Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 May 1901 — People and Events [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

People and Events

"The Breadwinners.” The attempt at this late day to find in an Illinois woman the doubtful honor of the authorship of “The Breadwinners’’ deserves a place among the curiosities of literature. vVe can readily understand that as events have shaped themselves since 1883 the real author would gladly escape attention behind another name, for when he the book it is not likely that he foresaw a public or political career for himself. Fortunately it is too late for any misapprehension as to the author’s identity. That was settled long ago by external arid internal evidence. As to internal evidence alone the book is the boldest apotheosis of snobbery, aristocracy and the money power and the nastiest sneer at the common people so far written" in this co'untry. It had but one purpose says the New York Journal, that was to show the essential vileness of every person not a millionaire and the divine sublimity of the men that make great sums of money. According to the teachings of this book the - man that labors with his hands'is an ignoble creature and the man that lias no occupation but to pursue the refined and elevating amusements of society is the only respectable person in the community.