The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-26
STRANGER THAN FICTION.
A story which Must BE True, Con-
sitIering Its source,
F'rom the Atlanta Journal.

From the Atlanta Journal.
An Atlanta newspaper man told me the
story which I am about to relate, and
am, therefore, prepared to vouch for its
truthfulness.
II once acted as private secretary"
my friend said, ''for a magazine editor
who could neither read nor write"
you don't mean" interrupted.
Yes, / do mean It. My boss owned
a magazine and posed as its editor and
stood well among literary people,
And could neither read nor writer ]
exclaimed.
Just so. He could sign his name when
it was necessary, but he could not write
another word, and he could not read
line"
But this Is incredible" was my reply
Il am sticking to the facts" continued
the journalist. when / was about twen-
ty years old was employed on the edi-
tortal staff OF a literary monthly In
southwestern city. The proprietor had
n business reverses. and the magazine. was
the colonel. He is dead now but ]
would not like to give his name.
the members Of the STAFF took the
that he was born In London. He was
handsome, stylish-looking man of fifty,
With magnificent. side whiskers, and he
always wore gold-rimmed eyeglasses. He
complained of defective vision, and said
that some disease of the muscles had de-
prived him OF the full use OF his right
hand.
He had so much to say about his Attic
tion that his friends regarded II as a mat.
ter OF course when they saw his private
secretary reading and answering his cor.
respondence.. and signing checks, as his
attorney, in Tact.
I.
fayorably. He told us to go ahead as us
ual. and to consult him when in doubt.
My duties caused me to meet him IRE.
quently' l read important contributions
to him, and soon found that he was a
man Of excellent judgment and taste. He
seemed to know exactly what the public
wanted and his range Of reading had evil
uently been quite extensive.
His literary requirements were gener-
ally recognized, and he was great fav-
orite In society and among clubmen. lie
full talker. do not remember ever hear
ungrammatical"
simply the truth. The colonel held HIS
own in the most polished and cultured
circles, and was regarded as an ideal mag
His monthly rapidly improved. and
soon doubled it's circulation. Feeling that
the eyes of our chief. were upon us, we
youngsters on the stan did our best work.
and occasionally were rewarded with ex
ira compensation. "''" 60
THE coloners private secretary was a
l ever knew, and although he waa conn n
paratively young, he avoided society as
much as possible. He closely watched
tne magazlne and Its business, and was
ployer.
Sometimes / caught the secretary's
Keen eyer fastened upon me. and thought
mat detected IN them q look OF mingled
interest, pity and curiosity. one dav he
told me that heart disease was liable 10 10
that n tba c az any TINE and he suggested
position OF private secretary
Two days later the secretary died sud
for me. He locked the door and was APP
parentiy. much agitated. lie offered mo
the dead mans place at good salary
declined. saying that preferred the
work was then doing. Finally, he bound
me 70 secrecy. and told me everything.
had grown up without ever mastering
even the common arts OF reading and
Gle had Inherited small fortune some
years before. and had Travelled over all
h ne world ,h n hlo bic Youth ne had been
and art BY listening TO their conversa-
ton. He used the language he heard
about him every day and became hne
familiar with the customs Of good so
"AIl this he told me. ana then he ad-
mltted that his complaints OF defectlvs
vision and crippled hand were simply
Intended 70 deceive others, But Il was
absolutely necessary for him 70 have a
private secretary. devoted and Becretige
enough 20 help him without letting she
world know the true condition Of Affairs.
Ne had found me 20 be loyal and pOnnpe-
tent. and his former secretary had rec
Ia ooncluSion the colonel begged me 10