Life, 1884-03-20 · page 11 of 16
Life — March 20, 1884 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Who Wrote the Bread-Winners?" This page satirizes the literary controversy surrounding the anonymously published novel *The Bread-Winners* (1884). Life magazine presents four fake claimants to authorship, each accompanied by a portrait sketch. The satire works through absurd contrasts: a barely-literate 14-year-old boy, a vain society woman (Miss Annabel) who insists on secrecy while demanding publicity, an ex-convict recently released from "the Island" (Blackwell's Island prison), and an unnamed fourth figure. Each letter contains deliberate misspellings and ridiculous contradictions—Miss Annabel requests anonymity while asking for 100 marked copies of the editorial about her authorship. The joke targets both pretentious literary society and public obsession with authorship mysteries. By presenting increasingly implausible authors, Life mocks the actual debate over *The Bread-Winners'* real author (John Hay, which remained disputed). The crude portraits exaggerate each character's absurdity, suggesting that *anyone* could claim authorship, undermining the seriousness of literary attribution itself.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
WHO WROTE THE BREAD-WINNERS ? | acknowledge with much pleasure the receipt of the following letters, which limit the ques- tion of the authorship Of the Bread-winners : I. [Letter accompanying Photograph No. 1. New York, March 12. EppIver oF LIFE. DEER Sir; I am 14 yeers of age being took from the sub- freshmen Class where we studded orthigraphfy and Moril philos- sophfy and was 2 base in our base Ball 9 whot likced the stuffen out of the Hoboken: Tearers last sumer but perhaps you dont remember it Becos the Edditer forgot to Put no notice in But we whaled them 27 to Forteen, which was the Best they could do Iam Clerkking in a Wholsail Grozery But my Pa says I am ofa littery turn and so I write to say I am the auther of the Breadwiners. Yours afectiontly, WILLIAM ToMKyYNS JR. Ps, I think that is the title of the book My Pa wont be home from the horspital for a weak being took with shakes, but Ma says she is sure that is the Name. II. [Letter enclosing Photograph No. 2.] Jessamine Bower, Murphy Flats, New York City, March 13th. W. T. Jr. Dear, dear Mr. Editor ! How can I ever begin this note, and what can I say! You are a /otal stranger to me and yet——but then, the sweet, sweet | bond of literature binds our souls as one and——but what am I saying! You will see by the enclosed sun-kissed picture of my. self what Iam. It was taken by farticu/ar request of the Sorosis only last week, and Mama says it is perfect. What would Mama say if she knew I had sent it to you or to amy gentleman! But I feel that I must send it. But for worlds do not show it to any one. It would break Mamma’s heart, for she a/ways says her little Blossom must not be exposed to the rude, chilling blasts of the world until the sweet spring of her youth buds into sum- mer. Still, the moss rose cannot help exhaling its perfume, and O, I must write you the secret of my heart. I often feel the in- spiration to sit down in quiet hours and put down the thoughts which come to me. In one of these quiet hours I thought I would write a xovel, and I dashed it off that same week. It has been published, and is called the ‘‘ Breadwinners.” Now, dear Mr. Editor, unless you are forced to, do not betray my secret. If you are obliged to, put in your dear paper a long editorial say- ing that conclusive evidence has been shown us that this power- ful story is the first fruit of the genius of Miss Maria Annabel Parkyns, who modestly tried to withhold her true name. But do not say that / told you to doit. Please send me a few marked copies of the paper with the editorial—say a hundred, and do put it in your next. I am dying to seeit. Mammahas just come in. In haste, Miss PARKYNS. P. S.—Do n't tell any one. ANNABEL, P. S.—Make the editorial very strong. A. P. S.—You might send me 200 copies. BLossom. P. S.—That is what Mamma calls me. B. P. S.—Do not forget. I shall write to you very soon again. B. P. S.—I’shall be home a// Sunday. Il. (Letter accompanying Photograph No. 3.) Mr, Ed. Life: Dr. Sir: I enclose photo I am the orther of the B. Winners which is now running in some magasine I hear from Mr Bill Sawyer wh is my refferance SW cor 3 av near the Eleviated Road. He says if there is any money in it I sh’d get some, as I B. | have had some softnin trobble with my hed and just came off the Iland which is hard lines for a poplar riter. If this mater is not settled you will hear from me again Very rsptfully yrs Tuos JULLYBFE. Iv (Letter accompanying Photograph No. 4.) N. York, March 12. MisTER Eppitur: Me frend Dinnis Gooligan, a nevvy of Pete McSorley writes this fer me ter say that av anny more av thim fellys sez oi rote anny book about the Bread winners oil wipe up de flure widem, Oi sind a fotty graff of the last man what said of wrote it. He kin be inwhestigated at belvew. MIKE Doony. THis Is THE MAN IN BELLEVUE. comicbooks.com