10 THE OMATIA DAILY BEE : SUNDAY , JUNE 23 , 1805.
The only clcnnablp Refrigerator in
i the market. Prices no higher than oth fit
er dealers ask for trash.
'
. $ 2.75
for $ 4.9S
r' ' ? ° . .u.u.Fm.GI3HA. n $ 1O.OO
A $16.00 UCFMaUHAToil-
for
AN J1SOO HLTHiamiATOli rt %
fir
\ J2UCO nnrniGUUATOH
fir
SPEclal 8FFER -
HVIIV UAI.IUIS ;
THIS WEEK
: 1'ilco .
MOO Chenille Portieres , per pnlr st : IS
JHOO ChPtilllo Pottloles , per pilr Nl,7
$1200 Chenille I'ortlcres , per poll 157. IM _
' Th'i Polld Oik $1 fiO Lace Curtains , per pair. .
Pol shed Oik Exl nslon T-ib'c Easels tli It
- , s we , Hrfrlgerator $ J 00 Lace Curtnlns ,
Price $4.SO Pnc3 35c , 50c , 70c Price $100 Lace Curtain" , per pair
ti rl T ! ; - " T..ai ' .V
Pon't buy n cliervpliltc
Dinner Sot \\hen vou can
bu > of us a handsome decor
ated blue or brown 100-plccp
Ha\l'.anil slmpe Dinner Set
for
G..OO
SOLID OAK nnn HOOM st rr
PIP. . pi uoith ntuvvhere
$13 , this week's price. Jg25 00 This large antique , pl l " -hod , tlnl hed cine Tapestrj Covered
beat nnd back Rocker , worth $300 , this { $1.50 l orner Chair
week's price
price
Our Tbrms-Casli or
Bid 00 worth SI 0 iluuti
* 1 OO ni-plc SI OO inontli
' - ! ( > 00 north S OO ilnuii
SI 00 Hcek 84 OO month
M10 00 north-
Si fiO week S3 00 month
S3O OO worth
s' ! 00 week 97 OU month
S7. 00 t\ort li-
tSi 00 wcok # 8 OO month
8100 00 mirth
13 00 week 810 00 month
UJiOO 00 worth
81 00 wcolf 15 00 tiiontii
Piccures This \\vclc We nro
We have In stork
Japanese Screens In Hat Racks this week
, price , : Furnishers
all shapes and sizes ,
Tumblers from $ WO to $2 GO Lemonade Sets , , In the most comprehensive sense of the
will sell Every home should nord. Furniture , Carpets , Stoves , Ciock-
This week :
we , Draperj , lieddlng , Kitchen Goods
This week have one. They are Consisting of decorated pitcher and rjf\ - ery
iS12 Carriages for. $ 8-OO , 6 tumblers to match , also eleXr / A $ J no Hanging everything. You m.iKe but one bill of
I $15 CarriuRcs for SIO.OO 3c so nice for decorating gantly embossed tray , would beJJ | \ I iimp Ol 7(1 ( jour entire outfit You pay all cash or a If Impplnesi Initli home \ou M nil. ) . , , JLJ.
Wlieiu elm Uc und Fnut will IK cr mill ,
. . y
. vl.lU
ing , you know cheap at 5200 for . . . small part ca-h , balance later. .
AIth u kitt-litii In u hit U liK in a i > .ul i jou feel
-Ti > "THU Qt 1 < k MI.AL.
We are the Largest House Whatever others advertise
Furnishers in Ilia West.
you will fliid our prices lower.
THE HOPE OF THE COUNTRY
Echools aud Colleges as QuarcVana of the
Nation's ' Lfc.
DEPEWON PATRIOT SM AND EDUCATION
The Summer School ua n Fuctor In Amoil-
en's iduc.ittiiiinl SjrsUm M.ulstlcs ot
how York City Schools edu
cational > ( itc .
