Howard, Bronson (1842). The most successful American dramatist of the day, and almost the only American whose plays command attention in England. His plays, Saratoga, Truth, The Old Love and the New, Young Mrs. Winthrope, The Henrietta, and others are full of humour, and have been successful on both sides the Atlantic.
Howells, William Dean, born 1837. He is now America’s representative novelist, and has qualified for representation in a humorous book by his comedies, Out of the Question, A Counterfeit Presentment, The Parlour Car, The Sleeping Car, etc. He is an industrious writer. D. Douglas, Edinburgh, in his American author series, has included twenty-five of Mr. Howells’ works. The extract given in this book is from A Chance Acquaintance. American publishers, Houghton, Mifflin, & Co., and Osgood & Co.
Hoyt, Charles, humorous paragraphist of the Boston Post, the paper, by the way, which is credited with having originated the column of witty paragraphs now so popular with American and British papers.
Humphreys, David (1752-1818), served as aide-de-camp to Washington, and wrote lyrics of a patriotic nature for the good of the cause. He was an intimate friend of the first president, residing with and being treated as a member of the Washington family, and held many positions of trust. He was one of the famous “Hartford Wits.”
Hunter-Duvar, Lieutenant-Colonel John (1830), one of the principal literary men of Canada, his work polished, bright, and full of imagination. His “Emigration of the Fairies,” a poem of 117 stanzas of six lines each, is quite the best piece of verse as regards light, fantastical, imaginative humour that Canada has produced. Many of his lyrics are dainty and sweet, with a seventeenth century ring about them. He has published in verse De Roberval, a drama dealing with early life in Canada, The Triumph of Constancy, The Enamorado, and for private circulation, John a’ Var, his Lays.
Huntley, Stanley. In 1881 Mr. Huntley joined the staff of the Brooklyn Eagle, to which paper he contributed his famous “Spoopendyke” articles. He died before he had the opportunity of following up his success.
Irving, John Treat (1778-1838), a writer of sarcastic political verse.
Irving, Washington (1783-1859), author of those undying works of delightful and quaint humour, Rip Van Winkle, Sketch Book, History of New York by Diedrich Knickerbocker, etc. A hospitable, vivacious, good-natured, humorous man, who, at the opening of his career, was much harassed by business worries, and it was not until his books had scattered his fame broadcast, and the revenue from his writings began to accrue to him, that he could lead the life of hearty hospitality and freedom he loved. He was one of the small band of American authors which first attracted attention outside of their own country, and established the literary reputation of America.
Ike Marvel. See Mitchell, D. G.
James, Henry (1843). His stories are slight in plot, but worked out gracefully, and full of character delineation, vivacious, and witty.