Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-05-01
IAWTH0RNE'S STORY
Publication Of T" The Scarlet Letter "
In a Cheap Form.
MlLeANIcS THREATENED RETURN.
McAillstcr's Work-Mr. Evarts's Failing
Eyesight-Career Of John Kcily's
Private Counsel.
,c,rro,,ona.nc,o o, tho Richmond p,spa,cn.l

fCorrcspondencs OF the Richmond D'spafcn.l
NEW yoaE, April so. Il Gee that cheap
publishing concern in this city IL reprint
ing Nathaniel Hawthorne's story OF Inc
Scarlet Letter. / have always regarded
tho name of Nathaniel Hawthorne as tho
foremost in American literature. HIS
genius seemed 10 combine In degree that
OF both Scott and Dickens. HIS powers OF
observation were marvellous. and back OF
all were sweet aud lovely integrity ana
nobility of thought which made every
thing that be wrote almost classical.
THE Scarlet Letter" was unuouoteuiy
his masterpiece. II was first pubnshed
in 1850. The copyright lasted put ,~cn-
tv.cioht wears, and q renewal OF four
teen ycars is permitted. Thus The scar
LET Letter has been before the American
uublic for foriy-two years, and the demand
for IL now will be great because IL can De
nut into popular form. A few years ago;
when we were printing! series OF stahu1id
stories complete IN the Sunday b0',u, l
cndeayorod to Obtain the privilege Oh re-
printing The Scarlet Letter.. MIS-. Ia
tbrop. the daughter of Mr.. hawthorne,
I'm whom the copyright vested. referred me
10 her publishers in Boston,. 1hey ue-
clincd to have the story printed, althongIi
thev knew that their protection Wouiu
last only three years longer. leHiueu
then that the sale OF the book was only
few hundred copies year, ana eu1uiet
vored to convince them that by puoilsn.
ING II IN a newspaper the inteies' 49,, -,
m;Sbt be revived and q new demand
created. They had their own views: see
now that they have prepared the story ia
a cheap paper form. and are gong IN 10
cooDete with the other dealers IN cheap
literature. Just why II mover occurred 10
them to put 25-cent edition on the mn.
kct is something cannot UNDERSTAND, put
/ presume the PRIDE of the house was IN
volyed, and suppose as Iong as ,n ,o S oon
tic story ont Of the hands OF the
general public by publishing 1t IN
hich.priced form. Indeed. the ways
of publishers are past finding, out.
The Same Boston publishing house
owns the copyright Of "Uncle ION
Cabin which expires next year. me
first copy Of this famous story, rs J re-
member IT. was bound in paper, ana solu
Tor less than ffty cents. Cheap editions
of II will now food the market, but !
ouestion very much whether the demand
for IL will be great. Our CIVILIZATION mas
uassed il bv. and the wailing Of the slave
no Longer vexes the sentimental ear. Inc
old plav of Uncle Toms Caoin mas
made a fortune for several managers; ana
1t still has hold upon the pubic. out
think il is the trained dogs, the sonG-and-
dance Topsy, and the comedy OF Lawyer
Marks which fascinate the populace In
and around the oDe-nlght stands. rather
than the woes of Uncle Tom or the angelic
sweetness of Eva.
MR. Mu4BANK's INTENTIONS.
Some of the newspapers OF late have con-
tanned cable references to Mr.. II. Vane
Milbank, the professional English dueillst'
who came over here recently with the
Young rCue. Borrowe, to carry on some
kind Of warfare with Mr.. j. Coleman Drav-
ton. Since returning TO England Mr.. Mil
bank. il ia said has announced publicly
his intention TO return 10 New York soon
for the purpose of settling his accounts
with certain New York editors who Jailed
TO appreciate HIM during his brief but
somewhat luminous visit 10 tins shore. III
is possible that | NAV be one Of the persons
destined 10 enjoy ilr. Mllbank'S sangnl-
nary attentions. When this swashbuckler
turned up here rs the hired bravo OF de-
hauched young man who bad broken up
the family Of n rather conspicuous citizen
he naturally became an object OF interest
10 the newspapers. In an interview with
n reporter for the Recorder he admitted that
he was o terrible professional fighter, and
he recounted with evident gustoa number
OF duels he mad engaged IL on account OF
his Illicit amours ID different parts OF Eu-
rope. His whole manner was that OF boast
ful creature IN whom there was not one
latent germ of gentility. The whole affair
was offensive, and IL seemed to me TO
merit the contempt shown by all intel
lucent Americans. The publicity which this
fellow gave himself entitled him 10 pubic
criticism. and after waiting for some time
for the American public TO express ITS
4. l. - - ono ut
form. | am pleased to know that my effort
was n success, in that 1T received the very
hearty Endorsement of that very large ele-
uent of every community which despises
rufliaulsm and llackguardlsm. Mr.. Mil
hank did not manifest any dIspleasure, so
far US can learn. before leaving these
shores, and there is some surprise now
that he should think 1t worth while TO
cross the ocean again TO make war upon
the entire American press. For that is pre-
clsely what bis proposed campaign over
here means. If his sensitiveness to news
paper criticism is az great as 1t appears 70
be now he will certainly extend the area
of his disouietude by invading the United
States for the purpose OF correcting the
policy Of the New York press. One news
paper here has announced within the iast
few days that Mr.. Milbank was actually
fighting meTcenaTy, paid to accompany
Mr.. Borrowe to this side Of the water and
urotect him in his shameful controversy
with a man whom he had cruelty and
desnicablv wronged. liz this be true the
MAGISTRATE for the North Riding OF YORK
will have great difficulty in posing In any
part of the world as man OF honor, or
even decency.
TROUBLE IN THE -FOUR HUNDRED"
1t having been announced by ward Nc
Allister, who ekes out an existence during
the dull season by bctraying social secrets
10 the newspapers. that Mrs. j. Coleman
Dravton is TO return in the fall and resume
ber place in society, Il very interesting sea-
con Ia nredicted. Persons III the swim IN
innate 10 me that the season Will not only
he interesting but exciting. There Will
he music in the ambient atmosphere. For
nv own part, l am prepared to see the
season develop a monkeys parrot
time. There has always been considerable
iealously of Mrs. Aston as the head and front
Of New York society, and her rivals-there
ave about dozen of them-will make
use of the scandal which attaches to her
daughters name, to overthrow her su-
nre1nacv. In view of this ii is well enough
r. look ont for breakers The Astors are
Dragton as if nothing had happened. and
are depending upon their money and sub
seryient Ward McAllister to see that So
cietv does IT,. SO far as Butler McAllister
is concerned. this will be the seyerest test
that has yet been placed upon his social
leadership, and grave fears are entertained
that it will not be equal to the awful strain.
The butler has already marked out his
plan of campaign. Taking young Bor-
rowe's solemn declaration that nothing
wicked ever occurred between himself and
Mrs. Drayton, the butler willgo before the
.Four Hundred" and plead the case with
tears IN his eyes if necessary. He will show
that Borrowe knows exactly what he is
talking about and that there is no going
behind the Borrowe returns. as 1t Were.
He will elucidate that Borrowe would
know about this matter il there was any.
thing in il, and that young person having
crossed his heart and solemnly declared
that there il no foundation for all the ugly
stories that have been said and sung
and printed, 1t becomes the duty
of society TO accept this positive
and convincing testimony. IL is III
timated that the butler win go even
further and apply the Scriptur3l test,
which is that only those who are without
sin are in position to be critical. There
IS every chance that society will divide on
this rock, aud perhaps. go to pieces. In
any event there is gong TO be vociferous,
if not halcyon time IN New York society