Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-20
SUNNY SIDE UP


named Merritt Williams. Until yesterday
was of the impression that the name was Will
Hanson. The two later went to Toronto and
Almonte (Ontario). At Almontc, Williams
picked up copy of +. =. Roe's Barriers
Burned Away He wrote his name on
hyleaf at the time, and when through with
the volume turned it over to my father for
reading. My father read it. He left Will
liams some weeks later. having returned the
volume, and came to Philadelphia. This was
in the early eighties. In the spring of 1888
my father went back to Toronto and Almonte
to see some relatives, and while in Almonte
learned that Williams had died two years
before. Williams had been married, and
while at the widows home and about to
leave on his return to Philadelphia my
father CHANGED upon that old copy of Bar
riers Burned Away" He asked if he
might have it for his bookcase and Mrs. Will
liams gladly gave him the book. over which
he and his friend had pored sixteen years
before.
My father returned to Philadelphia by
way of Erie, Pa, and while on train run
ming between Erie and Philadelphia read
newspaper reports of L. p. Roe's death He
clipped some accounts of Roe and placed
them inside the book, on the fyleaf of
which his deceased friend had written his
name. On reaching Philadelphia he pasted
one of the clippings opposite the title page
and another on the second page of the Dodd
& Mead catalogue bound in at the end.
My father had spoken to me several times
of Roe-told me that he had read '"The
Opening of Chestnut Burr" Barriers
Burned Away" and several other books
But he never told me the story of his copy
of Barriers Burned Away" until it came
out so Unexpectedly yesterday. Late in 1888
or early in 80 my father permitted the
Williams copy of the book to go out of his
possession-a friend wanted to read it. Be-
fore time for the return of the volume came
round my father had changed his position
and Barriers Burned Away never came
back. Some weeks ago he told me that he
wanted to read the story again and asked me
to watch for copy of it.
Now for the remarkable happening Of yes
terday. i was at Leary's' fifteen cent stand.
j saw a copy of Roe's Barriers Burned
Away" and while it looked so poor copy
that l had no intention of buying it for my
father, | picked it up out of curiosity. OF
course knew nothing then of the story of
my fathers copy. l turned to the title
page. Opposite were two clippings tone an
account of Roe's DEATH and the signature.
July, 1885," l recognized the writing at
once. Making allowance for some change in
the lapse of years, it was impossible that this
wasn't my fathers thirty one years ago.
examined the iyleaves, and you may guess
that my heart thumped when l read on the
first, M. A. Williams, jan, 1874"
When / went home / asked my father
when he contracted his habit of cutting clin.
pings from newspapers. MANY years ago. :"
was his reply. l spoke of Barriers
Burned Away" and he said that his friends
name was Williams and not Williamson, 1"
as had thought. j then showed him the
volume l had picked up. Before / un.
wrapped the book he said he had an '.im-
preston" that he had written something on
one of the leaves. Immediately on looking
into the book gave him he recognized il os
his long lost copy.
So, you see, here's a volume that has been
out of sight thirty one years and comes bacl,
to a man through the incurable biblomania
of one of his sons! j. Nj. SHIELDS.
Dove Dulcet says that the surest path to
failure is to divide your pay envelope fifty
fifty with your wife. He says the best way
is to give her ninety five and keep five (per
cent, that isl.
This j. what he calls the thrifty thrifty
method. SOCRATES.