The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-06
FAMOUS WRITER
DIES IN new YORK
Sidney Porter, known to World
as %. Henry" Is No
More.
ILL FOR SEVERAL YEARS
In Dying Moments, Hu,norist
Has Smile for Doctor
and Nurse.
ILL FOR SEVERAL YEARS
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.l

Especial to The Tfmes-Dispatch.1
New York, June 5.-Sidney Porter
who was one of the most popular
short story writer's in America, under
the name of 20, Henry" died at $50
this morning at the Polytechnic Hospi-
tal 214 East Thirty-fourth Street. He
had suffered for several years from a
complication of diseases of which cir
rhosis of the liver was the most dan
gerous factor. His physician. Dr.
Charles Russell Hancock. realized
when he sent Mr.. Porter to the hos
pital on Friday last that there was
practically no hope of his recovery.
DR.. Hancock performed an operation
on the author on Saturday inserting a
drainage tube. but the doctor had no
hope that any permanent benefit
would result.
MIR. Porter lived for two years or
moro at tho Hotel Caledonia Friday
last DR.. Hancock, after a brief exami-
nation, had Mr.. Porter removed to the
Polycllnic Hospital and telegraphed to
Mrs. Porter, who was at Greensboro,
N. c., where Mr.. Porter was born. She
arrived in New York this evening. He
was conscious just before he died, and
smiled at the doctor and nurse, the
only ones at the bedside.
For the past eight years fcw con-
tributors to the magazines have been
more welcomed by publishers and pub
lie than 20. Henry He was one of
the masters Of short story writing in
this country. possessing a gift OF fine
humor as we'll as an ability for dra-
matte narration.
Alth0nrha ho co,,f<l x,,.;t.
irreproa chable English, he was ono of
the few who could make slang really
funny. He had, too. knack of coin
Ing slang words and slang phrases
that stuck In the mind and became a
part of our lighter language He was
essentially a ahumorist
1t was while he was In New Orleans,
about ten years ago. that he adopted
the nanle Of 20. Henry" IA nom de
plume which seemed, somehow, to fit
his work perfectly. In later years
there were comparatively few people
who knew what his real name was.
In New Orleans he had sent stacks Of
manuscripts to unappreciative editors,
and when they We're returned as they
nearly always were. he put new
stamps on the envelopes and sent them
on their travels again. But he do
cided one day that he ought to select
literary alias He said to friend: !:
I'm going to send out some stuff, and
l think 1 ought to have new name
Help me to pick out one"
HIS friend suggested that he get n
newspaper and run over the first list
OF notables he came to in the society
column. They got a paper and came
across the account OF a. fashionable
ball. His eye lit on the name Henry"
That's good enough for me-" he said.
Now for first name, want some
thing short. none of your three -sylla-
bled names for me- Why don't Won
use single intial?" said his friend.
'All right said Porter "The let
ter % is about the easiest letter writ
ten, 'O 1t is"
He was born forty-three years ago
In Greensboro, N, c. Several of his
ancestors had been Governors of the
State.
collection OF his stories, which had
attracted attention, was published In
hook form in 1905 under the title,
"cabbages and Kings" "The Four
Million came out the next year, "The
Trimmed lamp in 1907. md "The
Heart of the West" toward the end OF
tho same year. The most recent az his
stories which attracted attention and
made people laugh were In series
30 Henry" called "Manhattan Nights
Entertainment.n The scenes were laid
in New York and the characters moved
Icontinued ON saeara PaEa-A,