Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 October 1889 — QUIETLY PASSES AWAY. [ARTICLE]

QUIETLY PASSES AWAY.

WILKIE COLLINS STRICKEN DOWN BY BRONCHITIS. The Famous English 4Vriter Dies at His Home in Loudon—Brief Sketch of toe Life of the Author of “The Woman iu White.” A London dispatch says: Wilkie Collins, the famous novelist, died Mondav morning. At midnight a friend who hau been at the house brought news that the end was near. Mr. Collins had been ailing for some time and finally succumbed to an attack of bronchitis. The great novelist who has just died was the most cherished friend of Charles Dickens, to whom he was related by marriage. Collins was born in London in January, 1524, and was the son of a celebrated painter. After completing his school education be went on a trip to Italy with his parents. He was articled for four years to a tea merchant, but soon tired of commercial life and entered Lincoln’s Inn as a student of law. While there he began literary work. His first ambitious production was a biography of his father, published in 1848. From this time he devoted himself entirely to literature: His principal stories are: “Antonina, ” “After Dark. ” “Dead Secret,” “Woman in White,” “No Name,” “Moonstone, ” and “New Magdalen.” Mr. Collins has written some dramatic works, of which the “Frozen Deep” is probably the best known. Other stories written by Mr. Collins have been almost as successful as those mentioned. Among them are “Armadale,” Man and Wife,” and “Poor Miss Finch.” Most of them contain deep and intricate plots, the interest being centered upon this feature rather than upon the strength of the characters themselves. Publishers were always eager to secure his works. Mr. Collins made from $150,000 to $200,000 by his pen, and by shrewd investment of the money became a comparatively wealthy man. Wilkie Collins was of a genial and affable disposition, and made many friends in this country on the occasion of his visit here some twelve or fifteen years ago. He was a tireless worker, and though his novels were numerous they were written with the utmost care.