The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-08-03
DID JOHN HAY WRITE
"BREADWINNERS?"
Authorship of Anonymous Novel
Attributed to the Statesman.
WHY his NAME WAS WITHHELD,

WHY his NAME WAS WITHHELD.
Late Secretary Of State, It Is Said,
Could Not Have Admitted Author
ship When Alive, ~ the Work
Was Directed Against Labor Cn-
ions-EpiRrama Which Reject Au-
thos's Views on Life, Politics, La
Dor Unions and Society.
Semioficial announcement was made
recently that the late Secretary Of State
John Hay was the author Of 1.-The
Breadwinners," the mysterious and
much discussed novel which twenty
three years ago was the reigning lit
erary sensation, says the New York
Herald. It's authorship has been a puz-
zle to the world Of letters ever since
its publication, and every few months
the question has been raised anew.
Those who were In touch with the pub
fishers Of the work, both as serial
and tn book form, have never denied
that Mr.. Hay was the author.
Remarks Of Henry n. Alden, the vet
eran editor Of Harpers Magazine and
one Of the foremost authorities on
American literature, leaves no question
as to the authorship. Mr.. Alden has
eo. ~,oor 1,oops booD ooDnocfo1 xyifh
the firm Of Harper & Brothers, the
publishers Of "The Breadwinners."
Il have not" said Mr.. Alden the oth-
er day, '<the absolute evidence at hand
to show that Mr.: Hay wrote The
Breadwinners,' but I think that the
Herald can make no mistake in say
ing that he did. For several years 1
have understood 50, and I think there
can be no question Of It"
Colonel George B. M. Harvey, the
head Of the corporation Of Harper &
Brothers, Is in Europe. Frederick A.
Duneke, the manager Of the house, was
out Of the city, and it was impossible
to communicate with him.
Intimations were given few months
ago that an edition Of the book which
Mr.. Hay would father and revise was
to be published. There was q story to
the effect that his literary executors
might direct the publication under his
name.
From the nature Of It's theme It was
hardly to be expected that Mr.. Hay,
while In political life, would consent
to be identified with The Breadwin-
ners," which sharply critcises the
methods Of the labor unions. The work
appeared in the latter part Of 1883 in
serial form In the Century Magazine,
and the editor at that time, Mr. Rich
ard Watson Glider, is on record as
saying that the name Of the author
was withheld from him. ''The Bread
winners" was published early In Jan
uary, 1884, In book form, and the Har-
pers paid the royalties to an attorney
whose name and address have also
been kept secret.
Especial timeliness was given to the
book because it appeared shortly after
q series Of strikes and labor troubles.
The city In which the action is Laid in
Buffland and the characters portrayed
In such lfelike manner have been
identified as living In Cleveland and
Buffalo. In view Of the fact that Mr..
Hay knew Cleveland thoroughly and
married a daughter of Amasa Stone,
a wealthy resident Of that place, it Is
likely that the Forest City was the
original Of Buf1and.
The chief merit Of the book is fn its
epigrams, which afford, in the opinion
Of many persons, indfsputable evidence
that John Hay was the author.
A reading Of the much discussed
novel. shows scores Of those ripples
and flashes which give such AN cpl
grammatical quality to. tho authorized
writings Of John Hay. Here are some
Of the things taken from 'The Bread
winners" which have bis hall mark;
s'I do not care how they look" be
would say. 'They probably look as
they talk, without form and void"
"She carries herself like duchess"
was going to say, 'but the only duch-
ess ever knew was at Schwalbach,
and she was carried tn a wicker hand
cart"
"The leader Of the opposing forces
was a butcher, one Jacob Metzger,
who had managed the politics OF the
On AA2H an
business principles, 80 az to get the
most Of q carcass, and be conducted
bis political operations in the same
way"
she. felt a. though she bad found
her mission. har true trade, which was
to waR Ia gardens and smell hothouse
roses"