The Washington times., 1908-11-12
WRITING Is LONG SUIT
OF BUSY PRESIDENT
Canny Editors Eager for Output Which Will Bring One
Dollar the Word-No Mean Price.

interesting contributions made to this
discussion in many years.
How the President keeps in touch
with literary movements IS illustrated
by two incidents which have occurred
during the busiest period OF his admin
istratiOu. A ScOtchman. Frederick
Scott Oliver. produced an Essay on
Alexander Hamilton oliver began the
work In casual way as paper To be
read before a literary club. Under his
hand it grew into a fine volume, which
all the HamiltOnians pronounce the hest
study OF Hamilton ever made. When
il was published II promptly made hit
in the United States, and the President
got wind CT it, lie got the book and
never stopped till he had devoured the
last word Then ne wondered who might
be the man who had produced such
work
Correspondence and inquiry resulted.
Oliver was found 10 be a business man
in a Scottish city. He had a literary
turn and was great reader Becoming
attracted to Hamilton. he studied him
ia great detail. and his essay resulted.
Ancient Rome.
About the same time the press brought
forth the first volumes OF a history,
THE Greatness and Decline of Rome"
II wss by a AIilanese professor, Fer
rerO. and when it presently appeared IN
English, from an International house,
the intellectuals sat up and observed. 1t
was not very long before they recog-
nized that a great historian had risen
10 a place which could not be ques-
toned
A White House caller. who had dis
covered the book very early and taken
deep interest in II. mentioned that he
wanted TO place Il IN the hands OF the
President, wanted specially TO call the
Presidents attention 10 some passages
he had marked
That Fe-rero work. do you meau7''
was asked.
Yes, that's the one I've just finished
Wei. % was the reply. the President
viii be interested 10 talk to you about
fl; but he has already read il He read
il in English when il nTst came out.
an1 then sent for IL and read il in the
Italian, in order 10 be sure nc wouldn't
miss anything
Which likewise is characteristic Of the
Presidents methods He is perfectly ON
niVOTOUs about his reading anything
about meat inspection. 10 The Great
ness and Decline Of Rome" with il
Elimination OF the problems OF the great
ancient republic, is sure 10 bring its
useful suggestion. its new point Of view
its new light, to this man who manages
10 read everything.
Invites Ferrero.
II - aiSS C-4dissSNtI4ShC GA MN tAdt,
having given his unqualified approval TO
Ferrero. he promptly started a cor
respOndence with that gentleman, which
resulted in FerTero receiving and ac-
ccpting an invitation to visit the United
States before the President goes out
of office. He VIII deliver a series Of
lectures in this country. and viii be
entertained az the White House. And.
of course IL IS very we'll understood
that II all grew out Of the Presidents s
interest In his work.
But there IS one question which every
body has been wanting answered. and
TO which nobody has vet secured the
answer. Is the President going to write
great autobiography II is So natural
to expect. that nearly everybody as
sumes ne will But If he has ever con
hded such purpose TO anybody, that
person has kept the secret wen.