This was a novel published in 1798, called “Wieland, or the Transformation.” A mystery, seemingly inexplicable, is solved as a case of ventriloquism, which at that time was just beginning to be understood thoroughly. His next book was “Arthur Mervyn,” remarkable for its description of the epidemic of yellow fever in Philadelphia. “Edgar Huntley,” a romance rich in local color, followed this. An effective use is made of somnambulism, and in it Brown anticipates James Fenimore Cooper’s introduction of the American Indian into fiction. The novelist then wrote two novels dealing with ordinary life; but they proved to be failures. Then he began to compile a general system of geography, to edit a periodical, and to write political pamphlets; but all the time his health was failing. On February 22, 1810, he died of tuberculosis. His biographer, William Dunlap, who was the novelist’s friend, says that Brown was the purest and most amiable of men, due perhaps to his Quaker education. His manner was at times a little stiff and formal; but in spite of this he was deeply loved by his friends. PREPARED BY THE EDITORIAL STAFF OF THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION ILLUSTRATION FOR THE MENTOR, VOL. 4, No. 6, SERIAL No. 106 COPYRIGHT, 1916, BY THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION, INC. [Illustration: WASHINGTON IRVING] American Pioneer Prose Writers WASHINGTON IRVING Monograph Number Four in The Mentor Reading Course A bankruptcy produced one of the greatest American writers. If the business house with which Washington Irving was associated had not failed, he might never have seriously attempted to take up literature. Washington Irving was born in New York City on April 3, 1783. He was named after George Washington, who at that time was the idol of the American people. Both his parents were immigrants from Great Britain. His father was a prosperous merchant at the time of Irving’s birth. Irving was a mischievous boy. Perhaps this was due to the fact that Deacon Irving was a severe father. He detested the theater, and permitted no reading on Sunday except the Bible and the Catechism. Washington was permitted on weekdays to read only Gulliver’s Travels and Robinson Crusoe. Nevertheless, in spite of his father’s strictness, the boy managed to steal away from home to attend the theater. Irving intended to be a lawyer; but his health gave way, and he had to take a voyage to Europe. In this journey he went as far as Rome, and in England made the acquaintance of Washington Allston, the famous American painter, who was then living there. On his return he was admitted to the bar; but he made little effort at practising. In the meanwhile, however, he, his brother William, and J. K. Paulding wrote some humorous sketches called “Salmagundi Papers,” which were quite successful.