conld be applied to a man who has won distinction. .< 'Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus. All that Mr. George is he owes to himself—to his own industry and perseverance. Born at Philadelphia on the 2nd September, 1838, Mr. George is now in his 46th year. . His father, Richard Samuel Henry George, was the son of a wealthy American snipowner, who however, lost his fortune loDg before Henry, his eldest son and second child, was born. As Mr. George informed the audience ! at St. James' Hall that assembled to hear j the opening address of the lecturing campaign in Great Britain, on which he is now engaged, he is, "an Anglo-Saxon, born in America." He might have been somewhat more precise. His grandfather belonged to village within seven miles of Glasgow, and the family are consequently of Scotch descent. Until lie was about 16 years of age. he attended the common schools of Phila-' delphia ; never, we believe, attaining any higher position than the lowest grade of the High School. From school he; went to learn the trade of a compositor in one of the printing establishments of his native town. Having acquired a passion for reading and a fondness for travel,- he was seized with a longing for the sea, and shortly forsook the composing desk and shipped as cabin boy .in an old East India merchantman, on board of whioh he made a voyage through the South Pacific. On his return he ; resumed his trade as a printer, and worked industriously until 1557. In 1858 Mr. George arrived in San Francisco, and found em 'ployment at the case on the leading newspapers of that town. For a short time.his experience was somewhat varied and unsatisfactory. He took a trip ' through Oregon and Washington ; Territory in his seai'oh ior better fortunes, but. discovered nothing; and at last he beoame a reporter on the Btaff f the Sacramento r .cord. In 1861 he married Miss Annie C. Fox a lady of Irish parents, who, however, was'born in Australia. His wife is a Koman Catholio, and the sister of Sister Teres

Pox, of the order of St. Vincent de Paul, ii Petaluma, California. We may mentioi that the frait of this union comprises oni son, who is ' now accompanying his father and two daughters, who were with him anc his wife during the eleven months thej spent in England and Ireland in ISS2. i few words will complete onr account of Mr George's journalistic career. Abont thi year 1866 he became editor o! the Sai Francisco Times, and in the following yea: he transferred his services in the sami capacity to the Chronicle,' which was thei started. A little later we find him conduct ing an Associated Press Agency in Nev York for Western papers, in opposition ti the telegraphic monopoly known as the As sociated Press, which, however, short!' succeeded in crushing the opposition bi getting the telegraph companies to doubli their charges. On the collapse of this un dertaking Mr. George returned to Saora mento, and became editor and part pro prietor of the Reporter; and in 1871, wit! the assistance of several other gentlemen, hi started the Evening Post of San Francisco which at the outset was a penny paper—thi first at that price on the Pacific Coast—ant which soon obtained a large circulation. Bj degrees the pnce was raised to five cents and by the time when he retired from thi editorship, in 1875, the-Evening Post hat become one of the leading papers of thi State. It cannot be said that Mr. George'i career up to this date was specially fitted t< qualify him for the task he was about t( undertake, or rather with which he hat already begun to grapple, for in 1569 hi published a pamphlet on "Our Land anc Land Policy," a second edition of which snlarged and amended, appeared in IS7I En thi3 pamphlet the principles and argu ment of " Progress and Poverty" are clearli foreshadowed. No one can read either o these works, or the more recent pamphle' on "The Irish Land Question," withou perceiving that the author possesses, no only a highly-gifted and well-informed, bu ilao a highly-cultivated mind. Notwith standing the roving and bustling life he lec up to the 35th year of his age, it is clea: that he must have found leisure to devoti himself to the study of Adam Smith, Mai thus, Ricardo, Mill, and all the other au thorities in political economy,- and to thi acquisition of a literary skill and resourci which hone of his predecessors, not evei Bastiat, ever displayed. Besides, the con iition of things in a' new country liki California presented the problems of thi land question in a simpler and clearer forn than they assume in older and mon complicated communities. It" was be tween August, 1877, and March, 1879 that " Progress and Poverty" wai written. That "epoch-making book," as i has been styled by a popular New Yorl iivine, did not get into type without somi lifHculty. When the manuscript wa: Snished, Mr. George took it to the publish ing firm of Messrs. Appleton and Co., Nev Xork, and left it with the