"Patriotism and Education" was the text
of Chauncoy M. Depow's instructive address
at the Vandorbllt university commencement
last week. The central thought of the ad
dress was that our schools and colleges were
the strongest hope of the country as It had
been of all nations In modern history. "In
the darkest hour of Gorman history , " said
Mr. Depew , . "Stein , the Incomparable states
man , appealed lor advice. He could not ask
for help , because the resources ot his country
wore exhausted and the rest of Europe was
either allied to or under the hefl of Bona
parte , The answer camu , not from camps
or cabinets , but from the lecture room of
the most remarkable educator of his time ,
I'rof. Flchte. 'Educate the Germans , ' was
his cry. 'Teach them not only the glorious
traditions of their race , but glvo to them
the trained Intellect and ttic disciplined mind
which will uulto the German peoples Into a
resistless power and make them the leaders
of Europe. ' Von Humboldt seconded Flchte ,
Stein saw the opportunity , and upon the
smoking ruins of the Napoleonic conquests
they bu'lded the University of Berlin. In
eighty years , with their Incomputable gym
nasia nnd their magnificent heats pf learn
ing , the German people became the best edu
cated In the old world. Their leaders In
camp , In cabinets and In parliament were
the graduates of their universities and the
best fruit ot their liberal education. The
crowning of William emperor of Germany
at Versailles , the triumph of Bismarck in tnc
unity of the Teutonic peoples Into one great
nation was the fulfillment ot Flchto K and
Von Humboldt's prophecy mat In education
lay the saltation of Germany r.iul thu future
of her progress and power.
"American Independence and the founding
of our nation upon canst tutloral ilncj , which
embodied the ex erleno and I'm lassons U
the ngcs , was the work if the g-ai ! i.Ues of
the colonial colleges. Harvard and Yale , and
Princeton , Columbia , and JVIlllam and Maty
were the architects of the Dcclat\tlon of In
dependence , of the constitution of the United
States , ot the union ot the states , and of the
incomparable system of executive , legislative
nnd judicial Independence and interdepen
dence which have survived so tucccssi'iilly a
century of extraordinary trial and unprece
dented development. Samuel Adams , In his
commencement thesis at H.uv.ird , struck th >
keynote of colonial resistance. John Moiln
Scott brought from Yale to New Yoik the
Icssona which prepared th.it rlcU and pros
perous colony for the sacrifices" the re
bellion. Alexander Hamilton , a ctudent ol
Columbia , although only 17 years of n- % In
tlory pamphlets which were nscr.bi.l to tin
ablest and oldest patriots , educated the popu
lar mind to the necessity of the B'lusglc ,
while the pen of Jefferson , ot William am ]
Mary , wrote that Immortal document which
Jives and will live forever a < the most com
plete charter of liberty.
"The central thought of Washington , tin
main spring of every uttcianco and action ol
his llfo , was the Inseparable connoct'nn be
tween the union ot the states and Amc--
lean liberty. He foresaw the storm whUi
was Impending , and like the great Oirmnti
whose method has resulted In euch n I lie-
cornenal triumph In our time , he believed
that civil war and domes'Ic strife rould be
averted by education ; not by provlncal , or
state , or sectional , or Isolated trarlili.g , hut
by n university at n common comer and
under the guidance of n broad , healthy , pttrl-
otlo ami national spirit. "
THD SUMMER SCHOOL.
There has come to be n new and highly
significant element la our American tyst > m
pf education. It Is the summer tchool.
The extent to which summer schools have
sprung up In all parts of the country , says
the Chicago Times-Herald , Is one of the re
markable features of the time. It Is n strlk-
ng indication of the peculiar alertness ,
docility and eagerness of the American spirit
at the present time. It Is also interesting
as showing the broad-minded and unselfish
quality of American culture , which Is as
ready to give as to get.
These summer schools are of necessity brief
In their continuance , but it would be wholly
wanting In truth to charge them with being
pretentious , or superficial , or sciofty. They
are neither more nor less than what thej
claim to be. They do not assume to take the
place of any other schools ; they supplement ,
the work and the influences of all the others.
That they are usually located at places of
most delightful summer resort , where \ailous
forms ot recreation and social enjoyments are
provided for , Is In no wise to their disad
vantage.
To Prof. Agassiz's zoological laboratory on
PenlKeso Island In the summer of 1872 be
longs the distinction of leading the way In
this large , new educational movement. Al
though it was continued for only two sum
mers , It was ot a character to attract at
the time universal attention. Then , In
1874 , the Chautatiqua school was Inaugurated
one of the most fruitful educational move
ments In all our history. Not only has It
gone on widening Its scope and adding to Its
facilities and Its power each year , but has
led the way for the establishment of n
hundred other similar summer schools all
over the country.
