The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-06
CLEVELAND AS AN AUTHOR.
FIRST DETAILED ACCOUNT OF HIS
LITERARY LABORs.

and Quotes From Them-IIIs Liter
nry Tastes.
Washington, May 4,-Grover Cleveland
Is 10 appear before his countrymen in a
new role. He has become literary man.
1t might be more correct to say that he
has LONG been a literary man. He has
spent four years more or less. I'm writing
a book. still incomplete, which seems
likely to give him an altogether unique
position in our long line Of presidents. 1t
is a volume on economic science
Everybody knows that Mr.. Cleveland
has theories of his own in the domain of
politics. His views. however IN that
academic field Of the science cultivated by
Adam Smith. Ricardo and Mil are very
little understood. Now, If there is one
study to which Mr.. Cleveland has de-
voted his leisure. it is political economy
and sociology. He is an omniverous read
er In these departments of knowledge His
library is stocked with the standard works
on the various subjects 1t is not so much
as means of acquiring Information that
Mr.. Cleveland reads with this persistence.
but In order to keep pace with the progress
OF thought. Those who have had oppor,
tunities or observing him in his private
life are aware Of Mr.. Cleveland's fondness
for reading. a fondness which has grown
upon him OF late. Another fact which
has been noticed is that now he writes
writes, writes. for hours. He is always
making notes as he proceeds In the mat
ter of classifying his knowledge Mr.. Cleve-
land shows decided experiences. He re-
ceives nearly all the current works of inn
pOrtance that issue from the press-those
that Is, which are in his line They are
duly and promptly read, and notes made
Of them for future reference. Ii may be
interesting to detail in this connection the
volumes lately ordered by Mr.. Cleveland
for his private usSloTsiered personally.
Mr.. Cleveland does not have his books
charged, at least not those with which
the New Yc-k trade supplies him His
orders are accompanied by the cash, and
go to him at Woodley. The trade reports
him a GOOD customer, purchasingregula
ly. He gets all the Lists of the publishers,
for his tastes are quite we'll known by this
time in New York
Here are ten books he has purchased
recently, with the dates of the orders
These orders come in typewritten mem
oranda, or mere slips cut from a catalogue
The dates accompany EACH
Dec. 10, 1894, Social Evoludon"-Ben
Jan. 5, 1895. "A Traveller from Aitruria."
Jan, $ 1895, Claims Of Christianity
Jan. 10. 1895, Caesar -Froude.
Feb. 6, 1895, Decline and FAN of Roman
March 6. 1885, Republic of Plato"
the Day."-Goldwfn Smith.
March "a, 1896, Degeneration''-Max
March arch 80. 1885, wealth VS.. Common
alth"-Henry A. Lloyd.
April 2. 1895. History of the United
~ TahT
1t will be noted that Mr.. Cleveland is
rather severe in his tastes, and that he
goes in for both old and new works.
These books are merely those which have
been ordered by him and sent from New
York. He constantly receives books from
all over the world. His library. grows
apace
As a reader, however, Mr. Cleveland IS
known to devote himself almost wholly
TO works which afford him material for
his own essay in authorship. This book
will probably appear when the President
lays down the cares of office, IL being
well known that he will not hear of any
mention of his name in connection with
a third term. The plan of 1t is not new
TO those who have had opportunities
of observing the PROFESS Of the work.
is presenting economic sciehce from a
point OF view somewhat in advance Of
J. Stuart NH. His book is divided into
four departments, production, consump-
ton, distribution and exchange, and there
is a special chapter under the depart
ment Of consumption on the theory of
marginal utility. This theory dose not
seem to find much favor with Mr.. Cleye-
land. From what can be gathered on the
authority of those who have talked with
Mr.. Cleveland, he does not mean to make
clear the lines along which progress in
economic thought must proceed This
way Of going to work has permitted cop
tous illustration drawn from American
history In this Mr.. Cleveland seems to
strike a new note.
But there are difficulties in the way of
ffr tfrsar ha orb "a
literary methods of the author AS has
been stated Mr.. Cleveland has been some
years now gathering material for
tellectual exercise with him. and he re.
ViseS and reYisess and makes copious
references. What he writes is the work
of his own hand. In his library at Wood
ley Mr.. Cleveland reads far into the night
He writes at late hours, too, for he is
likely to be least disturbed then. At this
rate it takes month to write a chapter
and even then there is further delay, be-
cause the manuscript is laid aside and
sometimes not looked at for many weeks,
wneh me matter Is cruelty edited by its
OF course. the distractions of public
life are largely responsible for the de-
lay. This is one reason why the book
is not destined to appear until Mr.. Cleve-
land becomes a private citizen. Another
is the unusual care the author Is taking
in the matter Of classification. Mr. CIeve2
lands notes and references are carefully
made and filed away. He can, by means
OF the system ne mas ueNlSeQ, lay MS hand
on any paragraph in any work he mas
ever read, provided he has a citation 10
verify. His library is thus always at his
fingers ends.
Some anxiety viii naturally be aroused
concerning the favorite authors OF Mr.
Cleveland Mill seems TO stand among the
first with him. He seems to have read
about all the great economist and logi-
clan has produced. An American writer
whom he warmly esteems is Prof Arthur
Latham Perry, perhaps the head of the
present American school of economies
Prof. Perry and Secretary Morton are
warm friends, and the two have discussed
Prof. Perry and Mr. Cleveland are far
from agreeing on all points. Mr. Cleve-
land, IL appears, does not deem labor a
commodity in the sense al least in which
the Manchester school Of econom-