Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-07-21
1.-THE SCARLET LETTER.

The following extract from James
| T. Fields Yesterday With Authors
| gives an account of the first appear
ance OF the novel which made Haw-
thorne's fame:
In the winter of 1849, after he had
| been elected from the custom-house. |
went down o Salem 10 see him and
inquire after his health, for we heard
he had been suffering from illness.
He was then living in modest wood
en- house in Mall street. if I remember
rightly the location. found him
alone in a chamber over the sitting
room Of the dwelling; and as the day
was cold he was lowering near a
stove. We fell into talk about his
future prospects, and he was, as
feared / should find him, in very de-
spending mood. Now said I, sis
the time for you to publish; for |
know during these years in Salem
you must have got something ready
for the press" Nonsense" said he
what heart had | to write anything.
when my publishers have been so
many years trying to sell small edi-
ton OF the 'Iwice-Told Tales'?" |
still pressed upon him the good
chances he would now have with
something new who would risk
publishing book for me, the most I'M
popular writer in American" 81
would" said T. land would start with
an edition of 1000 copies for anything
you might write" What madnessi"
he exclaimed; ''your friendship for
me gets the better of your judgment
No, no." he continued; 81 have no
money to indemnify a publishers
losses on my account"
looked at my watch and found that
the train would soon be starting for
Boston, and knew there was not
much time to lose in trying to discov-
er what had been his literary work
during these last few years in Salem
| remember that | pressed him to re-
veal to me what he. had been writing.
He shook his head, and gave me to
understand that he had produced moth
ing. AT that moment I caught sight
of bureau or set of drawers near
where we were sitting; and immedi-
ately it occurred to me that hidden
away somewhere in that article of fur
niture was a story of stories by the
author Of the "Twice-Told Tales ="
and became so positive of it that
charged him yehemently with the
fact. He seemed surprised I thought
but shook his head again: and | rose
to take my leave, begging him not to
come into the cold entry, saying I
world come back and see him again
in few days.
| was hurrying down the stairs
when he called after me from the
chamber. asking me to stop a moment
Then quickly stepping into the entry
with a roll of manuscript in his
hands, he said: How in heavens
name did you know this thing was
there? AS you have found me out
take what have written. and tell me
after you get home and have time to
read It, If it is good for anything It
is either very good or very bad
don't know which"
On my way to Boston | read the
germ of 'The Scarlet Letter." before
| slept that night | wrote a note all
aglow with admiration of the marvel
Gus story he had put into my hands,
and told him that would come again
to Salem the next day and arrange
for its publication. | went on in such
an amazing state of excitement when
We met again in the little house, that
he would not believe | was really in
earnest He seemed to think | was
beside myself, and laughed sadly at
my enthusiasm. However. We soon
arranged for his appearance again be-
fore the public with n hook