Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-06
He Lost the Wager.
BECAUSE HIS NAME WAS NOT WORTH AS MUCH Al
GOOD STORY.


BECAUSE HIS NAME WAS NOT WORTH AS MUCH AS
GOOD STORY.
From the Book Buyer for March.
There ia an old story which relates that in the
early days of Mr.. T. B. Aldrich's editing of the
atlantic, his publisher, Mr.. HOughton, who had
or pretended to have some vague literary aspi-
rations. remarked to his new editor, with an
air half serious and half testing:
Il am going to send you a story have writ
ten. but shall send it under fictitious name"
Then" was Mr.. Aldrich's remark, Il advise
you to send it to a fictitious editor"
have never inquired whether the story is
true but it came back to my mind the 9th r
day when / heard the story of a wager which
has Just been decided. literary man. whose
name is pretty well known was arguing with a
brother author the obviously foolish PROPOSE
ton that acceptance goes by favor. and being
of a disposition which, he will pardon my say,
ing, since / do not name him. is at least un-
usually firm, his support of his view of the case
became the more determined as he proceeded
I'm tell you what I'll do" he said at length
I've two short stories done, and one is to end
better than the other. They are written on the
typewriter, and I'll send the worse one over
my own name to magazine and the other over
an assumed name; and I'll bet you IS that my
name carries the poor one while the better ole
come back"
The wager was accepted, the MS. sent of.
and the event awaited. By all considerations of
poetic Justice the young author should have
won his wager; but, as a matter Of fact, he did
not. The story with his name on its back, de
clined with thanks"-to how many luckless
wretch, writhing under disappointment, has
that printed phrase seemed the very essence of
cruel irony!-while the other was accepted. and
the editor wrote the author a kind note addressed
to his nom de guerre. evidently believing that
1t was his good fortune to have discovered q
new writer. Whether the editor was amiable
or not when the matter was explained to him
do not know, but the moral is obvious.
GREAT FAILURE AT READING.-The Reading
iron works, which operates blast furnaces,
rolling. sheet, tube, and pipe mills,
FORCES and machine shops, employing in
all over $500 hands, has failed The firm
has given notice of the suspension of
payments, and called a meeting of its creditors
to be held at the Philadelphia Office of the COM
pany Thursday. 1t is one of the largest es-
adjustments of its kind in America, and dis
penses in wages every year over one million
dollars. The first judgment entered against
the company was by the Reading railroad COM
pany for $4,000. A director Of the company
said that at the meeting to be held on Thurs
day shareholders will be asked to take stock or
bonds in exchange for their claims. He added
that unless this was done the company would
be forced to liquidate, and the creditors would
then get very little. The liabilities are said to
be about 81 100000
JAMES C. FLooDs WILL.-The will of James
c. Flood was filed in the county clerks Office in
Redwood City, CAL. Monday. The will is dated
August, 1887. and is short, being in the makers
handwriting and covering only three sheets of
note paper. The estate is valued at "a. 200 0O0
He bequeathed one-half to his wife and the
other half to his daughter, Cora Jane Flood,
and son, James 1. Flood. share and share alike.
Before his death the decedent decided large
blocks of his property to his family.
CoNaREaATIoNALIsTs FOR PnoHIBIr1oN.-The
Congregational ministers of Massachusetts are in
open rebellion against their UNCONVENTIONAL pa
per. The CongregatiOnatst, which recently pub
lished an editorial taking ground against the
proposed constitutional prohibitory amendment
now before the people. A lively meeting was
held mel, in Boston Monday morning and strong res
OF the paper as being contrary to the sentiment
OF the Congregational Church.
The Vienna Fremdenblah and the Neu Nreie
Presse both say that King Milan is about to ap-
point M. Ristics temporary regent Of Servia,
his majesty desiring TO 60 abroad for the pur-
pose OF recruiting his health.
The trial Of Father Stephens, who was ar
rested for melting tenants not to pay their
rents, took place at Letterkenny yesterday, and
resulted In his conviction. He was sentenced TO
six months imprisonment, with hard labor.
The English detectives who were sent to
Madrid yesterday identified the remains of
Pigott in the presence Of the British consul,
who then ordered that the body be Inferred.
It IL stated at Berlin that Prince Bismarck
favors joining Alsace-Lorraine with Luxembore
on the death Of the King of Holland, which Is
said TO be imminent, and making the Duke of
Nassau king.
Joseph A. Joel, editor Of the Grand Aru;v
Gazette, OF New York, has been arrested in q
suit TOR e50,000 brought by VIM. r. Austin and
John H. Cookson, on a charge that Joel MALI
ciously ibeled them In calling their roster Of
the Grand Army Of the Republic q political
scheme.