The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-03-07
"cAPE COD FOLKS.

Th ey Object to Being 8urlesguedi in 0ooks
The libel suit against Alexander Will
liams, the first publisher of "Cape Cod
Folks" who is now succeeded by Cup.
pies, Tpllam & Co.. OF the old corner
book store in Boston. grows out of the
publication in the first edition of the
story OF real names Of Cape Codders for
the characters instead of fictitious ones.
The book was the first venture in au-
thorship of Miss Sallie Mclean, of
Connecticut, a young woman who was
teacher i'll that part of Cape Cod in
which the scenes of her story are laid.
The advertising that the threats of o
suit gave it has given the hook large
sale, and succeeding stories which have
recently been brought together in o
new volume have protited by it.
The publishers, Us soon as their
attention was called to the use of real
for fictitious names, had the book over
hauled and new names inserted for the
originals, They contend that the first
edition was exhausted before they were
informed of the Use Of real names, and
that they did not know of this fact nm.
til their attention was called to it.
There have been several attempts to
compromise the matter. The news Of
the opening of the trial was great sur.
prise to the publishers. The first inti-
nation of the matter WIS atelegram at
& o'clock i'll the evening for the publish
ers to appear at the continuation of the
case the next day at Plymouth. They
do not deny the libel, but it is claimed
that the plaintiffs character has not
been injured.
1t now appears for the first time that
the original title of the book was "The
Cedar Swamp Chair" which was
changed to "Cape Cod Folks" by the
publishers. 1t is felt that this alter
alton of the title to "Capc Cod Folks"
has caused much of the popular feeling
against the book on the cape.
The plaintiff, Lorenzo l.. Nightin-
gale, who figures us one of the charac-
ters in the first edition of the story un-
der his real name. alleges that the state
ments made in regard to him are false
and libclous. The whole book was SUBJ
mitted as evidence. the court having
ruled that portions merely could not be
used. The Judge stated that he did not
think the fact that the book was work
of fiction exempted it from the law Of
libel. All the parts of the book materi-
al to the ease were then read. including
the description Of Nightingale:
Teacher, this is our champion fiddler,
inventor, whale fisher. cranberry picker
and potato bugger. The youth Of the
tuneful and b,ldlike name being thus
suddenly thrust forward, doffed his
broad sou'wcster, took the hand held
ont to him, and STOPPING down kissed
me, quite in simple audible manner
on the cheek"
The witness denied that he had ever
kissed the author Of the book, but III
answer to the query: Haven't you
ever kissed any girl?" he hesitatingly
admitted, much to the amusement Of
the audience, "I might have" Night
ingnle denied that lie had made love to
Miss Mclean. as described i'll the hook,
and declared the following passage to
be absolutely untrue:
Teacher" he said, Il should like to
kiss you just once tonight, and mean
"That's remarkable request" said,
Ito come from my oldest pupil, but it
is my privilege to bestow it Just once.
If you will bend down from your COM
manding hight and put Yourself i'll an
humble and submissive attitude before
me-" The nightingale knelt on the
doorstep. I would have stopped to
his forehead, but he put up his
arm with an extremely boyisl.
innoffensive- gesture, almost
with sob thought, to draw Inc closer
1 would have had that kiss as passion
less as though it had been given to u
child. The crsdle-bow'sb breath was pure
upon my cheek, but. l was compelled.
to feel the answering fame creep slowly
into my own blood"
"Never ask me to do that again, OK.
claimed in righteous exculpation of the
act, "never."
The plaintiff was questioned as to the
truth of the episodes in the book con-
cerning other persons, but objection was
made and sustained by the court. Night.
ingale testified that the publication oi
the book caused him great deal of an
noyance. He had been pointed ont when
on the cars and ut other places as the
champion potato bugger and fiddler, and
had been called "Cradlebow. His own
feelings and those of his family had beer
hurt. He said all the representation,
given ,in the book, were pack of lies
He never made love to the school.
teacher, was not in love with her AMI
didn't know whether she was with hin
or not.-Boston Special to the New
York Times. gs :
| "A call has been Issued for ! national conye,
tion Of wool growers Of the Uaited lBtstes, +
meet at Chicago the 7th Of Nay pext ii Y