Evening star., 1951-01-10
Sinclair Lewis Noted Novelist,
Won Nobel Literature Prize

books was Elmer Gantry." tht
story Of an evangelist with un-
ministerial appetites It was
widely denounced and even more
widely read.
Shortly before this book ap-
peared, Lewis spoke from the
pulpit Of the Linwood Boulevard
Christian Church in Kansas City.
He ridiculed Fundamentalism and,
as an experiment" challenged
God-"if He is a Fundamentals
God"-to strike him dead within
10 minutes. He placed his watch
on the pulpit.
Accused Dresser of Plagiarism.
The red-headed novelist once
ruft1ed the normally smooth wa
ters Of American letters by an
oblique attack on Theod ore
Dresser. Mr.. Dresser was then the
doyen Of the profession and gen.
orally considered a runner-up for
the Nobel Prize that Mr.. Lewis
won. The incident was climaxed by
Dresser slapping Lewis a couple
OF times. The engagement took
place in one of the softly pushed
rooms OF a sedate private club
on a March evening in 1881.
Mr.. Lewis was guest at a dinner
IN honor of Boris Pilnyak, a Rus
sian writer. When the toastmaster
called on him for the first speech,
Lewis unwound his long, thin legs
and Slowly arose from his chair.
Speaking in calm voice and in
a languid manner, he said:
Il am very happy to meet Mr.
Pllnyak. But I do not care to
speak IN the presence of one man
who has plagiarized 5000 words
from my wife's book on Russia
Nor do I care to talk before two
sage critics who objected to the
Nobel committees selection of me
as Americas representative writ.
err"
MI Lewis named no names, but
those at the dinner knew at
whom the plagiarism charge was
leVeled More than two years
earlier. Lewis wife, Dorothy
T h mpson, had charged that
Dresser in his book. Dresser
Looks at Russia" had borrowed
quite lioerally from her 1.-THE New
Russia" Mr.. Dresser had made
a denial. saying that both writers
had used the same source for ma
terial.
Insult Avenged.
After Mr.. Lewis had spoken his
brief piece, he sat down and re.
sume6 his interrupted cigarette
The other guests sat in amazed
silerce. Irwin S. Cobb was sum.
monej by the toastmaster to fl
the breach with his dry humor
Mr.. Dresser was one of the late,
speakers.
After the dinner ended, Dresser
and Lewis were seen seated at ;
table. upon which they alternatel,
pounded. Their voices were low
but one Of the observers reportes
he heard Lewis use the word
liar" and Cheat" Thereupor
Dresser slapped him. The word.
and slap were repeated.
Mr.. Lewis writing covered 8
wide range.
"Dodsworth" as q story of q
self-made man who retired tc
a life Of ease in Europe. where
he ran across a widow who helped
to mellow him.
"CasS Timberlane" told of a
middle-aged man who married q
young wife.
"Kingsblood Royal was an at.
tack on intolerance. In it a sue.
cessful young banker who hac
expressed strong racial prejudice
suddenly discovered he was q
Negro and voluntarily became the
target for prejudice.
Other Lewis books included
"Mantrap." "The Man Who Knew
Coolidge" "Ann Vickers," Work
OF Art" "Prodigal Parents" and
Gideon Planish." He also collab.
GRATED IN writing several plays
Some OF his novels were filmed
MIR. Lewis first novel, "Our Mr.
Wrenn. appeared in 1914. He
wrote four more without attract
ing attention. Then in 1920 Main
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