The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-21
Elbert Hubbard, Famous Roy
crofter, Lectures in Topeka.
Man Who Revived an Old Philos-
ophy Warmly Welcomed
DESCRIBES HIS WORK.
Methods Employed i'm His Shop
Are Explained.
seHFork'' He Says Is the Key to
All Success.

#atter-day Philistnes, successfully m
earested a large audience in the High
school assembly room on Saturday even
ing ia sociology as viewed Dy ,, 1aAs'
and carried out BY the RoycroAlers -
East Aurora, N. II.
Under the above fatherly title Elpstt
Hubbard EermOnizes TO his Hook III ms
tsner-fOdical of protest which IS pup
1ished every little while MI AuppaLu
as also known as John 70 every Dou9
i'll his workshop and the town Of East
aurora They call me John because II
4sn't my name he explained But II
originated really in this wise as ne
aA man came driving out from Buff
falo one day to see me was over III
ere orchard with some of my boys work
ing The man stopped and hallooed
John he called. come here and hold
Hlw horse
VI started toward him, but suppose
II didn't move fast enough 50 he called
again. Hurry up, john nola ~ noASs
while 60 in and see Mr.. Hubbard
~ went and held his horse He Went
inside. He asked for Mr.. Hubbard Inc
~iri looked aII about and out OF the
window and saw me. Why. there a
MT. Hubbard holding that horse she
exclaimed. Ever since that tney "A
70 a certain extent Mr. Hubbard ser
Hnonized to his audience in this city. pur
st was to their evident pleasure and en-
usual run of lectures There was Z
ssnfce OF interest in everything ne SAID,
and keen attention was given to ms ex-
planation of the work ana neInods -
the Roycroft shop
MI Hubbard succeeded in throwing
about his hearers an art atmosphere
He cOnVerSes with his audience rsAtAei
than lectures at them his hoHon -
naanrfnass is to work, for it requires
work TO win but the model employ II
4,uts 5ov and comfort into the working
hours Of his Eworkmen- He believes "a
having pianos in factories, TOT nlu lst
soothes nerves unsrrung by 100 close ~
4enrscn to tasks He hold that true al
lis conceived by the brain ana gwen - -
raression by the hand, hence machinery
gives US things quicker but RODS them
CT their beauty II.
Ebert Hubbard is an aesthetic. ~
times his brown eyes glow ike amber
5rear5a ana looking out OF his ashy face
with a rapt expression. give MIN the
appearance Of a religious enthusiast a.
We like to think OF them in holy places
or the Middle ages Again ne Will psse
and his most effective gesture IS one m
ffcpr ting a moment Of intense thouBht
and driving lit home. his closed ieIt nan 2
iffted IA his chin the knuckles Of the
FIRST two fingers pressed intensely
aEafnst the point of his chin he STANDS
ia easy pose, one 1901 IS tnfoNh ps-Tl :
and his poise is forward, as II ne Woulo
hurl his personality at the audience his
hair is long. falling down on ms neck
ana completely hiding his ears he
a
il a bow of wide, black material
The ROycroft shop is "a bookshop,
where we make books and things. the
founder Of it explained he replied 20
4he criticism that is sometimes made
about the employment there Of ex-con-
victs and others of a low grade Of socl-
ETY. He traced the life Of a criminal
from the expulsion Of a boy from school
The boy has an abundance of en-
ergy which must have an outlet he
breaks school rules and IS dlsgraced.
ms to the railroad and
helps switch cars. He travels away,
comes back and goes again, In short
eV0lutes into a tramp and criminal.
He is punished by his sins, not Tor them
and wants to reform on coming out OF
Erison but every hand is against him.
People synpathize with him but shun
him and give him no work
As to the making Of books Mr. Hub
bard said the most beautiful books were
made by the monks, because they were
made by hand Printing with movable
Rsras came in secretly. The books were
printed with the types and the initial
letters and title pages done by hand.
The RoycrDft shop tries to make beauti
ful books as did the monks Of old. and
to do it goes back largely to the old
hand method. Other things are made al
the shop but the principle Of handeraft
permeates all the manufactures. For
instance a man came and begged ToE
employment. He was a blacksmith and
nothing could be found for him to dc
1ut to make andirOnS- Another was
wv0odworker and put to making sol
id oak tables put together without nal
or screw. al such tables were made hun
dreds or years ago
People with hobbies and lots Of money
evidently patronize the Roycroft shop
for such oddities sell at fabulous prices
&c must be principally for the sake
OF their oddity-
All that is possible is done by hand
and. as regards machinery. in the max
ing of books especially, Mr. Hubbard
says We tthe worId) have gained il
speed. We make things faster. But
what we have gained in speed we have
los tin power. in beauty At the shoI
we are not so proud Never a booi
do we put out that j. not disappoint
znent, beautiful as il may really be- i
does not reach our IDEAL Tt is crude
but while we are disappointed. we art
not discouraged We just keep at i
and perhaps some day we will succeed
1n making a really beautiful book"
Mr. Hubbard's effort brought on
much appreciation in the way Of ap
plause, after the audience had caugh
Its breath and took the measure Of tn
Enan- His speech is terse, crisp and cpl
erammatic. His best bon mot : was
however. at his own expense and en-
firely unintenuonal
When 7 took a look at myself In tn
mirror ---"
Here the risibilities OF the audience le
loose and II was some time pefore ~
could go on. and then he remarked, IT sal
&o myself Old boy you're all right.
Mr.. Fubbard's voice is in high alti
N1fe5 continually BY that is meant that
though 4 native Of Illinois he has lived 81
long on the east side Of the Hudson nes
fNa Connecticut border. his Roycrof
Farm that ne gives evidence Of having ac
uuired true Yankee characteristics, TRAIT
York city accounts for frequent slang ex
pressfonss the nearness to the Connect
cut border his nasal tone. sharpness an
a8arevdnesS ia driving bargain
Some detached epigrans that ne voice
III you want to get the highest pric
Tor any thing- say it Is NOT for sale