It Is all In all a wonderfully stimulating
fellowship of the brightest , best and most
forceful men and women older and younger
for which these most popular schools make
mosc delightful provision. It Is a high
fellowship of knowledge , of culture , of moral
force and spiritual aspiration , and , In many
ways , of the true enthusiasm for humanity ,
the penetrating Influences of which will both
surely and quickly reach out Into every
part of the country.
THE SCHOOLS OF NEW YORK CITY.
By the figures of the recent school census
as submitted to the Board cf Education , says
the Now York Sun , the number of male chll-
dien In New York City of school ago was
1GS.090 on-May 1 , and the number of female
children ot school age 171,730. Of the former
99,915 , and of the latter 98,834 were , at the
time of the census , In attendance at the pub
He schools maintained by the city.
By the figures of the school census of the
parochial schools of Now York recently pre
pared by Ht. Rev. John M. Farley , vicar
general and chairman of the Catholic school
board , the number of children In attendance
at the ICO parochial schoo's was S3.05S. The
number of children attending private schools ,
academics , college ? , Ira Jo schools , and other
Institutions oO Instruction was 30,000. The
number of truants Is 0,000. These are the
figures In detail.
Uoja of school nse In New York City 16'/0)
In public Fchbols ; "joi5
In imrochlnl schools 15,421
In ptlrate or trade fcliouU H v. ' )
At work 13 S > S
Tiinntu SJ ti3i
aiil of school dKO In Now YotIs.Cit > 171'M
In public fchooH iiSS3l
In jiiroclil.il orhoolf i.co
In [ > rUute school * 14 D7S
At woik JI.'CI
Tiuants 2C.U1
Included in the number ot children In at
tendance at private schools , po-callcd , are
7,000 at charitable Institutions under commit
ment. For these the city pays an average ot
$2 a week each , ruillnieut.il Instruction bo'ng
Included. The designation , truants. Is not a
correct cne technically , for nuny of the chil
dren so described are deprived of the Iicncllti
of public Instruction by rcisoii of the Insuf
ficient accommodations provided. It I ? com
puted by oftlclals of the Board of Education
that 15,000,000 will bo requisite for new
schools in New York before the evil of tru
ancy can bo disposed of , or greatly mitigated.
The city Is now expending J1S.OOO for the
salaries of truancy agents , but so Icng as th :
overcrowded condition of the schools In some
populous districts continues , the services of
the truancy agents are of comparatively llttlo
value.
The city cf New York Is e\penJlng for Its
public schools this year $5.100.000. The
parochial , private and. statc-alJ schools give
Ir.itructlon to over 00,000 children , and at
the same ratio of cost the sum disbursed for
the purpose of education In New York In a
yeir Is probably not less , with the expendi
tures of colleges added , than JS.000.000. An
'lcltoru ! ! ! CMicnJIture of { 13,000,000 , to be ob
tained from the Issue of bonds , vvoulJ do
away with the present evil ot truancy to a
considerable extent. The present value of
school sites in New York is about $7,000-
000 , and the value of the buildings for school
purposes upon these sites is $10,000,000 more
Twenty additional schools at $250,000 each
for land and buildings would repre ent an in
vestment of $5,000,000 , the immediate benefits
of which would be shown In Increased fa
cilities for Instruction , while one ulterior ad
vantage to the city vvouU come from the en-
hanceJ value of the land secured.
MADE HER WORD GOOD.
Mrs. Minnie HIckox , who has Just entered
upon the discharge of her duties as teacher
of the public bchoola of Cooke City , Mont. , Is
a lady who cannot fail of success in any
given direction. Her ambition and grit
would stand many a man In good stead
She Is one of the few women who are equal
to almost any emergency and is deserving
of praise for her Indomitable pluck.
She let' Livingston recently to open the
Cooke sctiool. Upon arriving at Cinnabar ,
the terminus ot the rallroaJ , she found that
the stage would not leave that day on account
of the washing out of the bridge across
Gardiner river. The stream was so swollen
that the stage driver dare not undertake to
make a ford. This wa a dilemma not
counted on by the plucky llttlo school teacher.
