Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-04-28
Literary Pseudonyms.


this are probably as numerous almost as |
is the variety of applications, and, could
they be marshaled before one, would at
ford a curious insight into the peculiari- |
ties and Municipalities of those who,
either for pleasure or profit, choose to
WELD the pen.
William Lloyd Garrison, when quite a
boy, employed in certain newspaper
office. began to write under an alias for
the journal on which he worked. Faith
fully preserving his incognito, he must
have been about equally gratified and
amused to receive one day at the post
Office letter from his master, thanking
him cordially for his previous contribu-
tons, and urging him to continue them
in future. 1919
It is not often that great and infu-
entail periodical is started entirely
anonymously or under pseudonyms. Yet
the famous Edinburgh Reuiew first
of the great periodicals which form a
marked feature of the critical literature
of the nineteenth century-was COM
menced in this way. So great was the
secrecy felt or believed to be necessary,
that the knot of promising young men
who Joined the enterprise, chief among
whom were Francis Jeffrey, Sidney
Smith, Horner and Henry Brougham,
held their ssdark divans'' for some time
in dingy garnet in the rear of William
sons printing-office in Edinburgh, to
which each one concerned repaired alone
stealthily, under cover of darkness, and
by devious and unfrequented paths; and
so little encouragement did the enter
prise receive. that at first hardly one of
the articles were avowed by the writers
under their rightful names.
Without doubt the most celebrated
pseudonymwas that over which the 'sLet-
tiers of Junius'' were written. These,
a series of remarkable political epistles,
were published in the columns of the
London Public Advertiser-then the
most popular and weighty journal in
England from 1869 to 1772. In them
the writer, concealing his identity under
his signature, attacked many of the pub
lie characters of the day who were in
any way connected with the Govern
ment, not even sparing the King him.
self. The most determined efforts were
made, alike by the persons assailed and
the general public indignation, to dis
cover the author, but in vain. OF all
these efforts, strange to say, "Junius"
was only too we'll aware. He wrote to
the publisher: g 1t is not in the nature
of things that you or anybody else
should know me unless make myself
known: all arts, all inquiries, or rewards
would be Intellectual" At a still later
date he remarks: ST am the sole de-
positary of my secret, and it shall die
with me-" Since 1910, however, evil
dence has accumulated which goes very
far to indicate Sir Philip Francis as the
author of these memorable Philippics,
though it only fair to state that other
facts point very strongly to Edmund
Burke. 1t is among the certainties,
however, that the identity of "Junius"
will never be revealed.
Though, as rule, pseudonym is an
undoubted convenience, there have been
cases where, probably, an avowal of the
writer's real name would have secured
earlier recognition of merit. But this
would take away the undoubted fasci-
nation which exists to many minds of
watching their literary progeny, unsus-
pected of their immediate acquaintances,
cast upon the world to live or die, with
out the modification due to the one re-
suit, or the heralding of ones name by
flames trumpet in the other.
Doubtless many will be gratifed, in
perusing the appended list of pseudo
nyms, to lift the mask from many of our
most enjoyable writer's in this country
and in England:
Arthur Sketchley, George Rose.
A. L. o. E. "a lady Of England), Miss
Charlotte Tucker.
''Aunt Mary" Mrs. Mary A: Lathbury..
A Veteran Observer, 4. D. Mansfield,
"Benauly,' Benjamin, Austin, and Ly-
man Abbott, collaborateurs.
Barry Gray, r. B. Coffin.
Bon. Gaultier, Prof. w. e. Aytoun and
Theodore Martin, coilabOrateurS.
Bill Arp, Charles III. Smith.
I. Barry Cornwall, Bryan Waller Proctor.
Carl Benson, Charles Astor Bristed.
Cantell A. Bigly (Can-tell-a-big -lie),
George W. Peck.
Currer Bell, Charlotte Bronte.
Cuthbert Bede, Rev. Edward Bradley.
Country Parson, Rev. A. X. III. Boyd.
Dunn Brown, Rev. Samuel Fiske.
DR.. Oldham, OF Greystones, Caleb s. Hen
ny, LII. d.
Elizabeth Wetherell, Susan Warner.
Elizabeth Berger, Elizabeth Sheppard.
Edmund Kirke, j. Il. Gilmore.
Ethan Spike, Matthew G.. Whittier.
Fanny Forester, Mrs. Emily Chubbuck
Fat Contributor, A. NJ. Griswold.
Fleeta, Kate w. Hamilton.
Fanny Fern, Sara Payson Willis Parton.
Frank Forester, Henry William Herbert.
Florence Percy, Mrs. Akers.
George Sand, Amantine Lucille Aurore
DudeYant.
Gail Hamilton, Mary Abigail Dodge.
Grace Greenwood, Mrs. Sarah Jane Clarke
Lippincott.
George Eliot, Marian Evans Lewes Cross.
1sGath,D George Alfred Townsend.
Howard Glyndon, Miss Laura G.. Redden.
Harry Gringo, Lieut. Henry A. Wise,
u. s. n.
Hohne Lee, Mrs. Harriet Parr.
81 Helen Mar, Mrs. d. M. F. Walker.
Ike Marvel, Donald g. Mitchell.
- Jennie June, Mrs. D. G. Croly.
John Phoenix, Capt. Geo. *. Kirby, U.
s.. A.
January Searle, George s. Phillips.
Josh Billings, Henry w. Shaw.
Kirke White, Henry Kirke White.
Louisa Muhlbach, Madam Clara Mundt.
L. Pylodet (anagram), L. Leypoldt.
Monk Lewis, Matthew Gregory Lewis.
Mrs. Markham, Mrs. Elizabeth Penrose.
Mark Twain, Samuel Langhome Clemens.
Mrs. Partington, B. p. Shillaber.
Miles O'Reilly. Col. Charles G.. Halpine.
Minnie Myrtle, Miss Anna L. Johnson.
Major Jack Downing, Seba Smith.
Mrs. Gilman, Mr.. Ballou.
Marion Harland, Mrs. nj. v. Terhune.