The log cabin Democrat., 1912-08-08
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
Famous Poet Who PeddIed .
 Classic of the Sea.
William Cullen Bryant Had a Hard Time Finding Publisher for Richard Henry Dana's "Two
 Years Before the Mast"
By E. j. EDWARDS.


 One of the great sea classics Of English literature Is Richard Henry Dana, Jr.s Two Years Before the Mast" As is we'll known. the book was the outcome of voyage that it's author made as common sailor around the Horn and up the Pacinc coast in the fifties of the last cen tury. He left college to make the trip in the hope that the hardly life on the deep would cure his weakened eyesight, caused by an attack or measles His father, Richard Henry Dana, the poet, was fully able to send his son on a health seeking sea voy- age as a passenger, even on one ex' tending around the world. But young Dana as a lad, had conceived a great fascination for the sea. and 1t was ms own idea that he sail before the mast At that time he was still in his teens.
 Young Dana wrote the story of his experience as a sailor partly on snip board and partly after he returned 10 his home. The story finished, he showed the manuscript to his father.
 "The old gentleman was delighted with it," said the late Col George Bliss. for many years a prominent politician of New York state, and an intimate friend of the Dana family He was so delighted with 1t that about the first thing he did after read ing 1t was to hunt up his warm friend. William Cullen Bryant, and give him the manuscript to read. Bryant gre" almost as enthusiastic over the story as the boys fatber had done. ana when Dana. Sr., asked Bryant if he could find a publisher for the story, Bryant gladly replied that he woulc make every effort to do 90, since nc considered the book second 'RoDln' son Crusoe,' and was equally sure that 1t would net it's writer and its pup fisher each a fine profit.
 Bryant entered upon his loves e" rand with great enthusiasm. But pub fisher after publisher refused to be tempted by the poets enthusiastic praise of the story. They could zee nothing in the book, they said. thas would attract the public to 1t.
 At last Bryant carried the manu script to Fletcher Harper. He tolc Harper what he had told other pub fishers about the book; among other things saying that though 1t was the work of mere boy, it was, never theless. in his opinion, second Rob inson Crusoe' Harper was decidedly reluctant at first to give the book all, serious consideration, but at last he told Mir. Bryant that he would buy the manuscript outright, including the copyright. provided he did not have to pay over three hundred dollars for it.
 Bryant. remembering what he hao been through. thought that was a pretty fair bargain and he let Fetch CT Harper have the manuscript for two hundred and fifty dollars. l be- lieve, and twenty-five copies of the book You know the hit that the book made in this country as soon as it was published. And 1t was the first American work to be widely translated. If Harper had accepted it on a royalty basis that would have meant a small fortune for young Dana. But Dana never regretted that he did not reap a fortune out of the book. He was satisfied with the fame that the story brought him much more satisfied than he would have been with any pecun1ary sue cess"
 | Copyright. 1911, by F. J. Edwards. All Rights Reserved)