She had given her vvoul that she would be
In Cooke on the first day of the week and
she determined to make It gooJ , even if
she had to continue her journey on foot and
swim the streams. There was no time to bo
lost , and so she started out.
All there was left of the Gardiner bridge
was a slng'e stringer. Nothing daunted , the
lady stepped boldly onto this and walked
across the raging river. It was a perilous
undertaking , oven for a man , and a woman
less biavo and cool-headed than Mrs. HIckox
would have been very likely to have become
dizzy and lobt her balance. Mrs. HIckox ,
however , proved herself equal to the emer
gency and reached the opposite bank of the
roaring mountain torrent In safety. As luck
would have It , she found a family enroute to
Cooke camped close by. and securing a horse ,
mounted It and continue ! her Journey. It
was a pretty long ride for a woman who had
never ridden a horse the distance being
sixty milts over a rough mountain road but
Mrs. HIckox kept on her weary way until
she reached her destination. Upon arriving
at Cooke she was so badly used up with her
long ride that when she got off her horse she
had to be assisted Into the hotel. She had
the satisfaction , however , that she kept her
appointment.
IMurittloiml > < > ! < .
The California legislature passed a teachers
pension act. Twenty years continuous serv
ice In the state schools entitles a teacher
to retirement at $15 per month , and twenty-
five years service commands $50 per month.
The pension fund Is raised by Email levies
on the wages of teachers.
The Johns Hopkins trustees have Just
awarded twcntyone fellowships to graduates
of Johns Hopkins and other Institutions , wlm
Intend to pursue their studies at that univer
sity next year. The fellowships yield $500
each.
each.No
No phase of the growth of the University
of Pennsylvania has been so striking as the
number of new buildings Within the latt
five years five new buildings have rls"n on
the college campus the library , the Wlstar
Institute of Anatomy , the engineering build
ings , the laboratory of hgtene , and the
Harrison chemical laboratory The prcssnt
year will mark the completion of th ; How
ard H. Houston hall , the Agnevv pavilion ,
and the William Pepper laboratory.
/Trof. Hutchlns , who leaves Cornell at the
end of the university > ear to become dean ot
the school ot law of the University of Michi
gan , received the parting gift of a piece of
statuary from th ; professors and students of
the law school. Prof. Hutchlns has been at
Cornell since the opening of the law school In
1S87. Judge Francis M. Finch , who retires
from the court of appeal : this year , will un
dertake the active duties of dean , and will bt
assisted by Prof. William A. Finch , whom
the trustees have elected secretary of the
law school.
The Roxbury ( Mass. ) Latin school celebrated -
brated Its 2JOlh anniversary on the 19th
lust.
lust.The
The alumni of the University of Michigan
his arranged for a reunion and Jollification
at the college gymnasium on Wednesday
next. The members of all classes , from 1815
to 1S33 , are expected to be- there and assist
In making the golden jubilee ot the univer
sity a router.
The California Echcol of Mechanical Arti.
founded by the generosity of the late James
Lick , has proved to be a revelation to Its
trustees , teachers and students In more
ways than one. Although the school has
been In op ration for only about six months ,
it is already attracting general attention ,
and has so systematized Us students as to
abridge the labor of years and to attain
the most surprising practical results. The
academic building and shops , crowded with
ambitious students of both sexes and patient
teachers , are dally the scene of a most pleas
ing Industrial activity.
LMIUU .l.7 > IMtUtiTltr.
The Massachusetts shoe trade Is improving ,
and many men who have been Idle for years
are again at work.
A federation of 20,000 worklngmen has baen
foimed at Pittsburg. It proposes to wage a
fight for eighthours. .
Knights of Labor sold their Philadelphia
headquarters for $40,000 , paid a mortgage cf
$20,000 , and will used the balance to build a
location in Washington.
Improved mechanical apparatus has re
duced the number of men employed at the
Homestead , Pa. , steel works from 4,300 to
3,000 since the strike ot ' 02.
Employment Is now given to 4,250 persons
by the Pennsylvania Steel company at Its
plant at Steelton , Pa. , which Is within 100
of the largest number ever emplo > ed by tha
company.
The Keystone Iron works rolling mill In
Reading , Pa. , has resumed operations , after
an Idleness of throa years , In consequence of
which employment has been given to over
150 hands.
