Evening journal., 1912-01-31
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
A Story Of the Author Of
TON Brown Of Rugby"
By Holland
By Holland

Thomas Hughes, whose TON Brown
at Rugby" is a literary immortal, un-
dertook, quarter Of a century after
he had produced his great work, TO
found and carry on a cooperative, al
most socialistic, settlement at Rugby
Tenn, on the headwaters Of the South
Fork of the Cumberland river. He was
largely induced to establish his expert
ment there through the advice Of the
late Abram s. Hewitt, who was elect
ed mayor Of New York city in 1885
over Theodore Roosevelt and Henry
George, and who for many years be-
fore his death was one of the leading
iron and steel authorities Of the world.
Mr.. Hewitt and MIR. Hughes met in
England when the latter was looking
about for a suitable place to start his
cooperative settlement Mr.. Hewitt
called his friends attention to the fact
that a promising coal and iron in
dustry was being developed in south.
ern Tennessee and northern Alabama,
and he suggested TO Mr.. Hughes that
it probably would be wise thing for
him to locate his settlement some-
where near this developing center, as
it would afford a steady and ever in
creasing market for the products of
the cooperative enterprise. Mr
Hughes was impressed with Mr.. He
Wits belief in the future Of what is
now the great Birmingham coal and
iron center; he personally made an
investigation. Of the region, and at
last picked out spot near the head
waters Of the South Fork of the Cum
berland river for his settlement Of
English artisans and farmers and
called it Rugby. The experiment was
only partially a success.
Upon Mr.. Hughes visit to the re-
gion where he finally decided to To-
cate" said Mr.. Hewitt, "he called upon
little committee of the plain people
who lived in that vicinity. The spokes-
man for the committee with much dif-
fdence put this question 10 him
"Will you tell us if you are the man
who wrote the book called Tom
Brown at Rugbyg
Yes, | wrote that story Mr.
Hughes replied; and l am glad to
know that in this remote part of the
world there is some one who has ever
heard of or read it
You don't suppose, sir, that any
boy who can read the English Ian
guage ever fails to read that bookY
the citizen asked; and then added:
Well, sir / want to ask another ques-
ton In the book you wrote about a
boy who went to Rugby to school
whose name was Arthur He was a
good boy without being too good. His
| influence was felt by all of the boys
of that school Now, sir, was there
ever such a boy in your life?
Yes Mr. Hughes replied, and the
boy from whom I took that sketch. is
now living He is Dean Stanley-the
dean of Westminster Abbey of London
and all that was said of him in thai
book is true
Well, sir, replied the citizen, 'tha
is all we want to know. Any maj
Who told the story that you told II
that book and who wrote about tn
boy Arthur as you wrote will be vel
come here, and so will all his friends
DO you know said Mr. Hewitt, "
think that compliment pleased Ton
Hughes more than any other he eve
received about his book, and l hav
always thought the experience settle
with Mr. Hughes the question of locat
ing his settlement in that vicinity
Copyright. 1912. by i. Edwards
All rights reseryed.)