Page:Men of Mark in America vol 2.djvu/35

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EDWARD EVERETT HALE
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native inclination to a literary life, his pen was early employed; and in his old age it has not ceased its labors. In his early married life he "wrote in competition for any prize offered by any publisher," "not from any special desire to shine, but as a business enterprise to aid in the support of a young family." In his later career he has been editorially connected with numerous literary journals, and he is now editor of the "Lend-a-Hand Record."

Mr. Hale's books are largely works of fiction: "The Man Without a Country"; "Ten Times One is Ten"; "Margaret Percival in America"; "In His Name"; "Mr. Tangier's Vacations"; "Mrs. Merriam's Scholars"; "His Level Best"; "The Ingham Papers"; "Ups and Downs" ; "Philip Nolan's Friends" ; "Fortunes of Rachel"; "Four and Five"; "Crusoe in New York"; "Christmas Eve and Christmas Day"; "Christmas in Narragansett"; and "Our Christmas in a Palace." His other works embrace "Sketches in Christian History"; "Kansas and Nebraska"; "What Career?" "Boys' Heroes"; "The Story of Massachusetts"; "Sybaris and Other Homes"; "For Fifty Years" (poems); "A New England Boyhood"; "Chautauqua History of the United States"; "If Jesus Comes to Boston"; "Memories of a Hundred Years" and "Ralph Waldo Emerson."

Taken in connection with his many duties in other directions this list is indicative of great industry. It may be said of him that he has written little or nothing that is not pleasing reading, while much of his writing is distinctly inspiring. Throughout life he has been a teacher and inspirer of others, with voice and pen; and in his ripe age he has not lost his activity in the higher service of mankind. Notable have been his utterances in favor of a permanent tribunal for international arbitration between England and the United States. In one of his most recent articles he says: "I consider it the first duty of an American citizen at this time to join in all practical endeavors for a tribunal to administer international justice. This means peace among the nations of the world. I shall give what is left me of life to this endeavor."

Many useful lessons for the inspiration of the young might be drawn from Mr. Hale's long and active life; this last, not the least, for there is no more pertinent duty now presenting itself to mankind than that of earnest labor for the abolition of war and the bringing in of the reign of peace.