It Is anonunced that the mills of the Car-
ncglo company at Beaver Falls , Pa. , are to
be In operation within the next thirty days.
These two mills have been totally Idle for
almost a year.
The International Machinists union hai
made provision for the establishment of a
home for the aged and also for the protection
and care of widows and orphans. A defense
fund of $ COOCO has be = n created.
The Bolivian tin mines are very rich , but
they are generally situated at an altitude
of over 14,000 feet above sea level , so that
between high freights , lack of railroads and
Insufficient capital they are hardly developed
at all.
"Wood-pulp cotton" is made from whitewood -
wood which has been macerated with chemi
cals until it can be drawn Into a thread. The
threads so produced can be readily woven
and It is said that "cotton duck" made from
them can be washed.
For the first time In two years the White
Sewing Machine company of Cleveland , 0 ,
is operating all the departments of Its factory
on full time ten hours a day. Employment
Is now given to 300 men , , a large Increase
over a few months ago.
n
A NEW SWEEPER.
Improved Apparatus , Ior Sn-ccplnj iinil
All the street cleaning enthusiasts of the
town were at Haymarket square jesterJay ,
says the Chicago Qhronlclo to tee the trial
of a new street sweeping machine.
The new machine works on the principle
of a carpet sweeper. Resides the wheels , a
few gears and some levers nothing Is visi
ble but a big red boj ] hung close to the
ground. A brush Inside the box runs at
high speed and throws everything that conies
In Its path Into a receptacle located for
ward , This receptacle holds a cubic > ard
and Its contents are dumped at Intervals by
the driver. The machine did about as well
In cleaning the muddy Haymarket pavement
as Bother sweepers do under like conditions ,
Itn principal advantage being that the dirt
Is deposited In plies. As long as the pave
ment In Haymarket square was level the
sweeper cleaned It almost perfectly , but the
revolving brushes did not get Into the small
ruts , A strip of the pavement in Union
street was then tried. This pavement was of
granite blocks and was fairly smooth. The
test hero convinced the onlookers that the
tweeper would bo of service on the boule
vards and on asphalt streets , but that It
would scarcely do the work on the rougher
pavement. } .
A rubber scraper will hereafter be used
on all wool pavements after a rain and the
toft mud will be effectually removed. A
new bruth with bristles cut saw fashion
has been devised In order that the dirt may
be removed from the crevlcej In stone block
paving.
MISS MARY E.WILKINSVINjj \
The $2,000 , Pr.'zo in the Detective Story
Competition Goes to Her.
PROF. BRANDER MATTHEWS IS SECOND
How the l.nrcoit Sum of Money
Cflcrpil for a 1S.OOO Word Story
AVas Cumjioteil 1'ur uiicl
Anurilctl.
( CopMlght , Ii93 , by Ilarhpller , Johnson & Bach-
cllir )
HE fact that a
short story proved
a marketable com
modity at $2,000
ought to bo the
best possible evi
dence that It was
a very good short
Btory , Indeed. Two thousand dollars Is the
largest sum ever won In a short story
competition , and the kind of tale that could
secure such a prize Is a matter of the utmost
literary Importance as a guide to the pro
ducer of salable fiction. Itas a detective
story.
Probably the great popularity of the "Ad
ventures of Sherlock Holmes" nnd similar
talcs llrst revealed the possibilities of de
tective fiction. At any rate , such stories
and their Immense success prompted the
Bacheller newspaper syndicate to make Its
unprecedented offer. As no coupon scheme
or other claptrap contrivance marred the
contest , the competition rapidly assumed an
Interuattonal character , and some of ths
greatest authors living entered the lists.
Perhaps the details of the competition , the
surprises of the result and the high averag :
of the tales entered for the prize form a
story fully as thrilling as the best piece ot
\sork submitted. The story Is here told.
Cven the disappointed may not remain un-
consoled when it Is mentioned that one ex
cellent tale "A Diplomatic Mystery , " which
was written by A. E. Evans of Cheltenham ,
England , failed of serious consideration by
the judges because It could not b3 divided
advantageously.
The circular sent to competitors ran as
follows :
"It is Imperative that all storles be- re
ceived at this office on or before May 1 , 1895 ;
It Is desirable that they be recslvej as
early as possible.
