her published works being "Verses" (1898); "The Little Boy Book" (1899), and the "Rose of Dawn," a poem of the South Seas (1901).
Aside from his fame as a diplomat, Mr. Hay is well known as an author. His first published work was "Castilian Days," studies of Spanish life and character (1871); this was followed the same year by "Pike County Ballads and Other Pieces"; and in 1875 he published a translation of Emilio Castelar's treatise on "The Republican Movement in Europe." His greatest literary work was a "Life of Abraham Lincoln," written in collaboration with John G. Nicolay. It appeared first as a serial in the "Century Magazine" (1887-89), and was afterward republished in book form, in ten volumes, immediately taking its place as one of the masterpieces of biography. In 1890 Mr. Hay published a volume of poems. He has been credited with the authorship of a remarkably strong novel entitled "The Bread Winners," dealing with the problem of labor, capital and strikes. Some of the "Ballads " which appeared in his second published work were written during his college days and attained great popularity. The best known among the collection are "Jim Bludso" and "Little Breeches," which, owing to their pathos and their local color, must long retain their place in the affections of the American people.
As may be inferred from the mark that he has made in our national history, Mr. Hay is a man of strong and earnest convictions. He is also deeply religious, exemplifying his faith by his daily life, though he never makes a display of his sentiments or attempts to impose upon others his own standard of faith and code of morals. He is a member of the American Institute of Arts and Letters, is a Republican in politics, and he finds his chief recreation in walking and riding and in shooting wild fowl. In referring to his own life he declares that he has succeeded beyond his hopes and enjoyed more happiness than he deserved, for which he " thanks Providence and his family."
On account of impaired health Secretary Hay went abroad in the spring of 1905. On July 1, of the same year, he died at his summer residence, Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire. The expressions of appreciation for the man, his work and his character, which came from statesmen, rulers and diplomats of all lands were most noteworthy, and are hardly to be paralleled.
