The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-01-15
! THE UNIQUE - - - - =
; ROYCROF TIERS
- AND THEIR FOUNDER !

d ECAUSE man is eccentric II does
N noC~hecessarlly follow that he Is
IL genius nor because a man wears
his hair long need we imply that he Is
poet, literary feller' or fool.
Ebert Hubbard, the founder OF the
famous "Roycrofters" OF East Aurora
N ", Is eccentric, as the world defines
eccentricity. and wears his hair down
20 his coat collar. He has been iauded
by 6ien greater than himself, he has
been denounced by those who are IN
capable of understanding him. but
through it all he has maintained his
serenity and has not lost his head. lie
regards critics as men who cannot
write good books themselves, yet think
they can tell others how TO write them.
He came into greatest prominence, per
haps, through his publication OF Ihe
Philistine, a magazine that grew out OF
a casual pamphlet in which the author
publisher aired his Views and gave
some other authors and publishers
particular fits" 1t was not intended
as a permanent contribution TO litera'
ture, and Mr.. Hubbard was more sur
prised, he says, than any one else when
it's circulation ran up into the hundred
thousands. The first numbers OF The
Philistine were issued from the office OF
the East Aurora Blizzard weekly
newspaper. which was unable 10 handle
the increasing subscription list Of the
new publication; so Hubbard under
took TO print and publish IL himself.
He bought a hand press, engaged
few assistants aud met with such sue
cess, incidentally having fun and profit
meanwhile, that he concluded TO con-
tinue in the business and turned his at
tention 90 books. His first editions, be-
ing strictly limited and printed on
handmade paper, with original ar
rangement of type and Illustrations,
were quickly exhausted. Then others
| were brought out, and as the binding
OF the first books had not suited him he
undertook 20 have II done on the prem
ists. East Aurora is not large place,
having perhaps 100 inhabitants, but
with a few accessories obtained from
other cities and countries the originator
Of the establishment has turned out
books that have been eagerly snatched
up as soon as issued.
As 10 the art values OF these works
the writer has nothing to say; the peo-
pie who bought the books seemed satis-
fed, and as the proof OF the pudding
seems TO have been well founded that
the Roycroft work was good Most
OF the workmen, like Mr. Hubbard him
self driftod into their various depart
ments almost by chance. lie was, he
| tells us. born on a farm In Illinois in
tended for a doctor. but ran away and
became what he is--a composite char
acter STYLED hy some poet, by others
/ philosopher, by others socialist. and
by others still " follower of strange
gods. lie was already'an author when
he began the work at East Aurora. his
Little Journeys" particularly having
made him well known. Among those
little journeys" TO the haunts OF men
who have attracted the worlds at
tention, perhaps none made such an
impression upon him az that TO the
! home OF the late William Morris the
poet socialist OF England In fact ne
! has been accused OF following along the
philosophers lines so closely as TO be
Morris called tIs printing establish
ment the "Kelmscott Press" after his
country seat In Oxfordshire, and there
he not only set. but designed. his own
types, some of his books being written
or translated. set up. printed and orna-
mented by himself.
Roycroft. instead OF having at first
unlimited capital and trained skill be-
/ hind u. test growed' 20 be what II Is
today The shop" as visitor has de-
! scrbod it. is a cross between n school,
house and a church, and. like the libra
| ry and other structures In which the In
| creasing work n carried out. Is well
/ adapted 60 the needs OF the laborers
/ -, far as exteriors and interiors go.