The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-07-25
ssorie. of Henry Ward Be~~her.

speaking OF Beecher. Mr.. Bonner. ne
also wrote for the Ledger. did he mott"
Yes" replied the veteran editor. He
wrote a great deal for me. and among
Other things his novel Norwood for
which | pad him 81 CO.
How iii you become acquainted with
Mr.. Beeeher?" | asked
X was through poem Of one OF his
lady friends. He sent me the naanuscrin..
stating that If used il check would ha
very acceptable 10 the lady. | wrote back
at once thai | had plenty OF poetry but
that I wanted himself / told him that
If he would give me frern half TO three
quarters of n column week ! would pay
him S-ooo year. / sent check for
$3.50 with the letter as the advance SAL
airy for the first year He accepted it.
and from that time until his death he
wrote for the Ledger"
What was the nature of his Writingse'
They were TO large extent editorials"
replied Mr.. Bonner. Many OF them were
published under the heading Thoughts
as They Occur by One Who Keeps His
Eyes Open. The first article, / remam-
Der. was entitled A Cannon Ball in
Hat II gave the experiences OF a man
who attempted TO carry away a cannon
ball in his hat. ft described how the
cannon ball grew heavier and heavier and
how the feu of detection ate into the
soul OF the thief. personal moral was
brought out from this which struck home
to every reader. great deal of The
matter written by MIR. Beecher was
not published over his own signature aud
this was also the case with Harriet
Beecher Stowe. Ii was during the years
just preceding the war. We had then a
large circulation in the south and the
name of Mr.. Beecher as one of the con-
tributors would have lost us thousands Of
subscribers
Beecher's 100000 Novel.
WAS not $4,000 great deal to pay
for a novel;"
Yes" replied Mr. Bonner. 1T wis.
But think the venture was good bust
hess investment. The way l came to pay
just this amount was rather curious. l
had made an arrangement with Edward
Everett to write a series of articles for
the Ledger. Mr.. Everett was at that time
the leading statesman Of the country
along certain lines. He was anxious that
Mount Vernon should be bought and pre-
ser2ed. and he was giving lectures over
the country for the purpose of raising
money for what he called the Mount
Vernon fund. | promised to him that [
would give $ia.0No TO the fund if he W ouIi
write a series OF articles for the Ledger
He accepted il. His articles were wild 2ly
read, and the Ledger again was the most
talked of paper III the country i after
wards paid him $4,000 additional COR
other articles This was some time be-
fore l asked MIR. Beecher 10 write q novel
When | did write j first offered to pay
him sd 90 for the story. or as much as
| had paid Mr.. Everett for his writings
Later on / increased the amount to ss1,-
Geo.
Here is what he answered in reply to
my first proposition:
Plymouth Rock at a Council
Dear Mr.. Bonner
I am almost dumb after reading your
proposition and must clear my head be-
fore | say a word
'tSigued} HENRY WARD BEECHER'
When it was announced that Mr.
Beechcr was 10 write the story there was
decided sensation in literary and eli
glors circles. Some preachers. and es ,e-
cialiy "A Rev. Mr.. Seeley. criticised MIR.
Beecher's actions In making money in that
way. ] wrote an editorial on the subject
which was rather facetious. and sent the
proof of IL to Mr.. Beecher suggesting
that If he thought well of II that he might
give me a recommendation whereby [
could get place on the London Punch.
Within an hour after hay hoy had left The
office he came back with the following
note:
" My Dear Bonner;
- think you like to gobble Up n minis
ter or two every year To aid digestion Just
as hens swallow gravel stones You have
swallowed me in one way and Mr.. Seeiey
in another ] like my way best.
" Signed HENRY WARD BEECHER. .
Then on the other side OF the sheet
| he had written this recommendation:
| " To the London Punch:
Robert Bonner desires an engage
| ment on your paper. 1t gives me pleas