New-York tribune., 1870-12-13
FAME FOR ABOrT sgoO.

To the EdttOr Of Thc TTibUHC.
Sur: Day before yesterday gentleman with
pleasing exterior, which included curly hair and card
bearing the name of r. Green honcred with call
at this house. His conversation opened even more
pleasing if possible than his favorable exterior;
for he informed that he connected with the Lon
don Ney-YOrk and Hartford Publishing Company, and
that the aforesaid Company about TO publish book
of biographical sketches OF ointment Americans.
asked il the book was the tlat THE TRIBUNE went
for recently in very lively way account OF the de-
mand for every hero pay thing handsome for his
fame. He assured me that he knew nothing about THE
TRIBUNEs attack on any book the kind and If such an
assault had been made, it have been other
book than his.
But the pleasing part OF the conversation the way
in which he Informed that Vas prominent Ameri-
can, that had done wonderful things, written won
derful book, and otherwise rendered myself worthy OF
biographical canOnizatiou. His mouth became a verbal
mitra,leuse and poured out complimentary adjectiyes
enough to equip thousand obituary notices Of dstin-
gushed philanthIOpsts. II playing the cOurticr
to heiress, and she should greet some evening
with half the hOueyed words that +. H. Green esq of
the London and Hartford Publishing Company poured
into my open ear would buy dozen rings and charter
a clergyman two within the next "a hours. He
wanted biographical sketch OF myself from my gifted
PEN or that Of equally gifted friend if such being
existed He wanted it within ten days, ana he wan it
10 embrace many OF my brilliant achievements as
possible In the book OF Prominent Americans every
man can be his biographer, either in person
or by proxy in the shape OF admriDg friend
had before Lnown how famous had become, and
really felt that my clothing too small to contain
me- which the wonderful as | had eaten moth
ing since breakfast time, and anxOus.y waiting for
dinner Having learned OF my great fame readily
sented to the biography, and told him would have il
prepared by friend who admired mt p il possible
than did myself and Who was living thlll OF com
"a and 1
let off 10 dinner, bat II didn't Mr. Green produced
copy OF The X4th Congress- bouna n expensive
leather, and Giterng with ajl ndant god. lie said the
forthcoming volume would d. Ike that onl- more So
and would cost great deal "i money;
DE nee, ssary for the Prominent Americans to do
book would cost from $40 10 ;4Oa copy copies
much as $50. knew II was worth something 10 be
told many good things about myself he had told me-
and AZ consented to be counted ia for a copy or
even two copies OF the cheapc" sort But Mr.. Green
couldn't see il thus and said must come down for five
copies least cf the expensive kind, and unless did
TO me about the bcnch 10 he d lived from m, con,uanV
OF my felowC 'untrymer who had been biONdphed and
nad subscribed; and he mentioned among other Illus
trous rames those oi John 7. Hoffman, William II. Webb,
and l.. ID. Moi -au lie waited me 10 have steel
portrait Of myself and pay rrit others had done aud
doing, but admitted that the absence OF
dn.6el i.6 "a% S,Smb9r % A'iR % iod OUT me- ' tint Int
my biography in the Forthcoming volume would bc handy
10 have in the house, and leave 10 children. grand
Children. aud other relative, the descending scales
informed him thar bdCheoIdOm had thu, far deprived
confidence Of fortuuetecr e. ladies, 20 cents; gentle
men, that would some time be- husband aud grand
father The Gallery i Prominent Americans would
then le out OF priI and uHpurChasablc az any Urrc
II did not subscribe now 'ny desc, ndants would mud
gap IN their auc", cl library, which would keen them
on perpetual g!lef because uf their inability To Oh H.
1 renewed my Oicr 10 take copies Of the ba.tr
Sort Dut ont OF siudncss TO those dimy prospective
grandchildren NJ. Green would not hear Oi my going TO
post,rty In anything more picbcan th1n ho pressed,
eAi1 Cdlcnicrrd paper turkey morocco, cu edgcs,
bacS ron, and sides. offered to subs, bc double The
amount OF any U tho heavy sWrils De- had ucutiOucd-u
proportion 10 INV mc1ns-hut TIN, plan could not bee
tcrtatHed He explained that the book sold only by
subscription, 9uj the bookstores would bc glad t0 get
copies could buy D certain number or books and POI,
them iu the store, where they would sell readily ana
bring my money back A. know that OF the princi
pes Ol subscription publisher religion s not To let his
books reach TIC boDStOrcs on any conditions. was
newhtt surprised at Mr. Green's otrr ana could only
attribute 10 hi, great desire o include among his
Prominent Americans and others, aud make his record
Of fame complete.
But We dd'nt come ~ terms went "a my dinner,
and Mr. Green went without my biography, or the
slightest iniimntOn that lac wanted It, Many a has
lowered himself in the estimation OF others by opening
his mouth. TINS Was my fate. When Mr.. Green made
ms acquaintance he considered a Prominent Amcri-
can Who deserved biography AT $50 per copy. After
onycf-n- with me for haf hour he didn't consider
ihe worth 80 much ~ twOliDo notice. How are tho
@ighy tailenl Uudor the circumstances 1t might be