The Washington times., 1905-07-29
MYSTERY Of The
BREADNINNER RS"
Question of Authorship Re
mains to Be Solved.
WASHINGT0NlAN'S OPINION
Asserts That William Dean Howells
and Not John Hay Wrote
the Book

The great literary mystery Of 1883 was
the authorship of The Breadwinners. -
In Cleveland (BuRland'), where he
scene of the story is laid and il the
inner circles of the literary world.
where the late John Hay had already
made his mATk, il wasn't very much
of a mystery. But to the great Amer
lean public, thrilled with a new story
of a kind never brought out before, il
was d burning question.
The reviews were filled with discus
sions about it-questtons, deniais, and
new suggestions. First, one Well-known
newspaper man in Cleveland was ac-
cused. then another. Every one denied
il. a popular pastor was credited with
the work He didn't deny it, but the
Century Magazine people did for him
very emphaticaIly-
The most amusing thing about it was
that you could find self-confessed
author OF the new novel on almost every
corner. Il became stock joke,
Became Stock Joke.
"Of course. I'm on Easy street with
nv novel, The Breadwinners' running
into its tenth edition." young SeribbIer,
the would-be novelist. would say TO his
best friend. And then both would laugh
at the notion.
The craze was so general that Har-
per's Weekly printed a real story about
these seIf-confessed authors. It told
how young woman going South on
the steamer. absorbed in the new novel,
was engaged in conversation at table
by a stout, red-faced. white-crayatted
Individual, who had been observing her
preoccupatton in the story.
Yes" he admitted at last, II
wouldn't tell anybody. but I am the
anonymous author"
The lady begged him to put his name
on the fyleaf, and he wrote in & fine,
bold hand, William Simeon Ludlow
She believed it until at the hotel in
Jacksonville a melancholy, dark-eyed
young man, with a cough. begged per-
mission to have the window closed, ex-
planning that he had just completed a
momentous novel. and the effort had left
him in delicate health. Then he con-
fessed that he was the anonymous au-
thor Of The Breadwinners."
Again the lady was credulous, be-
cause ne really did look it.
You are much more like my idea of
the author than that fat. cheating old
man." she told him. And then she ac-
cepted his autograph.
But doubt fell upon his veracity. too,
when a handsome, StalWart man, with
the curly, yellow beard of sun sod,
told her he had written the book but
daren't tell II. because ne was physI-
clan and obtained the information II con-
tanned in professional condolences.
Pleaded for Secrecy.
Don't" he begged of the admiring
literary student. don't reveal what in q
weak moment 1 have told you"
She r,rCr1{Sa1- E17f n q rp0O0Jisbr
deck, coming back, tall, fair girl with
a smooth low voice to whom she con-
hded her experiences. exclaimed:
What infamy. Why l wrote it my
self. and in proof [ will show you the
original manuscripts"
Then the wonder-stricken reader lost
faith in all mankind and womanktnd
INTO the bargain.
Mammal" she cried. nobody wrote
angel from heaven comes down and tells
me he wrote II l won't believe him.
And throughout all this stir over the
authorship Of the novel, Col John Hay.
a quiet. courteous gentleman WhOs had
won some distinction in literature al
ready and was cherishing political aspi-
rations which seemed to be extremely
promising Just then. enjoyed life IN
Cleveland. and neither admitted nor de-
lied the responsibility for q novel which
sometimes spoke a little too plainly to
De Il help to a WOuld-De statesman with
mis- political career still to carve out, |
In fact, as has been told, he modestly
-efrained from committing himself on
he subject to the day of his death.
Richard Watson Glider, editor of the
century Magazine, who Is one of the !
hree living persons who knows at first /
land who wrote The Breadwinners.' -
said yesterday that he felt bound in
lonor to be very ciTcumspect IN anv-
hing he said about the authorship of
he work, and he couldn't recall with
my accuracy. who were the persons. be- |
sides Mr. Hay, suggested at the time
Is responsible for the story.
Such n brilliant book" he added. !
might we'll have been attributed to al |
most any Well-known writer
4 Washingtonian writes TO The Times
saying that The BreadWinners'' was
written by William Dean HoWeIIs and |
3ot John Hay, and that the scene of the
story is laid in Buffalo and not In CIeye- |
and.