The Washington times., 1902-06-08
THE STRANGE MYSTERY OF
.MALMIZTIC THE TOLTEO"

The people of Cincinnati are just now
engaged in turning their houses upside
down. The fact that summer is almost
here and the semi-annual house cleaning
time is imminent has. like the flowers
| that bloom in the spring. nothing to do
with the case" The city is not preparing
for a convention of any kind, neither is
circus coming to town, but one and
all from the youngest to the Oldest in
habitant have suddenly become ener-
getic.
The reason OF all the commoticn is
the lively interest recently awakened in
d book published in the ohio city as far
back as 1851. not one copy of which is
to be found in any of the public libraries
of Cincinnati.
The author of the book was W. W.
Fosdick. prominent figure in literary
circles there. who called the work NAL
miztic the Toltec," and laid his scenes
among people who inhabited portion
of the country now known as Mexico.
and who appeared and disappeared mys-
teriously and unacccuntably, leaving a
multitude OF monuments which marked
them as a mighty and wonderful people
Whence they came or where they went
subsequent generations have never
learned All that is known Of them is
that they were a wonderful race. far
advanced in civilization. b of their
habits or history no one has ever been
t,;l
Among these people and in this
strange country Fosdick wrote his story.
1t proved masterpiece, and one which,
had it been given the circulation it de-
manded through its unique conception
and unusualness, it would have placed
its author among the most famed writer's
OF America. AS it was, only u limited
edition was published, not exceeding
l 500 copies. In those days few books
were taken out of the. city, so it is sur
missed that the majority of that one edi-
ton were bought up by the people of
Cincinnati, who were acquainted with
the author and read his book merely
through curiosity, not knowing or realiz-
ing its historical and literary value.
Many of those who at one time owned
a copy have lost it, and those which
were in the possession of the citys IL
braries have disappeared from their
shelves. Hence the search.
Curiosity attaches to the hunt for
"Malmiztec the Toltec" through the
quiet way in which 1t is being traced
Booksellers are noncommittaf when
questioned about it. and each new in
quiry for the book seems to involve the
search in deeper mystery.
The old booksellers to whom copies of
the book would likely find their way ac-
knowledge that for the past two years
they have been on the lookout for copies
and that they have been commissioned
to buy up every one they find. They re-
fuse to divulge the name OF their pat
rons and declare that although they will
pay almost any price for the book. they
are not allowed to advertise for it.
Whether this is done to prevent the
price Of the book from going up or to
keep public attention from 1t, remains
4 mystery. Public attention. however,
has been attracted to 1t very strongly
and certainly II a copy can be found it
will bring pretty price If the owner
Is willing to dispose of it.
At least one copy Of "Malmiztic the
roltec" has found its way out of Gin
,innati and reposes safely on the shelves
If the Library of Congress. That it is
rare and valued specimen of the liter