The herald., 1897-10-31
BOOK OF BILL NYE'S MEMORIES
His Widow, Who Is Now Penniless,
Will Publish It


Nye's widow is almost in penury. Mrs.
Clara f. Nye has scarcely $40 week to
maintain her since she lost her money by
the failure of the First National bank Of
Asheville, which closed it's doors on July
S1st last. Mrs. Nye on June l. 1896, left
her "Buck Shoals,' ten miles from here
on the broad French river. Her Widows
weeds We're fresh upon her. She took
with her to Europe her two daughters
and her three sons that she might place
the girls at school in Germany. She
knew that she was not rich, but she was
sure that she would always have money
to meet her needs. Last Thursday she
returned to her mountain home with
| money she had borrowed from relatives
in Chicago. Every dollar of the ready
money she owned in the world had been
swept away.
Il lost every dollar of ready money
had by the failure of the First National
bank" said she today. "The amount
was $1,000. 1t was made up of the $4,000
insurance on Mr.. Nyes life the proceeds
of the sale of the right to the publication
of Mr.. Nye's book, which was sold after
his death, and such other cash as had
on hand after buying my tickets for Eu-
rope. l took my family to Germany to
give my daughters every possible edu-
cational advantage. I thought it could
be done cheaper there, everything con-
sidered. Five thousand dollars of the
money was to draw interest, the remain
ing lying subject to my check. But that
friends in Chicago, knowing my condi-
ton, sent me money, l should not have
been able to get home''
You have met with other losses?"
Eyes" answered Mrs. Nye. MY most
serious loss was in New York city. Five
years before he died Mr.. Nye, as an in
vestment, bought a fiat house. He ex-
changed for it property on Staten island
estimated to be worth $4,000. The flat
house was valued at $45, 900. There was
mortgage on it for $4,000, which Mr..
Nye assumed and upon which he made
yearly payments until he died.
These, together with the value of the
Staten island property, amounted to
about $3O,O00 In January or February
last L was notified by the Lorillards of
New York, who held the mortgage, that
they would foreclose unless payment
could be met. l could not pay and the
property went for the mortgage. | had
no one with whom to advise" added Mrs
Nye, for the moment, helplessly, cor /
might have saved something from the
wreck"
Have you no income from royalties
on Mr.. Nye's books?"
"The revenue from that source is very
| small, not exceeding $500 n year." she
answered. This is all paid by the Lip
| pincotts, publishers of the histories of
| the United States and England. The his
| tory Of England" said she, was never
| finished and the royalties from it have
been very small. The Lippincotts are
the only publishers of Mr.. Nye's works
| VINO have made any returns, either to
| Mr.. Nye himself while he lived or to
me since his death. I sold the book out
right since then, and the remittances
| from Lippincott now constitute the sum
total of my income
Then she added, entirely cheerful, per-
| fectly hopeful
Il have my home here, which is unin-
| numbered. Here 1 shall live until L can
sell it, when will buy simple, inexpen-
sive home. should like a few boarders
this winter If L could find those willing
to live in this secluded spot
Il contemplate publishing during the
Mr. Nye, which will include much of his
personal correspondence and short ex-
tracts from his best writings Paul Pot
ter, the dramatist, will aid me in the lit
erary part of this work. He is now in
Paris. and has play which he expects to
bring out in London the first of the year.
Then he will return home and my book
will be prosecuted as speedily as possi-
ble."
Have you engaged a publisher for
this book?"
Il have not" she answered. And with
her two sons she started up the hill lined
by golden-leafed hickories, toward Cal
vary church.
These sons, Max and Jim, are manly
fellows. Max is IA years old, Jim 10
years. Max is stri1ingly like his father.
but he has more hair on his head-"had
when he was born" as his father said.
The boy has clear blue eyes, a strong
mouth, a thoughtful brow. The baby
boy, Douglass is about IS months old.
Miss Bessie Nye is 10 years old, Miss
Winnie II years.
"Buck Shoals" is large, roomy house,
with ample porch, towers and modern
outloolls, situated upon hill overlook
ing the river. The lawn, made by cut
ting the underground from the native
forest, is today overgrown with tall
grass, and everywhere are visible the ev-
licences of neglect. 1t was in this house
that the last decade of Bill Nye's life
was passed. Ninety-siX acres of land
surround the house, which, all in all, cost
Nye SIS 000.-New York World