MR HENRY GEORGE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6790, 19 November 1883, Page 3

MR HENRY GEORGE.

Whatever may bo thought of tho ideas pro. pounded in "Progress and Provorty," the popularity of the book and the boldness of its proposals for tho-iegeneration of sooioty justify some account of the career of its author. A correspondent furnishes the following details: — Henry George was born in the city of Philadelphia on Septe nber 2, 1839. Ho received a good general education, and seems early to havo displayed a robust independence of mind.- His Tather says of him: "From his boyhood Henry had been self-reliant, and had always been a good boy. Somehow I had no fear of letting him go out into the world by himself. He was self-willed and long-headed. History was his favourite study, and when he was but 14 years of age he was the possessor of quito a respoctablo library, composed principally of historical works." Young George's first venture was on board the sailing ship Hindoo, then under orders for Calcutta. He was absent on this voyage three years, and in that time by careful observation added -vastly to his already respectable store of knowledge. . Dissastißfied with the sea, George made up his mind to learn the printing trade, and for thio purpose entered the office of a firm of printers in 185 G. The panic of '57, however, wrecked the firm with whom he had engaged, and he was thrown idle. After returning to the sea for some time, the "gold fever" took hold of him, and ho left San Francisco for Fraser River. Although unsuccessful in falling upon any verj remarkable and lucrative spot, ho went along with many of the '' rushes" to the most favoured districts, and ultimately returned to San Francisco a saddor and a, wiser man. Probably had Henry George been a successful "digger" the remarkable work which he has produced would never have seen the light. In 1861 George obtained a situation as a compositor in the office of tho Alta California, at that timo one of the leading newspapers on the Pacific coast. Whileworking as a compositor he began to use his pen, and in the shape of " Letters to tho Editor" and various anonymous articles he became known as a contributor to tho nowspaper of no mean importance. George afterwards changed bis office, and engaged', still as a compositor, in the San Francisco Times. He continued his anonymous scribbling,'sending his communications to the paper on which he was employed. He was now becoming (juite an experienced writer; and he dealt in a thoroughly original way with a great variety of topics. The editor of the Times became curious to know the author of the remarkable letters, and set inquiries on foot. For a long time the attempt to discover the writer was unsuccessful; but as the letters still continued to come in, a watch was set on the letterbox connected with the editorial room. This stratagem was successful, and George was discovered dropping a letter into the editor's box. Dr Gunn (the editor) immediately went upstairs to the composing-room, and tapping Georgo on the shoulder as he stood at his work, said to him, "You don't want to fool away any more of your time aa a compositor ; I have a place for you in the editorial room." This account of our author's elevation from the compositor's frame to the editorial chair ia characteristically American. Within three months after joining the staff of the Times George became managing editor, which position ho held until 1867, when he resigned for tht! purpose of becoming connected with the editorial staff of the San Francisco Herald. But economical and social questions began to trouble George, and he returned to Calln:» in 18C9, aud for a time devoted himself to a a study of the land question, which was then agitating the Pacific Coast. In 1871 he published a pamphlet, entitled YOur Land and Land Policy," setting forth in brief the views which he afterwards amplified in his now celebrated work. The pamphlet created a decided sensation. From this time George adopted the profession of a journalist, and was connected with various newspapers. Although the actual writing of "Progress and Poverty" occupied little more than a year, George had for many years previously begun to prepare himself for his work. He read and thoroughly mastered all the writers on political economy, and indeed everything bearing on the land question, from whatever source he obtained his information, was carefully weighed and considered. Not until 1878, however, was our author satisfied that his years of study had fitted him to deal in a comprehensive way with the great problem of which he had determined to attempt tho solution. In

that year he fortunately held a municipal office which afforded him considerable leisure, and he dipped bis pen in ink for the first line of " Progross and Poverty." From that time forward for a little over a year he pushed on the work till the entire manuscript was ready for the printer's hands. Of his method of working it is said : " George made a practice of never trusting to his memory to reproduce any important idea which might come into his mind, but immediately reduced it to writing or carried

it into effect; thus though, when weary, he would stop work for a time, and go fishing or yachting with a friend; still he would got out of bed at any hour to insert a a point' in his work which had come into his mind. Countless

times he hacked a chapter beyond recognition ; a chapter assigned to a particular book was by no meanß certain not to be transferred the next day to a position three or four book? before or following." But though George had got his ideas reduced to manuscript, the book was pot yet published. The publishing houses of Now York would have nothing to do with a work of so Radical a nature, and he was indebted to a friend and former business associate named Hinton for the printing of 500 copies, which were immediaiely bought up. George supplied the Appletons (publishers, of New York), with the stereotype_ plates of " Progress and Poverty," which he is reported to have made with his own hands, and from that bouse was issued the second edition, which went off as rapidly as the first. Many editions have since been issued.

—Few poets die rich, but it appears that Mr Longfellow leaves £80,000. This is good news, for no bard ever deserved prosperity better than America's sweetest singer.

—Mr M. M. Pomeroy (says the San Francisco Bulletin) tells the following convincing temperance story:—" Some years ago we had in our employ a man who several times a day ran out of the office to buy a drink of whisky. Every time he went out the cashier was instructed to drop ten cents in the drawer to our credit. At the end of seventeen months the man who had gone out so often had drunk himself out of a good situation; and the drawer, when opened was found to contain 409d01, which we loaned to a young mechanic at 7 per cent, interest. He used it to purchase a set of tinner's tools. On the 15th of February, 1876, he returned it to us with interest, saying in his letter that he had a wife, two children, and property worth 500dol. The other poor fellow is a bummer, hunting for food."