"As to length , each story submitted must
come within the lines prescribed In the offer ,
otherwise It cannot enter the competition
All good stories will bo purchased at a fair
pilce.
"As to the character of stor.es desired
we can only say that we are teeklng clean
stories which will interest the average newspaper -
paper reader , and which can be published to
advantage in installments of about 2,000
words each. We hold that a very high qual
ity of art is consistent with these require
ments. The novelty and Ingenuity of the
plot , and the lltetary and constructive art
developed In its treatment are considerations
which will probably most * Influence the minds
of the Judges In reaching a decision. The
judges will be gentlemen ot unquestionable
fairness and competency.
"To facilitate our nork and insure legi
bility , all stories submitted must be type
written. "
All the stories were read In the first in
stance by Mr. Uacheller and a staff of experi
enced coadjutors. In accordance with the
terms of the competition , every manuscript
had to bo typewritten and accompanied by a
sealed envelope containing the name of Its
author. This was not to be opened until a
decision wat > reached. For Identification , the
envelope bore come mark , which was also to
appear on the s.ory submitted.
These rules- were violated In a number ot
Instances. Some of the manuscripts were In
execrable handwriting , and In many that were
typewritten the authors did not hesitate to
avow their names. Their stories , of course ,
could not be considered In the contest , Those
that were not typewritten , but were In legible
handwriting and otherwise complied with the
conditions of the competition were not thrown
out. The authrra who persist In rolling their
manuscripts were numerous. TbeLr itorlea
were read , however , but if the writers only
Knew the annoyance their particular packages
caused the examiners they would never again
send a rolled story to an editor whom they
wished to propitiate.
Fifty of the best stories were selected.
Each reader made a note of the stories read
by him , gl\lng a short account of it and ex
pressing an opinion on its merits.
The fifty stories were then handed to Mr
John H. Boner , associate editor of the Liter-
ard Digest.
Mr. Boner selected the best thirteen from
those fifty and handed them to Mr. Hamilton
W. Marbie , editor of the Outlook.
Mr. Mabtc selected the winning stories , and
checks for the fortunate competitors are at
their disposal. Mr. Mable received the
manuscripts only , without the envelopes , still
sealed , containing the names of the writers1
so that his decision was entirely unbiased ,
and he was not aware to whom he was awardIng -
Ing the prizes.
Both Mr. Mable and Mr. Boner recom
mended several other stories ? for purchase In
addition to the prize stories.
Mr. Mable's letter , giving the titles of the
prize-winning stories , is In full , as follows :
June 8 , 1893 Gentlemen : I hn\o rend the
stories submitted to me In typewritten
manuscript with Bjieclal regard to dramatic
Interest , inventiveness , novelty , and sim
plicity and dlicctness of style. In my
judgment the stoiy which combines thcbc
qualities In the highest degree Is thnt en
titled "Tho Long Aim. " Ne\t in Older of
excellence I should place that entitled "The
Twinkling of an llyo " Yours veiv truly ,
HAMILTON W MA13IIJ.
Messrs. liacheller , Johns-oil & Ducheller.
When the sealed en\elopes were opened It
was ? found that the author of "The Long
Arm" was Miss Mary E , Wllklns , the well
known writer of stories of New England life
and character. Miss Wllklns had In thla
Instance worked in collaboration with Joseph
Edgar Chamberlln of the educational staff of
the Youth's Companion. Mr. Chamberlln Is
widely known also as the "Listener" of the
Boston Transcript.
The author of "The Twinkling of an Eye"
was discovered to be Piof. Brander Matthews
of Columbia college.
MARY E. WILKINS.
Miss Mary E. Wllklns , who has thus boldly
entered a field hitherto entirely foreign to
her , and has taken first rank In It at the
first attempt , was born In Randolph , Mass.
She lived for some time In Brattleboro , Vt. ,
but on the death of her parents returned to
Randolph , which has clnco been her home
Miss WIlKlns wrote verses almost as early
as she could talk. Her first serious literary
efforts were In the direction of children's
stories. Afterward sbo became a contributor
to the Harpers ? ' publications. Probably her
strongest work Is "Pembroke. " Next that
she herself ranks "A New England Nun"
and "Jane Field. " Rev. Dr. Phillips Brooks
pronounced "A Humble Romance * the beat
short story ever written. Her understanding
of New England life and grasp of New Eng
land character have gl en her a world-wide
reputation.
