THE

BOOKMAN

A Magazine of Literature and Life

FEBRUARY, 1906

CHRONICLE AND COMMENT

The news of Mr. Henry Harland's death came as a surprise to those who knew him only through his books, for he was still a young man; yet his intimate friends had long been aware that he was the victim of an incurable disease. Mr Harland had made his home in England since 1889, so that comparatively few persons can now recall much of the American part of his literary and personal career. The desire to write

success of which led him to give up his official duties and make literature his profession. Harland had discovered a new field-the life of the well-to-do Jews of New York-and he delved in it most industriously and with excellent results. At that time he wrote over the penname of "Sidney Luska," and both because of his chosen theme, and because his cast of countenance was somewhat Jewish he was supposed to be a co-religionist of those about whose life he wrote. Indeed, many Jews were equally mistaken. When

came

Yoke of Thorah appeared, some parts of it gave offence to his Jewish friends, and he was asked to appear and defend himself, which he did very effectively in one of the New York synagogues before a large assemblage.

his upon him in 1884, when he was twenty-three years of age. At that time he occupied a minor position in the Surrogate's office, and his hours were long-so long, indeed, as to make it hard for him to spare the time for literary labour. Hence, he adopted a scheme of life which practically lengthened the ordinary day. Directly after dinner he would retire and sleep until one o'clock in the morning, when he would rise, and after a large cup of black coffee would go to his desk and write steadily until breakfast time. After breakfasting, he betook himself to his office and performed the day's work with apparent zest. In this way, he completed his first book, As It Was Written, a fantastic but powerful story of a Jewish musician. Technically it was in parts a crude production, yet one may doubt whether any subsequent work of his can be regarded as at once so strong and so sincere. This story he followed up with Mrs. Peixada and several others, the

Henry
Harland

THE LATE HENRY HARLAND