The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-04
church. He thought he was not doing them

own college DAYS and remembered how dis
tant some Of the ministers we're. lie deter
mined that mono OF those who attended, his
church should have that feeling. and he be-
came one Of the students. He registered az a
student at the beginning OF the college year
and entered the classes with the rest, He
studied Greek and Latin with them and took
part In all their sports Tho result was TINT
he won their COMPLETE confidence.
In the hard times Of 1893 Mr.. Sheldon
ceived many applications for aid from persons
who were out Of employment. He determined
20 find out for himself whether or not en-
ployment could DO secured by a common la
borer. and putting on a suit Of clothes he
started out in search Of il. Every one who
ever employed labor received call from him,
but he was invariably turned away with the in
formation that no laborers were needed. On
the following Sunday he related his ak peri
ences and the people OF topeka nwoke to the
fact that an unusual sort OF preacher was
among them.
short distance from Mr. Shedon's church
Is q settlement OF negroes. known in Topeka
az "Tennesseetown," In which misery and
want were on every hand. TO this settlement
Mr. Sheldon turned his attention as a field for
doing good. He interested some OF his con-
gregation in the work which he had in mind
and from a small beginning " n few years ago
several creditable institutions have grown up
in Tepnesseetown. Among these are kin
derGarten and n free reading room. II is said
that this was the first kindergarten for colored
children ever established. TO teach the
negroes how to improve their homes TRIES
we're given to the family who had the best gar
den In TennesseetOwn. and another series Of
prizes to tie families that made the greatest
improvement in the appearance CT their prt m
ises. Yards are now kent clean and every
available foot OF ground is plantcd-evcn some
Of the rarkings are planted to onions and
radishes. Fences have been built. whitewash
has been freely used and many of the huts
have been transformed into coy cottages.
Toillustinte Mr.. Shedon's method OF work: A
man settled III Tcnnesseetown several months
az o and began the illegal sale Of liquor. The
usual method Of dealing with such q trader
Is to have him arrested and his llduor conns-
Gated. But this is not ALWAYS satisfactory.
As soon as he regains his freedom he usually
starts in again at his Old business and oper-
ates until again arrested. 1t frequently hap
pens that the officers Of the law weary OF hs
performance sooner than the man does. 1t
was not long until the evil effects OF the Joint
began to he noticed in Tennesseetown. and Mr..
Sheldon determined to try another method
more In keeping with his ideas. He first tried
persuasion, but the liquor seller said ho had 20
make living some way. and he had no em-
poyment. Mr.. Sheldon at once found work for
him. the shop was shut up. and now the one
time liquor seller is firm friend Of the preach
er-author.
Mr. Sheldon receives hundreds OF letters
asking questions regarding I'm His Steps. "
Many people suppose that tho church de-
scrbed in the story is nn idcnlizcd picture Of
Mr.. Sheldons church. No one is more quick
to correct this impression than Mr.. Sheldon
himself 1t is impossible for him to answer
personally all the letters he receives. 90 he has
prepared n printed letter. which he sends in
reply to many of these. In which he says
1.-THE story In His Steps when written was
purely imaginary. / knew OF no such places
or characters In existence. II was not found
ed upon fact. but it was written with desire
that the imaginary might become real. Since
the story was written l have heard Of several
characters who are very nearly like those in
the book"
project which Mr.. Sheldon keeps con-
stantlv in mind. und one which he hopes 70 ac-
compsh some time is the establishment Of a
daily newspaper after the style Of the one de-
scrbed in I'm His Steps" lie believes that
the daily newspaper Is u great power Tor good
or evil in the world. and his idea is to con-
duct a paper as Jesus would II lie were Its
editor He spent some time as n reporter on
a topeka morning paper at one time In order
to famliarize himself with some Of the details
of tho business. and he believes that daily
such as he contenplates could be sue cess
fully started at once II he had the CAPITAL nee
essary for tie enterprise. Zach winter he
writes a novel. which he reads to his conGre-
cation before allowing it to be published.
The immense sale Of In His Steps" in Eng
land is doubtless due largely to tho fact that
twenty English fr4ns we're pushing the book
at one time. An English publication says
that in four months its circulation has far sur
passed the total circulation Of all OF Mrs
Henry Woodss novels in forty years East
Lynne" which has had n larger circulation
than any other English copyright nuveI. has
only reached +SU.OOO copies. and it is said tina,
the total number sold Of William Black
novels is not more than 100000. "Three Men
| in Boat" remarkably popular book, reached
! 10000: beside the bonnie Briar Bush,
| 10000; "A Prisoner Of Zcnda." 10000. and
THE Christian" the most popular book OF
| 1897 sold to the extent Of 1913 900 in that year
| But I'm His Steps" has reached sale OF 5000.
| 900 copies. Three OF Mr.. Sheldon's books
| published in England at q penny. ran through
an aggre gate edition Of 900. 600 in three weeks
Mr.. Sheldon Ia rather above medium height
| and Is of.stout build. Whom no first came e
| Topeka he INDUCED in all sorts Or athletic
sports. which he has given up 10 Il great ex.
| tent now as he has grown Eore portly. anC
! there are larger calls UPON his time. Mr. Shel
| don's family consists Of wife and one child
| a boy Of two years. The family lives in a cot
| tace not far from Wushburn College Neal
| Ivy lives the Rev. Stewart Sheldon. father o
| the author. who acts rs his sons secretary.
| LAWN TENNIS.
| Carr Neel will Play Again This Season
| Tournament Announcements.