The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-17
THREE HUNDRED AUTHORS.
ONE HANDCIRT LO1DED WITH MANU-
SCRIPT POEMS IND NOTELS.
The birth, Death, and Attempted Resurrcc-
tion OF bureau OF Literature-A Pres
byterIan Clergyman the War Path.


The birth, Death, and Attempted Resurrcc-
tion OF Bureau OF Liternture-A Pres
byterian Clergyman on the War Path
Sad and anxious faces have been pcering
into 252 Broadway since the first Of this month.
and many solicitous Inquiries have been made
for William J. Hyatt and the AthenWum
Bureau Of Literature. But more sadness and
moro anxiety we're occasloncd by the informa-
ton impaired to all inquircrs that Mr.. William
]. Hyatt and tho Athengum Bureau OF Litcra-
ture departed baR and baggage in obedience to
an execution in tho hands OF City Marshal
| Leubuscher about Feb I. in default oft5O. Sew
| eral inquiries and complaints having been sent
| TO THE Sun regarding the Athengum Bureau.
| n reporter called on Feb. 10 and joined the in
| terrogatory stream The store on tho level with
the street is mainly used for railroad ticket
| Offices and desk room is rented for other pur-
poses The remaining tenants spoke in no
| nntterlng terms OF William J. Hyatt and his
| Athenmum Bureau Of Literature.
Among tho remaining tenants is Henry Ran
dali Waite. agent OF the Athenmum Publishing
| Company. upon whose suit for $50 Mr.. Hyatt
| and his Athenmum Bureau were bundled out
| from the part Of tho store that they jointly
! occupied. Mr. Waite joins to his secular occu-
patlons the Office Of pastor OF tho Pelham Manor
| Presbyterian Church. and deeply regrets that
| he had anything to do with tho bureau OF Mr.
Hyatt. His story is that Hyatt came to him in
| May last with seemingly good letters Of recon-
mcndation. and circular containing the names
| OF n number ofpromincnt booksellers who have
consented to act rs agents OF the bureau in
various cities The scheme was to establish an
agency for tho sale Of authors manuscripts.
| which il succinctly set forth in the following
| advertisements
A UrHoR's Mss Immediately placed il available 10
La al Cd 4 nj
Bfoadwsy' New York ''''' bureau W ''' ''''''
Mr.. Waite said that ho was induced hv Mr..
! Hvaus letters. circular. aud persuasion 20
enter into the scheme gnd aivnnec chsh To Hld
| IL. He turned over To- Mr.. HYATT fow manu-
scripts and supposed the thing would run
nlong smoothly rs much. needed medium OF
! communication between author and publisher.
But his dlsnrproval was soon o'cnsioncd Nv
some traneaciions that he did not ltkc. lio
therefore disconnected himself from all partici-
patton in tho business; Mr.. Hyatt was absent
much of tho timc in the summer az Saratoga
whore lac mingled his duties u aiding authors in
scliingihoir manuscripts with his other duties
Ms part proprietor Of the Nnyerlcy Hotel. Nh
Waite held liygtt's note FOR $50 which went TO
| protest then Mr. Waite complained that Hyatt
had sent out circulars with Mr.. Waitc's name
thereon. which had falsely led persons to br'-
lcvc TINT Mr.. Waite still held some relations
10 tho Bureau. Among those who sent manu-
scripts for snle under this misapprchcnson
were MAJOR Con. o. o. Howard and Ahrnm Ben
DIN. who began To- mourn Tor thcir iour-iollar
fers and clnmnred for satisfaction from tho in
nocent DR.. Waite. Othcr complaints kept pour
ing IN that Hyatt had accepted fees, but done
/ ~
Then Mr. Waite hit upon the eXpedicnt Of get
ting an execution. and, IN the confidence that
scripts return them to their authors and put an
end to tho AthcnWum Literary Bureau.
Mr.. Hyatt had enlisted the sympathies OF
William c. Conant. a wcll-kuown and reputable
literary man whom he has persuaded act for
tho general eNamination and classification ot
manuscripts, and who's" name iasi ~ announced
In that capa"ity on the circulars. He iutercri"d
with Mr. Waite 10 avert -" impending blow,
aud understood that Mr.. Waite had consented
10 suspend action. Mr.. Waite. however. had no
such UNDERSTANDING. md not only tried 20 per
suAde Mr.. Conant to have no more 10 do with
Hyatt and his bureau but insisted upon the
Marshal's sciZng all tho MANUSCRIPTS.
scripts we're not his that hu owned nothing.
down tho vcngrnncc Of The Indignant authors
mon tho Iey"iei Mnrshni's heaI IN h. dersi Ia
! touch single manuscript. But the Marshal
dared. and ruihleSsly seized the sniire pile
a | comedies and tragedies. comcdettas and trnge-
/ dicttas; There were stories Of all kinds-of his
many love stories there were-penncd in deli.
Z cate chirogrnphy on the smoothcst aud ncatcs'
! these the Marshal seized ana bundled OF in an
j. | ignohle huui art.
had g. grt lawyer e. see what was To he done
4 and the Athcnagm Literary bureau was h"lt
~ .''tl utl' ~ N'lli ''i. i'ii "a ~
o turnei to TIC custody Of Mr.. Hlait; at % Park
r.M. ,'I, "a; III, ,',v zap "r. q. ~ ,n ",
7 tho huge pile IN Mr.. Iyntt's room.
b, ! ~ Is 10 true, Mr. Hyatt. the reporter asked
4 that many OF your customers have com
"Yrs some have douo So who havo not un
drrstood our plan. You soc Dos the circular tha
e we de- not promise any influence with publish
O. crs We only agree 10 offer the manuscripts fo
q sale. When Wa accept the charge OF manu-
T. scr PTS ine first fee becomes due. from 30 cents
y O. 80. depending upon the bulk. some 81 th'
u authors 10 not seem To understand this. Thcl
e. object to sending the fee. and want the manu-
a script back without rcimhursing US for Gu
e trouble. Here are our prices;
al st.rr O..
t9s H n9o"ncns eaeG Ms by n,e dc.Snien
A. s st forth an sections and ~ ice of 10 cent.
- chau.d upon ordinary MSS and :. o. - anon hgl
:. .aeh ~ for each rccnusn OF t'!s announgs ,lr p
chars,s for announcing aud repeating authors plans
roposals and pryiucu9ns ~ PREPARATION 'scc III ar
Ms commission Of ten per ecniuu is chareed g Tn
rcgisrauon fee due when the author receives noue
aen ihs, hs Ms !; accepted BY the BaIy9 az g tn
Ms and payment is received a A special ARRANGE
ment VIII he made with thc author win TIE publish
resa meets Tie sale OF Ms upon a royalty basis
How many Of the 900 manuscripts committc,
toyour charge have you soldf' ~
Well. am not prepared to answer that. W
have not sold many. because we have Just 20
But your circular SAYS you started in 1877
That Is true | have been working at tn
matter since then. but We nave not yet got GU
ia methods ready for putting our lists before IN
~ publishers. We are letting the fees accumu
late. so as to do this more cffrctually. The few
We nave sold have been carried by hand 10 tn
-, Waly + it the manuscripts are numbcre
That is tho number we began with becaus
it lsa good round number
so that whilc yonr list seems to show tia
you have received about 500 manu-crluts. 80
have. in fact. received only about 3OOf"
p " only about three hundrcd.'
~ How about these agents you have on you
=" Trhcv merely consent to distribute our cii
cuars To answer Inquiries, and forward to II
" ar, ih,y personally a'quointcd with You ~