The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-20

just published by the Scrlbners.
" different cause. He became engaged
to Matilda Hoffman just about the time
of poor Matilda's workmanship" The
effect" says Irvings biographer, was
electric He had been conversing in the
Sprightliest mood before. and he sunk
at once into utter silence. and in a few
moments got UP and left the house."
Not long ago one of the literary sup
plements hit upon plan of loading
fifty or more of the most popular au
thors on the good ship Literature
which sailed along the coast of Fiction
and was wrecked on the island of Re-
production. The Novel Trust had paid
the expenses of the voyage, but no books
We're taken along, save vest pocket edi-
tons of the Bible and of Shakespeare.
As soon as the wrecked party had estSb-
hshed their camp, they set up wireless
telegraph communication with New
York, and by MargOnigean reply each
one learned that any two books he might
choose would be sent him. John Tabb
sent for the driest book so that he
might make a raft; Hamlin Garland
wanted a dictionary; Kirk Munro asked
for Robinson Crusoe and Stevenson's
Treasure Island, because of their local
color; Henry Van Dyke desired only a
cook book and q Boys Handy Book
of Ernest Seton, who asked for "A
Woman Tenderfoot.'' because she was
his wife.
A BEACON biography of Importance is
that of John James Audubon, by John
Burroughs, recently published Audubon
was not only great Wanderer, a great
ornithologist, but he was also in sense
one of our first de luxe publishers. He
was nine years bringing out his MASTER
piece. Birds of North America" No
publishing house would undertake the
task,s.so. undaunted. Audubon took up
the matter himself: More than one
hundred thousand dollars We're expend-
ed in the enterprise. and when he began
the author had scarcely a dollar of his
own. With infinite patience Audubon
worked at ms CRAVINGS and writing.
He sought the subscribers, and it was
not easy seventy years ago to find
enough men to pledge $1,000 each for q
set of pictures of birds. AS John Bur-
roughs says, few enterprises involving
such labor and expense have ever been
carried through against such odds
one OF the amusing incidents of the
task writes Mr.. Burroughs, is Audubon
and his sons interview with the Baron
Rothschild, to whom he had a letter of
introduction from a distinguished Amer
lean banking house. The baron was not
present when they entered his private
Office, but soon a corDulent man ap-
peared, hitching up his trousers, and a
race red with the eXertiOn of walking,
and without noticing anyone present
dropped his fat body into a cOmfOrta biz,
wide world but himself. While the
baron sat we stood. with our hats held
respectfully in our hands. I stepped for
ward, and with a bow rendered nv Gre
dentlals Pray SIR said the man Of
golden consequences, is this letter of
business. or is it a mere letter of intro
ductfonY This 1 could not we'll answer,
for had not read the contents of IL,
and was forced to answer rather aWk
wardly that l could not tell. The bank
er then opened the letter, read it with
the manner of one who was looking only
at the temporal side of things and after
reading II said. This is only a letter Of
Introduction, and expect from its con-
tents that you are the publisher of some
ton
Had man the size of a mountain spo-
Ken to me IN that arrogant style in Amer
lea, ] should have Indignantly resented it:
out where I then was it seemed best to
swallow and digest it as well as I could.
So in reply to the offensive arrogance Of
the banker, | said l should be honOred
by his subscription to the Birds of Amer
lea Sir, he SAID. I never sign my name
to any subscription list. but you NAV send
me your work and l will pay for a copv Of
it. Gentlemen, I am busy. I wish YOU
good morning We were busy men, too
and so. bowling respectfully, we retired,
pretty well satisfied with the small slice
of his opulence which our labor was likely
to obtain
"A few days afterwards I sent the first
volume of my work. half bound. and all
the numbers besides. then published on
seeing them We were told that lie ordered
the bearer to take them to his house,
which was done directly. Number after
number was sent and delivered to the
Baron, and after eight or ten months my
son made out his account and sent it by
Mr.. Harvell. ny engraver. to his banking
house. The Baron looked at it with amaze
ment and cried out: What, a hundred
pounds for birds Why, sir. T will give
you five pounds and not a farthing morev
Representations were made to him of the
magniicence and expense of the work, and
how pleased his Baroness and wealthy
children would be to have copy. but the
great fnancier was unrelenting. The copy
OF the work was actually sent back to
Mr.. Harvells shop and as l found that in
stituting legal proceeding against him
would cost more than il would come to-
1 kept the work and afterwards sold it
to a man with less money but a nobler
heart. What a distance there s between
two such men as the Baron Rothschild of
London and the merchant of Savannah
HERBERT ERE WSTER.