Prof. Brander Matthews , the winner ol
the second prize , who Is professor of English
literature at Columbia college , was born In
New Orleans In 185' ' , He was graduated
from Columbia college In 1871 , and from the
law school of that Institution two years later ,
Ho has written copiously for the magazines
under his own nnme and that ot "Arthur
Fenn. " Ho IB the author of "The Theaters
ot Paris , " "French Dramatists , " "Vlgnrttea
of Manhattan. " "In a Vestibule Limited , "
"A Tale of Treasure Trove in the Streets
of New York , " "The Royal Marine , " "This
Picture and That , " and other volumes.
Prof. Matthews Is also the author of-several
plays. "A Gold Mlno" was played by Mr.
Nat Goodwin with success , nnd "On Proba
tion" was , written specially for Mr. W. H.
Crane.
Mr. John H. Boner , who brought the fifty
manuscilpts down to thirteen. Is a North
Carolinian by birth. Ho was formerly a
member of the staff of the Century Diction
ary. Afterward he became literary ed tor
of the New Yoik World , and Is now editor of
the Literary Digest. He Is a constant con
tributor of > crse to the mpgazlnes , and has i
published a volume of poems , "Whispering
Pines. "
Among the well known writers who sub
mitted stories In competition for the prUo
were Anna Kathcr.no Green , author of "The
Lea\enworth CaEc ; " Florence Marryat , Duf-
fleld Osborne , Robert W. Ch.imbars , author
of "The King In Yellow ; " Howard Fielding
and others.
Stories worthy of honondo mention were
written by John Seymour Wood of the Unl-
\erslty club , New York City : H. Lynde ot
i\
BRANDER MATTHEWS.
Richmond , Ind. , Edgar Thonnct Roy of
York City , and David Skeets Foster
lUlca. N. Y.
The competition disclosed many Interest
ing features , especial ! } the trend of thought
of the writers on the Mibccts assumed to
be the basis cf a detective btory.
The great fault with numbers of the
Etorles was the announcement In thu first
paragraph that n crlmo had btcn committed
and thu Immediate Intioluctlon of tUo astuta
detective , v.ho proceeded to uuruvol thu mys
tery. Such a bald tieatment was not cal
culated to affoid an opportunity for bright
writing , Interesting dialogue or plcturcsqua
dibcrlpilon. Many of the writers failed ut
terly In comprehending the logical seituenco
and development Indispensable to an effectlvo
detective story.
The favorite subject of the writers was
the theft of diamonds. Then came murder , '
abduction , kidnaping , lopnotUm and mysteri
ous disappearances. DUinouds , however.
S\cro the basis of the plot in a very larga
percentage ) of the storct ! > . Judging by thq
competition enough diamonds have been stolen
by decent peopl ? tinablo to resUt temptatloil
to.stock all the jewelers' Miops In Christen
dom , and to anticipate years of production
In the mines of South Africa and Qolconda.
The superiority of the professional writer
over the amateur hand was Immediately op *
parent to the reader. Even the poor storlet
by those accustomed to wilto were mora
easily read than those of the nonprafesslonals ,
who took up no many pages In coming to the
point and getting their thoughts under way.
The humorous and curious feat urea wcrot
numerous. One writer vent to t'lo trouble )
and expense of having his story eet up In
type. The scene wts laid In France , but In
his endeavor to glvo It a FVnch atmoapheroj
he had only succeeded In Investing It with )
a Brooklyn tone , and his mistakes , even ln (
the simplest French phrases and exprcJslonij
were ludicrous.
Still another was comic In Its absurdity ;
It must have been written by one of Lorcl
Byron's "bread and butter rnlssfH" at C
boarding school In Boston , for the scene vrav
laid In that city. The humor ot It lay Its
tin ) extraordinary Ideas of the writer ITS tt * JL-
th- manner In which the bu lne s of a largtf
firm In ( arrlod on and her curlr.u * Idria cf ) JLr
i rocedure. B. D , VALI.ENTINB , j r
