Life — September 22, 1910 — page 18: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

-LIFE: () OPULAR DIATHOR HERES HOW CUNTON SCOLLARD Born September 18, 1860 Mr. Scollard was born in Clinton, N. Y., graduated from Hamilton College, studied in Harvard and in Cambridge, Eng- land, and was professor of English Literature in Hamilton from 1888 to 1896. He has written many books, is the author of many splendid poems and is valued by ourselves as an old contributor and a friend. We therefore wish him many years of metrical happiness May the gods be ever kind to him JOHN TOWNSEND TROWBRIDGE Born Seztember 18, 1827 Mr. Trowbridge is one of our oldest and most distinguished writers. It was only recently (comparatively speaking) that. reminiscences were running in the Atlantic Monthly, and very delightful reading they were. We who are now in the thick of the literary battle have little time to hark back to the literary workers of the last generation; but when we do we a'ways find a whole world of interest, and in this world Mr. Trowbridge occupies a unique and valuable position. This is by no means to say that his books are no longer read; he still conmmands a large audience, and interest and excitement and wholesomencss we know of no bettter writer. Sir, we are happy in the privilege of wishing you a happy and prosperous birthday. JAMES BARNES Born September 19, 1866 Mr. Barnes’s birthplace (Annapolis) foreshadows the trent of his writings, for some of his most successiul books have dealt with the American Navy. Perhaps the most popular of these is Yankee Ships and Yankee Sailors. His style is casy and delightful. and his’ information about our navy is always authoritative and inspiring. He has done much to stimulate and direct the taste of our youth toward the study of their country’s. history. Mr. Barnes is a Princeton man and for some years has been a journalist. He is popularly known as “ Jim," and deserves the title, for he is a good’ fellow. Indeed, we haye never known any man whose friends called him “Jim” to his face who was not a good fellow. We salute you, therefore, "Jim" Barnes, with every cere- mony that is appropriate for this happy occasion. And we trust that you will continue to grow in popularity and esteem UPTON SINCLAIR Born September 20, 1878 Mr. Sinclair, it will be remembered, is the author of The Jungle. “He has also written ten other books. He is a social- ist and some time ago experimented with Helicon Hall, designed to offer a com- munistic refuge toa few kindred souls. He has also recently been in search of health and claims that he has found it by cating nuts and fruit exclusively. We trust, sir, that you have not. been mistaken. We hope that whatever health you have found will continue to stick to you for many years, and that you will grow in wisdom and conservatism and finish Here's to your future. May it never grow less! CHARLES EDWARD RUSSELL Born September 25, 1860 Our magazines have recently come to occupy a command- ing position in the field of literature; they have come to be discussed by eminent observers, to be com- pared with their English contemporaries and to be dissected by analyists. And it has been generally conceded that they are won- derful engines for instruction and elucida- tion, The magazine, indeed, is usurping all of the best offices of a newspaper and the American spe ine article on wha is termed a itself. Mr. