slightest from the course he had chosen.
The only thing to which he unquestioningly submitted was the truth. His
loyalty to that was of a kind almost Quixotic. He was in later (p. 288)
years dissatisfied with himself, because, in his novel of "The Pilot,"
he had put the character of Paul Jones too high. He thought that the
hero had been credited in that work with loftier motives than those by
which he was actually animated. Feelings such as these formed the
groundwork of his character, and made him intolerant of the devious ways
of many who were satisfied with conforming to a lower code of morality.
There was a royalty in his nature that disdained even the semblance of
deceit. With other authors one feels that the man is inferior to his
work. With him it is the very reverse. High qualities, such as these, so
different from the easy-going virtues of common men, are more than an
offset to infirmities of temper, to unfairness of judgment, or to
unwisdom of conduct. His life was the best answer to many of the charges
brought against his country and his countrymen; for whatever he may have
fancied, the hostility he encountered was due far less to the matter of
his criticisms than to their manner. Against the common cant, that in
republican governments the tyranny of public sentiment will always bring
conduct to the same monotonous level, and opinion to the same
subservient uniformity, Democracy can point to this dauntless son who
never flinched from any course because it brought odium, who never
flattered popular prejudices, and who never truckled to a popular cry.
America has had among her representatives of the irritable race of
writers many who have shown far more ability to get on pleasantly with
their fellows than Cooper. She has had several gifted with higher
spiritual insight than he, with broader and juster views of life, (p. 289)
with finer ideals of literary art, and, above all, with far greater
delicacy of taste. But she counts on the scanty roll of her men of
letters the name of no one who acted from purer patriotism or loftier
principle. She finds among them all no manlier nature, and no more
heroic soul.

APPENDIX. (p. 290)

PARTIAL BIBLIOGRAPHY OF COOPER'S WRITINGS.

The following list embraces the first editions of Cooper's works;
articles contributed to magazines; and two or three of the most
important communications sent to the newspape