The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-05-04

me, they turned white about the gills;
for they are religious people, you know.
very rich and very careful of their
money.
DO you know that is what I should
have done. Sue them. But the clerk
hadn't told me of the "Sappho" case
then. He had waited until afterward. So
didn't know. If you could only get
posted on al sides at once you would
know what 10 do: but the thing is i'm
possible. Taking the advice of some
friends who was afraid my book might
get tangled up in a law suit and be put
by for a couple of years or three-that's
what the lawyers are there for. have
discovered among the other things I have
discovered during the past few weeks
since my book has been suppressed. to
put by things-I forsook my lawyer and
arranged matters with the firm myself
First, they wanted to publish another
book of mine, THE Quest of Polly
Locke" which they had accepted some
seven months ago and locked up in a
strong box out of the way Of other pub
fishers who might have taken it, and
take the cost of the publication of The
Color OF His Soul out of the royalties
from that.
They are very careful Of their money,
these rich people.
The richer they are, the more careful
they are.
But there was hitch. They wanted to
pay me for all the copies and let them
burn the copies. That was hardly fair,
was it? l thought not So 1 took my
Polly Locke" away from them and OBJ
jected.
Then they offered me my plates if I
would sign lease. promising not to sue.
That was extremely generous Of them.
seeing the plates belonged 10 me in the
first place wasn't K? You understand, I
started out to publish The Color Of His
Soul myself. They saw il after It was
in the proof and accepted il. So the
plates belonged to me by rights Stll. 50
lcng as they were in their possession and
/ couldn't get them by force or other
wise, it was as I say. fairly generous OF
them to give them TO me.
And yet, after what the clerk told me
about that "Sappho" affair. I am not so
sure. If had sued ] should probably
be in possession Of some five or six
thousand dollars by now. instead of pen
niless. after seven months Of wrestling
with the Funk s Wagnals company.
with not only one book on my hands.
but two
However. I have signed the release and
they have gone on their way rejoicing
Vow. I am going 10 publish the book
rsmvselC The boy may sue Till he IS
black in the face 7 am goiaS 20 keep
ou publishing il. Review AFTER review
has said that 1 am 70 Dc commended -or
my strong presentation Of such 4 type.
an evil type a menace to humanity. The
Courier Journal declared that every
moral force in the country should sup
port me. Others that IT IS a didactic
novelette,. a novelette, shat Young girls
should read. The president OF my Wo-
mans Press club here in New York mo
ncuRced an eulogy on 1t at one Of our
meetings. covering me with glory and
gratitude. etc- etc, etc. s. WY should
nj ! publish it,
about this little book u shcuIl live Il
shall live. I shan publish 81 and 60 On
publishing st If am Imprisoned ror the
oHense. II oTense Il be
Z Is queer about Punk * Wacnals
Five years ago. when : lieel in wichita.
and first commenced TO write. I sent &
prohibition story Of Kentucky 10 The
Voice. published by the sunk & Wagnalls
company they accepted il. kept IL SIX
months. then sent Il hack 10 me. cur
rected and ready for the press. They