The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-07-31

n 7 is said that everything will out and
that this is particularly applicable
to the authorship OF a book which
the writer desires to be anonymous,
but there have been several instances
IN which the names OF the writer's of
certain books have never been made
public A case in point is The Bread
Winners" published many years ago,
the authorship Of which has never been
established. Attention has been called
to this book recently by reason OF some
letters written To a New York paper by
Charles Frederick Adams. for many
years regarded as the author, but who
now denies IL, giving the strange reason
for his long silence that he had said
nothing all these years out of personal
regard" for a man who had claimed
that Adams had written the book Mr.
Adams letters 10 the papers in which
he has made these statements have
caused a good deal of comment and
many a smile. 1t has been said that
there never was before on record the
case of a man taking the responsibility
Tor the writing of popular book Just
10 Oblige a friend This is one of the
few instances of an author remaining
unknown. even after the most elaho-
rate efforts on the part of writer's who
do not care 10 court the muse in public
Other instances more modern are The
Love Letters of an Engiishwou1an.i'
which has been variously attributed to
well known writers. THE Confessions
OF a Wife" and the most. recent OF all.
a book called 4" and purporting to be
the revelations OF a woman's soul. but
which, 1t is rumored,-was written by
man.
It should not be regarded as sur
prlsing that an author should desire to
send his first book out into the cold lit
erary world with no name assigned;
indeed, the wonder Is that first books
are ever published any other way. 1t
takes good deal of courage to father
a story and send it forth to be torn
into bits by the critics, particularly if
ones hopes for the future are involved.
In the case OF The Bread Winners If
Is said that only two Of the Harper
firm know the name OF the author: one
is dead but the firm is still paying
royalties on the book. Mr. ]. Henry
Harper recently said:
The author of The Bread Winners.
within the past few years mas attained
such a prominent position before the
public that his name on the title page
as its author would have very great
commercial value. We wrote to hin,
frankly presenting this view of the
case 10 him. and from the circum-
stance that the really very attractive
commercial feature of the case did not
In the least appeal to him. the infer
ence seems 10 be legitimate that his
personal financial position is fortu-
nate one From this comment il has
been decided by some one who was in
Jerested IN the matter, that the author
OF the book was Secretary of State
Hay.
John Kendrick Bangs. who has re-
Gently had two important things hap
pen to him, that is marrying a new
Wife and being appointed editor of
Puck, is pictured in one of the prorni
nent literary journals. He looks grave
nay, even solemn, and there is nothing
IN his appearance which would Indicate
the professional humorist. He has heep
IN the past connected with Life Har-
per's Magazine and Weekly. and then
with the Metropolitan Magazine. be-
sides doing much work outside. Added
10 his editorial experience. Mr.. Bangs
al one time went into politics in his
home town. YonkerS, N. Y. and was
only defeated because he happened 10
be on the unpopular side He will
probably do less work outside his reg
ular editorial duties than ever before.
as his position is an arduous one and
requires much time and thought. Tn
Ike many humorists, there is nothing
SAD about Mr.. Bangs, he being funny
even when OFF duty, a rare thing with
those whose humorous ideas furnish
them living. 1t was a surprise to
ST me of his admirers to learn recently
when he was married, that there was
John Kendrick Bangs Jr. as tail as
his father who gave him away, or rath-
er was his best man at the wedding.
The current number of the Club
Woman is distinguished by a very pref
ty yellow and white cover and contains
number of portraits of prominent
club women. notably the newly elected
president Mrs Plat Decker, Of Dem
yer, who has very jolly face. The
editor pays some attention in this num-
Der TO the recent discussion about the
magazine which took place at the BIZ
ennial i'm st. Louis and brought out so
divers opinions as to what should
az should not appear in its pages.
However. the final action OF the con-
vention was an Endorsement OF the
journal and Mrs. Decker is to commu-
nicate with the thousands of club wom-
en- the world over by means OF the
Club Woman. The magazine is of par
tlcular interest TO women who do
things, as it is full of women.s work
and Of the various projects of clubs
the country over 1t is curious and in
teresting TO note that the tendency
everywhere is toward active work by
clubs and that the purely literary or
ganization does not appeal to the mod