The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-11-26
ABOUT PROMINENT PEOPLE.
How Roswell P. Smith Bought tbs
Lincoln History.

How Roswell P. Smith Bought the
Lincoln History.
New York, Nov. 24.-Mrs. Mackay of
California, Paris and London, is said to be
very intimate of late with Isabella, ex-
Queen Of Spain. A good story of the Mac
kay family has not until now been told in
print. Mrs. Mackay'S mother and sitter
lived with her some years agoin Paris, and
from the immense wealth of the head OF
the family 1t was supposed that the sister
would come in for a very considerable dot ;
and it was true that Mackay had either
invested tor her or presented her a few
hundred thousand dollars, more or less, a
mere bagateile in the eyes of the master of
millions, but very appetizing to a hungry
Frenchman of the Old regime. One day ut
The legation of the United States a Do
wager duchess of the oldest French stock
asked to see the American minister, and
was ushered into his excellency's private
office. Her grace then explained that She
had come in behalf of her son, the young
duke, to propose for the hand of Mrs. Mac
kay's sister, She had not tue honor to
know Mrs. Mackay nor her mother. and of
course not the young lady, SO she thought
the proper way was to come direct to the
minister. His excellency promised to
convey her proposals, which he did the same
udy 10 IUOtll6I -lu-ldM. Dub Aub
old Californian was not SO much elated at
the prospect of the alliance as doubtless the
duchess had anticipated; she asked the
minister to explain 20 the noble pGrti that
her daughter was very poor, having no
share of the Mackay fortune, and was only
in Europe to be educated for governess;
as she expected to earn her own living.
The minister communicated his message to
the duchess, who was disappointed, but in
kax- hn baA
misinformed and that of course under the
circumstances her offer would not stand.
Ii was purely business arrangement in her
eyes.
The young lady afterward married an
Italian prince, but the preiminaries were
not settled by any envoy or ducal or princely
mother-in law. The American girl acted in
her own behalf.
The Lincoln history now appearing in the
Century Magazine costs Mr.. Roswell Smith,
the proprietor of that periodical, $50, 900.
The way in which he came to pay this
extraordinary price is thus described: Mr..
Smith found the "War Seriesn approaching
an end, and naturally wanted something to
take its place. In his anxiety he declared
that he would give $4,000 for substitute
or successor to The articles which had been
SO prominent. At this juncture Col. John
Hay chanced to present himself at the Gem
tury office with his manuscript. Mr.. Glider,
the principal editor, read n few chapters and
was convinced they would take. A council
of war was held, of editors and publisher,
and on the strength of Mr.. Gilder's Judg-
ment 1t was decided to accept the history
MIR. Smith thought he had secured the prize
of which he was in search-the material
that was to tal;e the place Of the great war
series. Hay, meanwhile, had gone back to
Washington, and Glider now wrote for
u ur11h i'm fn FafTI HhAr
and to their amazsment and delight were
offered $50. 900 for the manuscript for which
they would doubtless have been glad to
receive a much smaller sum. But it requires
critical acumen and business faculty to
conduct great magazine; and this is the
way In which the success Of the Century
has been built up.