The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-02-16


T was a warm afternoon In the early
spring. and the air in the office was
close and heavy. The letters OF the
morning had been answered and the
proofs corrected and the gentlemen
who had come with Ideas worth one col
umn at space rates. and which they
though, worth three, had compromises
with the editor on q basis OF two and
departed. The editors desk was COW
cred with manuscripts in a heap, heap
tha; never seemed TO grow less. and each
manuscript bore a character of its own,
as marked OF AZ unobstrusiYe as the
character Of the man OF Of the woman
who had written it, which disclosed Itself
In the care with which some were pre-
sentcJ for consideration. In the vain lit
tie ribbons Of others or the selfish man
ner ,n which still others were tightly
rolled or Wiley scrbblcd.
The editor held the first page Of a
poem in his hand. and was reading IL
mechanically, for its length had already
declared against it, unless 1t might
chance to be the precious gem out OF a
thousand. which must be chosen IN spite
OF its twenty stanzas. But as the editor
scanned the verses again as one would
turn 10 look a second time al n face
which seemed familiar. At the fourth
s,anza his memory was still IN doubt,
at the sixth Il was warming 10 the chase
and at the end Of the page was In fun
cry lie caught up the second page ana
looked for the final verse, and then at
the name below. and then back again
quickly 10 the title OF tho poem. and
pushed aside the papers on his desk In
search Of any note which might have
accompanied II.
The name signed at the bottom OF the
second page was Edwin Aran, the title
OF the poem was Bohemia" and there
was no accompanying note. only the
name Berkeley written at the top Of the
first page. The envelope in which II
had come gave no further clew. II was
addressed In the same handwriting as
that In which the poem had been writ
ten. and IL bore the postmark OF New
York city There was no request for
the return OF the poem. no direction TO
which either the poem itself or the check
for its payment in the event Of its ac-
ceptauce might be sent Berkeley might
be the name OF an apartment house or
OF a country place or OF a suburban
town.
The editor stepped out or his office
into the larger room beyond and said;
i've q poem here that appeared In an
American magazine about seven years
ago. | remember the date because
read II when / was at college. Some
one is either trying to play trick on
us, or to get money by stealing some
other mans brains"
II was in this way that Edwin Aram
first introduced himself TO our office.
and while his poem was not accepted.
IL was not returned On the contrary.
Mr.. Aram became TO us one OF the most
interesting of our would be contributors
and there was no author. no matter OF
what popularity. for whose work We
waited with greater Impotence. Bu;
Mr.. .Aram's personality still remained a.
completely hidden from us as were the
productions which he offered from the
sight Of our subscribers. For each Of
the poems he sent had been stolen out.
right and signed with his name.
II was through no fault OF ours thai
he continued to blush unseen. or that his
pretty taste In poems was unappreclateC
by the general reader. We followed III
every clew and every hint he chose q
give US with an enthusiasm worthy o
2 search after q lost explorer. and Will
an animus worthy Of better game. Ye
there was some reason for our interest
The man who steals the work OF anothe
and who passes it of as his own is tn
special foe OF every editor but this par
ilculsr editor had a personal distrust o
Mr.. Arsm. he imagined that these poem
might possibly be a trap which soneon
had laid for him with the purpose o
drawing him into printing them, and ther
Of pointing out by this fact how uttl
read he was, and how UNFIT 10 occup
the swivel-chair into which he hnd s.
lately dropped. Or II this were not III
case. the man was IN any event the enem
os ali honest people. who look unkiudI
on those who try 20 obtain money b
false pretenses
The evssions OF Edwin Aram 1er
many, and his methods 10 avoid dstsc
ton not without skill. HIS second poer
was written on a sheet OF note pape
bearing the legend 1.-THE shakespesr r
Debating Club. Edwin Aram. President
This was intended 10 reassure us a
20 his literary taste and standard, an
TO meet any suspicion we might feel ha
there been no address OF any sort accom-
panying the poem- No one We knew ha
sver heard OF a shakespeare Debatin
club in New York city. But We gave hil
rhe benefit OF the doubt untl we foun
that this poem. Ike the FIRST, was ais
stolen. Fis third poem bore his nam
and an address. which. on Instant lnqur,
turned out 20 be that Of a vacant lot Q
Seventh avenue near Central park.
Edwin Aran hsd ~ this tirno bccou