Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1904-07-24
HAWTHORNE'S BIRTH
1T TOOK PLACE ONE Hl,Nnnrn
YEARS AGO ON JULY d

Observance of the Centennial o4 q.
lem, Mass, Recalls Character ana
Career of the Great America.
Writer OF Romance.
independence day 100 years 400
| witnessed the birth of one of tbo
! greatest of American authors, Nathan.
| lei Hawthorne. The event took nlaca
| in the historic town of Salem Mass
while the villagers We're heralding the
birthday of the republic, and 1t is re-
lated that the infants father besoupht
/ his neighbors to make less noise in
their celebration of the ever glorious
anniversary out of consideration for
the new baby and it's mother.
The observance by the people of
Salem of the centennial of Haw-
thorne's birth calls attention to the
fact that his place in American liter.
ature is secure. He has been dead
forty years, but he is not forgotten
end, while the present generation Of
readers neglects the works of many
writer's of his time, his books are read
Il
healthful and ennobling influence.
When Nathaniel Hawthorne was a
boy of sixteen and preparing for col
lege he wrote to his mother, How
would You like some day to see a whole
shelf full Of books, written by your
son, with Hawthorne's Works printed
on their backs?" Thus at this early
ho =
lea predicted his own future Yet de
spite his belief, even as a boy, that he
was destined to attain literary distinc-
tion it required q quarter of a century
of hard work to gain from the general
public the recognition so well deserved.
When he was forty-two years old and
living at Salem he was engaged In
earning a living through performance
Of the prOsaic duties ef-surveyor Of
the port, his revenue from his writings
not being at that time sufficient to pay
the bills of even a small family like
his. 1t would appear that at this time
the author felt somewhat discouraged,
for he afterward wrote: "No longer
seeking or caring that my name should
be blazened abroad on title pages,
smiled to think that it had now anoth-
er kind of vogue. The custom house
marker imprinted it with stencil and
black paint on pepper bags, cigar boxes
and bales of all dutiable merchandise
in testimony that these commodities
had paid the import and gone regutfr-
ly through the Office. Borne on such
queer vehicles of fame, knowledge of
my existence, so far as a name con-
veys it, was carried where it had never
been before"
But the name of Hawthorne was not
to be handed down to posterity simply
as that of custom house officer of the
old town where witches once held
sway Even while sitting at the old
pine desk in the Salem custom house
and attending to the stenciling of cigar
boxes and pepper bags Hawthorne had
been at work at odd times on the story
which did most to win him a wide rep
utation, 'The Scarlet Letter" A change
of administration at washington ieu TO
Hawthorne's ejectment from political
office, and at this time he was in dole
full mood, for his books had not been
selling well, and he seems to have been
doubtful about attempting the publ
cation of more writings 1t Glanced
one day that he was visited by the
publisher and poet, James T. Fields.
In yesterdays With Authors" MI
Fields relates what happened. Haw-
thorne was lowering over the stove In
a disconsolate way, for the-~day was
cold, and when Mr.. Fields inquired II
he had anything ready for the press
the author replied: Nonsense! What
heart have l to write anything when
my publishers have been so many
years trying to sell small edition OF
Twice told Tales?" AS the publisher
was about to depart he caught sight
Of a bureau, and it occurred to him that
hidden away in the recesses of this
article of furniture there was story.
He suggested this to the author, but
the latter shook his head, and Mr..
Fields was on the point of leaving the
house when Hawthorne came hurrying
down the stairs after him with roll
of manuscript in his hand. How in
heavens name," he asked, "did you
know this thing was there? Take what
l have written"
The book was published and twenty
five years Of waiting for recognition
were over. The success of the author
of 1.-THE Scarlet Letter" was establish
ed by the sale of the entire first edition
of 5000 copies IN ten days.