The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1921-09-15
ALEXANDRIA DENIES
BANNING OF BOOK
ADMITS, HOWEVER, THAT NO
COPIES OF "MAIN STREET"
ADORN LIBRARY SHELVES
RETURNS BOOK TO PUBLISHER
MILWAUKEE JOURNAL INSISTS
EXPULSION OF BOOK WAS
SECRETIVE AFFAIR

Probably no piece of fiction publish
ed In late years has received as much
free advertising, favorable and other
wise, as Sinclair Lewis Gopher Prair-
lie" or main Street."
A few weeks ago a story was sent
out from Alexandra to the Twin City
newspapers that that city had ban
Isned the book from the public library.
It was thought by some this action
was taken because Alex was jealous
of the advertising that Sank Centre
was receiving from the book.
After lapse of several weeks the
following dispatch was also sent to
the Twin City Press in which DENIAL
is made:
Alexandria, Sept. 10-The public
library of this city is without a copy
OF Sinclair Lewis main Street." Al
though it has no copy, G. A. Kortsch,
president of the board, denies it was
removed by the censors as was report
ed from here several days ago. Mr..
Kortsch says the board received a
copy of the book, but that it was
found defective and returned to the
publishers. 1t never was placed on
the shelves, he said.
The Milwaukee Journal of recent
date commented on the expulsion Of
the book by the Alexandria library
officials as follows:
"Sinclair Lewis "Main Street" has
been banished from the Alexandria
public library, at Alexandria, Mimi. {,
near Sank Centre. Critics. may ex-
haust their superlatives and a reading
public stand in awe Of the gen
Jus who created such novel, But
there amt going to be no such book on
the shelves in Alexandria while
the board of censors retains it's con-
seriousness, courage and authority.
No, Sir!
"But strenuous days are in prospect
for the board of censors. The small
body which stands out against judg-
ment of America will need vast funds
of courage, more than that which can
be bought for II cents, the chapter
concerning which is supposed to have
incensed the libraries.
Already it is limited that Alexan-
dria has taken Main Street altogether
too personally to remain on good
terms with Mr.. Lewis, who has just
written letter to his home town,
Sank Centre, Mimi, saying that it
wasn't this town which he painted in
his book. 1t is even unkindly sug-
gested that Alexandria thinks it is
Gopher Prairie and that Lewis pictur-
ed it too painfully realistic to permit
of its being sent to friends.
"Main Streets expulsion was a
highly secretive affair. Those who
asked at the library had been told
some time that the book wasn't in
favor among the best people because
it wasn't altogether fair to the small
town. But the demand was insistent
and the library board finally authoriz-
ed the purchase of few copies. Then
one dark night a censor must have
mistaken the fiction department for
the archaeology shelf. At any rate,
the book was discovered, profanely
presuming to associate with Ben Hur.
Then, offering no explanation, not
even maintaining the artistic fitness of
things by throwing it out into Main
st, the censors did their plain duty by
every small town that can take offense
at Gopher Prairie.
"Now some smart travelling man,
hearing all about the censors, went
and expressed the opinion that Mr..
Lewis had left few characters out
of his book"
Meanwhile the sale of the book is
increasing by leaps and bounds.