Life — May 28, 1908 — page 15: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

In Their Earlier Years % ee MAGGIE MITCRELL IN THE SIXTIES ESE Lafcadio Hearn DITOR OF LIFE: Dr. George M. Gould, of Philadelphia, is an eye doctor who writes voluminously about eye- strain. In the summer of 1889 he induced Lafeadio Heam to visit him, during which time he loaned im sixty dollars, and Hearn, in return, left his entire library as well as all his literary effects with him as ‘security. When Hearn went to Japan, early in 1890, Gould wrote him a letter which Hearn construed to mean that their correspondence was at an end, and from that time until his death in 1905 Hearn would have nothing more to do with him. Three years later Gould wrote asking if he wanted his books (which he certainly did, as professor of English literature!), but s0 great was his fear of Gould that he would not an- swer his letter. After Hearn’s death his literary executor endeavored to get the books back for the benefit of the widow and children, and the comments of some of Heam’s friends on the doctor's refusal to give them up caused such distress to his feelings that he has expressed him- self in a book called “Concerning Lafcadio Hearn."* It really tells much more about Doctor Gould than it does of Lafcadio, because the doctor's views reflect his own personality, whereas his statements about Hearn are false. According to this gentle Philadelphian, Hearn lacked "religion, morality, scholarship, magnanimity, loyalty, benevolence, character,” etc., intimating that he was of illegitimate birth (which was not true), ques- tions the integrity of his marriage (a scandalous inti mation, totally false), claims, because he could not get his own letters answered, that Hearn’s other friends, to whom he did write, bought letters from him with flattery and money, uses every argument and innu- endo that he can command to give the impression that he was an impossible, objectionable person, All this of a university professor who lived a very domestic life and died at the age of fifty-five, surrounded by a devoted family to whom he had left a legacy of great love and faithfulness and constancy, and who was followed to his grave by so many sincere admirers that it became a matter of international comment! It is a pity that by the time Hearn’s oldest boy is big enough to punch the genial doctor's head for his ‘spite-book the genial doctor will be too old to receive such an attention. Ellwood Hendrick. The Value of Exchange 'HE famous astronomer was about to leave the home where he had been entertained when he discovered that his hat was missing. An accidental exchange had been effected, and the man of science was compelled to wear a hat the initials of which indicated that it belonged to a young singer who had endeavored to entertain the guests. “Never mind, professor,” said the host, as he calmed his irritated friend; ‘your hat will add fame to mediocrity; his will give a little eccentricity to genius.” HE: How do you like my bathing suit? He (an ardent Christian Scientist For me it doesn’t exist. In Their Earlier Years 575 MRS YISKE IN THE EARLY EIGHTIES comicbooks.com