oldest partner who informed him that it would be sub mitted to a competent reader, and thi iccision would be communicated to him ir the course of a few weeks. Within a monfcl the author received a note from Mr. Appletoi requesting him to call at the office. Whet he presented himself the old gentleman in Eormed Mr. George that the firm's reade: bad pronounced an exceedingly favourabli opinion of his work, adding that he hat taken it home with him three nights running Eor the purpose of looking it over to sei whether the verdict was justified. " Neve: before has the gentleman to whom wt entrusted 'Progress and Poverty,' and ii whom we have entire confidence, expresaet so eulogistic an opinion of any book," saic Mr. Appleton, "and I regret that I havi been too much engaged during my leisuri hours to find time to peruse it." Going oi to explain that, notwithstanding the stronj recommendation they had received fron their reader, and after remarking that hi must consider the matter from a businesi point of view, and that books on economica questions were rarely very popular, Mr Appleton said: "This is a big book. I: ivould take a good deal to produce it. Bu ii consequence of our reader's highly favour ible verdict, we should be prepared to inves' half of the cost of production if yon, Mr jcorge, would invest the other half; and wi would then divide the profits." The proposa was a sore blow to Mr. George, for at thi time it was made he had not enough monej to keep himself'and family for another sij weeks. While he was gazing intently on bi boot, and striving to conceal his disappoint ment as best he could, Mr. Appleton wa seeking to soothe his feelings with thi ordinary complimentary remarks that ari nado under similar circumstances by gentle men of good breeding. Mr. George's mind however, was otherwise occupied, and hi suddenly interrupted the old gentleman witl ;he query, " What would you do if you go ;he book in stereotype plates ?" Without i moment's hesitation, Mr. Appleton replied 'We would publish it immediately." "Thei jood morning," said Mr. George, and tool lis departure, the publisher naturally suppos Dg that he had seen the last of him. Back lowever, Mr. George went to San Francisco and, having obtained assistance fron )ne or two of his friends, he cleared ou ;hree of the rooms in his house, ant urnished them with composing - desks Engaging a few printers and resuming lis apron, he gave out the copy and assistet n setting it up with his own hands. Withit ;en months the work was completed and thi plates cast. Characteristically, no intimalioi if these proceedings was sent to Mr. Appletoi mtil Mr. George presented himself again ii lis room, and informed him that the stereo type plates of "Progress and Poverty" weri it the door on two lorries. "God bless me!' jxclaimed Mr. Appleton, rising from his sea' xnd going towards the window from whenci le had ocular demonstration of the truth o ;he statement he had heard. "We don' lake things of that sort in at our Broadwa] mtrance. They must be taken round to thi working establishment in a baok street." Bi ringing a bell and bringing in a clerk, a mes lengcr was sent to guide the carter to ihi store for stereotype plates, and the loads weri safely deposited. No time was lost in issuing ;he work, which originally appeared in an 'our to five years that have elapsed since it' :ight shilling edition. From the beginning i was an unprecedented success. During thi )riginal publication, upwards of twentj American editions at a high price have beei lisposed of and three or four English edition: it 10s 6d and 7s 6d have been circulatcd. Botl a America and in England cheap edition: lave bec,n produced, which have sold by thi Trillion ; and several American newspaper: have republished by instalments the entiri text of "Progress anrf Poverty." Ti h".? beei iranslated iato German, Spanish and othe: European languages, although, strange to say 10 French translation had appeared a yea: igo, and so far as we are aware, none has yel seen published in that language. Durinj ;he eleven months he spent in Grsat Britaii studying the Irish land question on the spot, ilr. George aoted as correspondentrfor tht [rish World. Of Mr. George personally we nay say a few words He is of middle stature, solidly built, with a large, dome-shaped head, jald on the crown, but fringed with hair of a lecidedly reddish hue that has not been ;ouched yet by the frost of age. His appearmce with his hat, usually a soft blaok felt, ia •cry different from what it is when the head s without that covering. Keen quick eyea ook out under firm pent brows ; the lose is large-and shapely ; the mouth and :hin covered with brownish red moustache ind beard ; and the whole expression of the :ountenanoe is a blending of strength and :eniierness. His character is seen .in his vritings, and none of his most violent oppo>ent3 has withheld a more or less measured xpression of respect and esteem.