Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-01-03
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS
FACTS AND OPINIONS GATHERED
FROM CONTEMPORARIES.
THE WOMAN WRITER IN DISGUISE.

THE WOMAN WRIT Err IN DISGUISE.
In the Evening World of Friday there
was the revelation that the auther known
to the readers of a recent book, "Jack
Racer as Henry Somerville, is woman.
Her real name is Mary Gay Humphreys.
One reason which she gave for adopting
her masculine pseudonym for the pur'
poses of one publication only was that
she wanted her manuscript to be judged
on its merits. In her proper person she
was known to her publishers and her
work was sure to be considered. Offer
ing her product as that of a mere man,
unknown to printers and to fame, she
took new and interesting chances.
This instance certainly forms typical
twentieth century variant from the cases
of George Sand, George Eliot and other
notable female writers whose assumption
of mems signatures was based in part at
least upon a desire to achieve the prestige
believed to attach to masculinity. One
woman writer, using the name Charles
Egbert Craddock, carried her pretense
so far rs to cultivate a coarse and man
nish style of penmanship, with letters
almost half an inch high, which deceived
even her publishers for long time.
Presumably among the numerous fem
mime authors of this day there would be
much variety in explanation If all were
to tell why they conceal or at any rate
do not reveal their sex. That John
Strange Winter and John Oliver Hobbies
are women most readers know. But lg-
norance is neither uncommon nor mex
cusable of the facts that the E. L.Voynich
who wrote "The Gadhy" and Jack
Raymond" writes MRS" before her
name in private life, and that A. G. Laut,
of Lords of the North EFF. Montressor,
of "The Alien," and A. Maynard Barbour,
of "That Mainwaring Affair" are entitled
each to the prefix Miss" Is it not a
pricipe Of the new sister-hood that a
woman should frankly and Enthusiastically
stamp her own work even in author
ship?-New York World.
600
GAN 1T BE.
Referring to the great railroad trusts,
the Chicago Tribune says:
An issue of tremendous consequence Is
thus being brought to the whole country.
1t is a matter for conjecture If these rail-
road and financial manipulatOrs compre-
bend what this issue is. The failure OF
full aud effective government regulation
which the roads have so far succeeded in
breaking down means government ow-
nershp, nothing less than that. And
toward just that conclusion the combina-
lions are forcing the country. 1t will be
great mistake to suppose that the pres
ent patience of the people with the grow
ing domination of monopoly is test OF
hat in wi
prove to be-
What right has the Tribune to "contri-
butte to the disquiet of the people?"
What right has the Tribune "to seek
to make the people discontented?"
What right has the Tribune to ''attack
property"
Does not the Tribune know that trusts
are indispensable to progress" that
"consolidation is the decree of destiny
that a railroad octopus for the United
States of America will make US what we
so long have wished to be, IA world
power?"
The Tribune threatens government
ownership, which the Tribune and Other
Republican newspapers have so Otter
denounced as populist fallacy. Wha
is the world coming to when so strong {
Republican newspaper as the Chicago
Tribune finds it necessary to raise it
voice in protest against monopoly ant
goes so far as to threaten populis
remedy for Republican disease?
Can it be that after all there is evil il
the trust system? Can it be after al
that consolidation and destruction O
competition are not good for the publ
welfare The COmmoner.
Aoo>
GOV. oRMsBEE ENCOURAGES SPELLING
Ex-Governor E. j. Ormsbee's offer o
three cash prizes to the school pupils o
his town of Brandon, to be given to tn
best spoilers, is worthy of emulation il
every town in the state. The latter-da
school pupils-and some teachers, too
have had for some time bad spell, an
nothing along the educational line NOR
needful or useful can be undertaken tina
its correction. The English language
beauty and Joy forever, written an
spelled correctly. 1t is as uncouth a
Choctaw when scalped by poor spelling
What is the reason that school pupil
nowadays do not spell better? Perhap
the answer can be found in the moder
methods Of teaching the useful branch.
The present system is one of substitu
ing INSTALLATION for the old-fashione
LESSONS in photography. 1t is bein
pnucb critinizpd M soc word RI loo