with no inheritance allowing a life of leisure, white worked as a lawyer and became one of the foremost literary and musical critics of his day. he had a distinguished career in journalism and literature as an editorial writer and musical critic for "the courier and enquirer," continuing when it merged into "the new york world". he wrote many books and articles for the leading american magazines, and contributed to appleton's and johnson's cyclopedias. "words and their uses" was one of his most noted books. white also authored several prominent national hymns. in an editorial in "the new york times" after his death, it was written: