The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-21

ing a brave show. nevertheless. It's letter
press is OF the highest quality. Each
chapter is started of with a hand-illu-
minated initial letter. Artistic engrav-
ings OF the Presidents Of the United
States adorn its pages. ''fhe Lives OF the
Presidents" was written by Hon. Charles
Henry Grosvenor, OF Ohio, who. in
who's Who in America" is. however.
not credited with its authorship, the
only book written by him there men,
toned being William Mckinley His
Life and Work"
Mr.. Elder the Manager.
"All I know about it," says Mrs Balm
sen. 'fs that I acknowledge the orders
for books when they come in. and ac-
knowledge the receipt OF checks. The
business itself is conducted by Mr.. FL
der. who is at present in New York
soliciting orders"
do you know Of any checks received
by you having been caneeled-stopped
payment" she was asked.
NO: I have not heard Of anything Of
the kind
'Mr. Elder is in entire charge Of the
business?"
Eyes"
The president Of the National Biograph-
zeal Society is Judge R. E. Doan. Of 1927
@ street He, too. was once member
OF Congress from Ohio.
MY connection with the National BIZ
ographical Society" said Doan. in answer
TO queries from The Washington Herald,
came about through Gen Grosvenor. It
was some years ago that Gen. Grosvenor
had completed sketches OF the lives OF
the Presidents, a monumental work.
which he desired 10 have published IL a
manner worthy OF the subject No ex-
pense was spared in the preliminary
preparations but after the general hal
expended about $4,000 ne was In danger
OF losing it all through lack of support
and subscriptions. II was then that he
induced enc TO take hold of the thing.
He placed a sum Of money In my hands
with which to pay of the creditors, and
he introduced me to Mr.. Elder, who was
TO take hold Of the work. Since then
I have been connected with It, It has
paid me a little, but hardly enough, 10
bother with, and I have been anxious
10 get out.
Judge Doan as a Pilot.
MY position with the company" said
Judge Doan. "is as a sort of pilot.
am here TO see that people get what they
pay for. II you should subscribe for a
copy of the book. I would see TO It that
you got it. or got your money back"
And Mr. Elder, manager OF the COM
pany-it is alleged that he has been in
prison. Is that true?'
Yes" said Judge Doan, but it was
a long time ago"
What was he convicted OFF"
TT ives in Chicago. some fifteen or
twenty years ago." said Judge Doan,
Mr.. Elder was conducting a publishing
business. He Is a very able and brilliant
man, and has always been writing
and making books He wrote a lot of
things which he published himself and
sold. There was some hitch in connec-
ton Nth one of the publications, and he
was indicted for obtaining money under
false pretenses. Gen. GrOsvenor de-
Tended him on his trial. You see, Elder
comes from the same town as Gen Gros-
venor. Technically, he was found guilty..
He had not meant to do any wrong, but
he was technically wrong, and was con
victed."
For what length OF time was he I'm
prisoned. do you know
''No-that is. I don't recoIlect. At any
rate he served his term and got of some
time for good behavior. The man is quite
honest, and when he got out he had the
names and addresses Of all the people
who had lost money through his techni-
cal default, and he has paid them all
back. though there was no process by
which they could have recovered. It
was all long time ago, fifteen or twenty
years, should say"
well, about this book, what is its pur-
poser"
why, it's a book that should be in
every library We are confined to
first edition Of 1000 copies, varying in
price according to the quality of the
volume. Each volume of the 1,OOe con-
tains Gen. Grosvenor's sketches of the
Presidents. and. in addition, each volume
contains the biography and the family
tree, the portrait, and the family history
Of the subscriber.
Mrs. Eddy Subscriber.
why said Judge Doan zone OF our
solicitors secured the subscription of Mrs
Eddy. the Christian Scientist, to this
work. The price was to be $500. I told
her representative that she could not
have It. told her, sir, that a woman In
her position was entitled to the same
sort of a volume that would be laid
down before the monarchs of Europe. and
I told her that that sort OF a volume
would cost her sl,000, sir She told us
TO go ahead, and we made that book. It's
cost was more than 500, but it was a
beauty. and-I wish I had the letter OF