Page:Great Men and Famous Women Volume 7.djvu/202

146 ARTISTS AND AUTHORS not a few of the books were published in two -volumes. So. prolific a power of authorship is unique enough, and when considered in the light of the absence of literary associations of the first half of his life seems absolutely unique in the his- tory of men of letters. It is, of course, in and through this latter half of his life that Cooper, both as a man and as an author, made his contribution to the com- mon possessions of mankind. The larger part of this period he lived in either New York or Cooperstown. Seven years of it (1826-1833), however, were spent in Europe with his family. The whole of it was, till at least the last years, a pretty stormy time to Cooper personally, as well as a busy one in his writing. From the memory of most peo- ple now living the recollection of the lawsuits in which Cooper became involved has faded. They were about as numerous as the books he wrote, and they were of an irritating character which would have wearied out a man less bold and enduring. Of this sort of defence and offence he had had a foretaste dur- ing his European residence, when he was often called on to defend his native country from an ignorant and depreciative criticism, which was sixty years ago far more common than now. But he who was the defender of his country when abroad, seems to have become the severe critic of his country when at home. " Condescension in foreigners " is bad enough, but condescension in a native who has lived abroad is far worse. On returning Cooper found an America, as he believed, vastly deteriorated. Morals had become base ; manners coarse ; com- merce fallen into speculation. He was not the man to keep his sentiments locked up in his heart. He wrote, and wrote with fulness and severity of his country and of his countrymen. Thurlow Weed, in 1841, wrote of him: "He has disparaged American lakes, ridiculed American scenery, burlesqued Ameri- can coin, and even satirized the American flag." He also was so foolish as Jo reply to certain adverse criticisms made on " The Bravo," and in seeking to bring down the lightning on the head of his reviewer, he brought down both thun- der and lightning on his own head and about his ears. It must be added, too, that he did not live at peace with his neighbors. Piscussion and litigation as to a piece of land which the people of Cooperstown believed had been given by Cooper's father for public uses was peculiarly exasperating. The citizens, in a public meeting, resolved, " That we recommend and request the trustees of the Franklin Library, in this village, to remove all books of which Cooper is the author from said library." That Cooper was legally right did not at all lessen the bitterness. He attacked the newspapers and the newspapers attacked him. Libel suits followed, which, too, he usually won. Criticism of his " History of the United States Navy " aroused his indignation, and a trial which is a cause cdh bre was the result. A time of storm all these years were for Cooper. All this gives the impression of a man who was constantly " spoiling for a fight" The impression is hardly just, however. He was not quarrelsome ; but he was proud, possessed of strong passions and of a deep sense of his own rights. Whenever, therefore, what he regarded as his rights were struck at, he struck back. For one blow received another was given, till what was simply a