Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-02
HOW THE STORY WAS WRITTEN.
What Mrs. Southworth Says About q
Charge Of Plagiarism.

Tho most recent literary sensation came to
public notice yesterday through the New York
Herald In q dispatch dated San Francisco
Mrs. E. d. E. N. Southworth was accused of
having wrongfully possessed herself Of the
reputation and profit which comes from one Of
the most popular novels ever published in this
country. A DIR. G. +. G. Morgan Of Olema,
Marion county, Cal, Is quoted a. saying: ain
1868 talented young lady Of this place sent
to the editor Of the New York Ledger manu-.
script, which, II placed in book form, would
make volume of 500 pages. She heard moth
ing Of il for noarly year, at the expiration of
which time sho received q letter from the
Ledger Offering to buy out all rights to the
book for $l00. The offer was accepted and
the cash wGs forwarded to her. Shortly after
ward the book appeared in serial form in the
Ledger under the very name the young lady
had given it. To IL was appended the name of
Mrs. Emma d. Z. N. Southworth as author"
Since then the same story has been pub
lishod. with preface signed by Mrs. South
worth. in which she declares it to be her very
best work. This DR.. Morgan says tho real
author of the book is q talented Californian
Mrs. Southwick, daughter of Judge w. U. L.
Crandall of Olema, Marion county. Mrs. South
wick declares that the names Of characters
only haO been changed and q little padding
put in, mainly moralization.
a
When a STAR reporter called at Prospect cot.
tage yesterday evening Mrs. Southworth had
evidently considered the situation. The en-
inent authoress had come to the conclusion
that the story was an advertising dodge; an
effort on the part OF the publishers to make
renewed sales of book over which there was
n controversy as to its authorship For that
reason Mrs. Southworth studiously avoided
mentioning the title of the book or the name
Of Itah h. - L.
she says party to such q scheme.
Mrs. SOuthworth was not at all disturbed by
the news from California, which seemed to re-
mind her of the Murchison letter-another of
the Golden States literary products.
THE WAY IT WAS WRITTEN
~ feel sure" said Mrs. Southworth. "that
there is no such person as the lady named, or,
II there is, am satisfied she never seriously
claimed to have written the book. If such a
claim could have any basis it is at least strange
that nothing has been heard of it before now,
ton occurred in the same year. 1t was written
for the Ledger, and know / never was a week
ahead Of the printers. 1t was popular story;
30 much so that after o short interval Mr. Bon
ner reprinted it in tho Ledger. This was at q
time when the Ledger had a circulation of
10000, and why this charge should
have lain dormant so. long is more
than l conld understand if there
was the slightest doubt about the authorship.
Sixteen years ago sold the copyright of the
novel to the publishers who now own it, and
can conceive of noSother foundation for this
absurd accusation against me than a desire on
the part OF these publishers to stir up the sale
Of the work, Iny feelings being sacrificed in
the plot.
a very pertinent question would be: Why.
II this lady wrote the book in question has she
not been heard Of again? Any one who could
write such u story could write more
'The story is founded on facts-on the life,
from childhood to manly eminence. of one who
was born on my grandmother's estate. His
name have never made public because he has
relatives and descendants living. An acute
student of American history would however,
easily find out the personality of my hero; he
was q truly great man."
MRS. soUrHwoRrH's PREFACE.
The preface Of the book referred to 10 in part
as follows: This story in book form has been
called for during several years past but the
author has reserved It rntil now; not only be-
cause she considers it to be her very best work,
but because It is peculiarly national
being founded n. the oobs Life and
our countrymen, who really lived, suffered,
toiled and triumphed in this land; one whose
inspirations Of wisdom and goodness were
drawn from the examples of the heroic war
riors and statesmen Of the Revolution, and who
having, by his own energy. risen from the
deepest obscurity to the highest fame. became
in himself an illustration of the elevating in
iuences OF our republican institutions"
This Vac dated Prospect Cottage, George
town, DC.
CARRIED ALL THE Copy"
Mr.. Richmond J. Southworth, son of the
authoress, was present last night when THE
STAR reporter called, and he added his testi-
mony to that Of his mother as to the origin of
the work. Il carried ell the copy for tho
Ledger to the post Office" said he. ''while
mother was writing the story in question it
went every week and saw the whole thing
from beginning to end"
The DIR. G.. F. G. Morgan. who is alleged to
voice the complaint, is not in the medical reg
lister of 1886