Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-11-09
oSomethingFor Some
body" Said He,
"knd Do 1t Just as Well as
You Can"
Interesting Story Of the Book-Makers
Of East Aurora.

Attired in plain black suit with n
Prince Albert coat; with low fiat col
lar and a black string tie, Elbert Hub
bard, known the world over as the
Editor of the Phllistine and the foun-
der Of the Roycroft shop delivered a
lecture in the First Universalist church
Thursday night.
Mr.. Hubbard opened the second sea-
son of the Buchtel College lecture
course. 1t was his initial appearance
in this city and he was greeted with
one of Akron's best audiences. OF the
large number who heard Mr.. Hubbard
perhaps there were very few who were
not familiar with his great work in
East Aurora, N. Y, and it was with
eager enthusiasm that they looked up
on and listened to the real moving
spirit of that socialistic colony of
workers who make books and things
and make them just as well as they
can" n9N8t.
MI Hubbard isinot an orator in the
sense that we are accustomed to think
Of the term, but he has n manner Of
telling his story In peculiarly fasci-
mating way. His voice Is of II peculiar
! quality and occasionally reaches
resonant ring. He has the power of
keeping his hearers IN great mirth and
the next moment his tender pathos
starts the tears. Mr.. Hubbard is hui
morist, and with the audience, he
laughs at his own jokes. His lectures
are almost devoid of gesture and he
deals wholly with the story Of his
work in East Aurora 1t is the simple
narration of the Roycrofters' work
but between the lines are many truths
and lessons which can be taken home
with profit.
The personal appearance of Elbert
Hubbard Is at once attractive. His
smooth shaven face has for a back
ground, an abundance of hair, which
hangs almost to his shoulders and
hides his ears from view. He admit
ted that he Wore his hair a trifie long
but insisted that he was not q theorlst
or poet. According to Mr.. Hubbard's $
own story he graduated from the Uni
yersity of Hard Knocks" and he has
taken several postgraduate courses.
Mr., Hubbard was introduced to his
audience by Hon. George w. Grouse,
in brief words. As he came forward
he was given liberal applause. The
speaker announced that he would talk
on bools-making as eve do 1t in East
Aurora, and we do it Just as well as
we can" The under strain of his en-
tire lecture was to do something for
somebody and do it just as wen as
you can" He contended that that
was the key 10 true happiness.
Mr.. Hubbard assured his hearers
that East Aurora was locality and
not condition of mind. 1t is n plain,
country village 20 miles south of Buff
falo. He said 1t was prohibition
town, but they had tavern that sold
hard cider. There was a blacksmith
shop there and country grocery,
where philosophers meet and sample
the cheese and the citizens of East
Aurora run to meet the four o'clock
train every afternoon.
After all this, Mr.. Hubbard launched
forth in lofty strain.
East Aurora is noted for one thing"
said he, that l do not want you TO
forget. 1t is the home Of Abbott, 2:03si,
fastest trottor in the world" Contin-
uing, he said:
1--WE have $50 people making books
and things, not cheap books but books
just as well ms they can, and some OF
them sell as high as $3.50, Our books
are imitation of the books made by the
ancient monks We sell all we make
and we do not do it through agents or
book stores. They send money TO East
Aurora for our books. Last Christmas
we took in $1,000 day. SO much
money came into the village that the
post office department sent an inspect
or to investigate. These books are
made by boys and girls who live In the
village and many of them have not
been to Niagara Falls, 80 miles away,
All they know Is what we have taught
them. In order to get our work we'll
done, we make our helpers free, We