The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-04
THE MOST POPULAR BOOK.
IT HAS SOLD 100000 COPIES IN
FOUR MONTHS


Than Uncle Toms Cal lin and East
Lynne Put Together 1t Is Written
by Charles n. sheIdo IA. Pastor of "a
small Church in Ka nsas-He Read
1t First to His Congregation.
Pushed by Twenty Publishers in
EnEInnd-Hr. sheldon one of the
Most Original Men. in His Profess
sion.
New York, June p I'm the place of de-
nvering a sermon on Sunday evenings
during the winter. intend to read
story" was the am iouncement made by
the pastor of a su burban church in
smau Western city one Sunday early in
the wnter of 1865 I. Little did he think
as he made the anr louncement that within
a comparatively ST. ort time the newsboys
on the streets of London would be crying
the same story al ong with their daily pa
psrs, and that The people of two CONT
neie~.5 would be discussing it. Yet that is
The history of I'm His Steps," a book
which has had sale unparalleled ia the
history of litera ture-3,O coo copies in the
first four mon tbs of 1899.
IN His Steps" deals with serious prob
lens The city OF Raymond is typical;
the leading church. with it's ease-loving
ana fashionable members, is common 10
every community: and the pastor Henry
Maxwell is a good representative of his
profession. Any congregation would have
been distur bed by the circumstance which
is the basis of the problems in the mar
rauve. He nry Maxwell has just complet-
ed vgo GUS sermon on Christian duty
when a poorly clad and disappearing
young man walks out before the audi
ence and begs for a chance to speak He
is worn out in his search for work, and,
uulomplainingly, wonders what Christ
would do in similar circumstances. The
strange incident changes the pastors con-
ception OF duty, and the next Sunday he
asks all who were willing to join him in
making il a rule to ask before every ac-
tiou the question: What would Jesus
do?" To the pastors surprise fifty OF his
congregation take the pledge for one year.
Among the band are many of the most
prominent people of Raymond Edward
Norman, editor of the News; Alexander
Powers superintendent of the railroad
shops; Donald Marsh, president of the To-
cal college; Milton Wright a rich mer-
chant; DR.. West, a well-known medical
authority; Jasper Chase, the author; Miss
NHSlIid dSeY ltG utlISSS, anu IaCudGi
WInsloW, the leading soprano of the choir.
The reform begins Immediately. Norman
changes the policy of his newspaper, re-
fuses to print an account of a prize fight,
decides against advertising tobacco and
liquor, and institutes such general revolu-
tons that his ruin is generally predicted.
Rachael WinsloW refuses a large offer to
Join a concert company and decides to
devote her talent to the saving of out
casts in the "Rectangle,'' the slum dis
tricC Of Raymond. Alexander Powers be-
gins a beneficial plan of cooperation with
his workmen, but discovering that the
railroad Is openly violating the interstate
commerce laws, resigns his position. Vir-
gina Page has much difficulty in answer
ing the question What would Jesus do
with $l000000?" Jasper Chase, disappoint-
ed in his failure TO secure the love of
Rachde, Winslow, gives up his pledge.
Rolin Page, young club man of indie
pendent wealth, becomes converted in the
humble meetings at the "Rectangie."
President Marsh's problem comes through
his dislike of municipal affairs, but he
follows out the line of duty which his
pledge imposes and heads a strong move
ment for local political reforms. Editor
Norton loses thousands of dollars through
his policy, but is thoroughly convinced
that he can succeed with financial back
ing, and Virginia Page comes to his re-
lief with $4,000 with which she endows
the paper. The Pages buy considerable
"Rectangle" property and build proper
tenement houses on it.
Remarkable changes take place in Ray
mOnd, and the movement spreads to many
cities of the country. At the end of the
year. the largely increased band meets
again in the Old Raymond Church. And
Yet the work is only begun. The influ
ence of the movement has spread beyond
all rackOntpo nd ma e of 10 church
can see visions of regeneration of a
Chrisuandom when there would be one
church without spot or blemish, following
Christ walking obedieutly in His steps.
Charles M. Sheldon, the author of this
work, is the pastor of the Central Con-
gregational Church at Topeka, Kama
little, unpretentious chapel in the out
skirts of the city. He was dissatisfied
with the apparent good his sermons were
DONG his congregation; he wanted to
preach on everyday Christianity in an at
iFactive form; he became convinced that
a novel would more nearly accomplish his
object than a series of abstract sermons
ana In His Steps was the result. 1t
was written-a chapter each week-in the
little study in one corner of the church.
and as each chapter wasNcompleted ii was
read the succeeding Sunday The story
was completed in the spring of 1897, and
during the following summer was publish
~ as a serial IN a chicago publication. In
November of the same year it first APP
Feared in book form.
Insisted on "A Paper-Cover Book.
4 want you 10 issue a paper edition of
TINS story, so that the price will not stand
IN the way of people buying it, was the
instruction which Mr.. Sheldon gave to the
publisher. The publisher demurred. 1t
would make the book appear cheap" he
said, and his house could not afford TO get
reputation for publishing cheap" books
mr. Sheldon insisted and the paper-bound
edition was published. In just one year
1t was selling at the rate OF !. 100 copies
day
IL found its way to England and met
WIN immediate favor; twenty different
publishers 'pirated" it, as 1t was not
copyrighted in England. Its sale far ex-
ceeded even that in America and a recent
lelter from an English publishing house
says that 100000 copies of Mr. sheIdon's