Cayton's weekly. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1916-1921, 1920-10-23
THE PASSING THRONG


Lloyd Hampton, which gave me no particu-
lar concern for the moment, but, after read
ing a few paragraphs of the story, | again
glanced at the head and at the name of the
author, and it Immediately occurred to me
that Edgar Lloyd Hampton was none other
than f. l.. Hampton, erstwhile Seattle week
~ newspaper man, with whom | was per-
sonally acquainted and with whom | had
often exchanged journalistic compliments I
finished the story and thought it unusually
clever, yes, far more clever than | had the
slightest idea he could write. For some
time | had lost sight Of him, but l have
recently learned that he is now devoting his
entire time and talent to story writing and
Is classed literary man. Once, while
talking with Hampton, he threatened to
break into short story writing but my only
reply was a significant grunt and sickly
grin. But he gave me an idea and I too
decided to try my hand at short story writ
ing and at once got myself busy on my
initial number. 1t was finally completed,
but as to it's merits l have no comment, but
| began to send it here and there for con-
sideraton Of publishers and as often as I
sent it just as often was it returned to me
and frequently without word of comment
Finally read the story to couple of friends
and they were simply delighted, and advised
me to send it to some high class publication,
but [ told them my story and like flash
one of them shouted, have it, I'll get Jack
New York to send it, which he did, and the
stroy not only published but the writer
got fattering compliment and likewise a
fat check all Of which thoroughly disguised
me and | gave up the short story writing
idea. All Of that came wildly to my mind
after ] had read Hampton's story and I
was soon in a deep reverie and after think
ing for moment, | got up and pulled on
my street clothes and then got my car and
drove twenty-five miles into the country to
collect two year subscription due Cayton's
Weekly and got $3.50 Of the four dollars at
a cost of $500 for gas and OIL and as I
made my way homeward an air of content
lnent came over me and [ said to myself,
If | can only live long enough | will yet
set the world on fire.
see by the daily press that one James
Hamilton Lewis stands good chance of be-
ing elected governor Of the state of Illinois
the Democratic ticket and I said when
will wonders cease? Thirty years ago this
self same James Hamilton Lewis was a
struggling hot air artist practicing law in
Seattle and owing to his foppish ideas, was
dubbed ''Dude Lewis by the entire popu-
lation. He adopted mannerism, which
made you see him and talk about him. He
was more or less the public laughing stock
of the city and even the Northwest, which
he quite enjoyed. He talked we'll but wild
ly He favorably impressed the uneducated
and amused the well read person. But Dude
Lewis persued the even tenor of his way.
Then came the days of Populisms, followed
by the Bryan 16 to l days and on the tidal
wave Of the combination he was elected to
Congress from the state of Washington, but
was miserably defeated for reelection two
and Of
by the people and the press Of the COM
munity that he left the state in utter dis
gust and settled in Chicago where he took
root downward and began to grow upwards
almost from the very day he landed there.
First he was elected corporation counsel, then
lnited States senator, then candidate for
the presidency and now almost in reach
of the governorship of the great state Of
Illinois and all that and still Democrat.
What strange fortunes seem to follow some
persons. | have always more or less admired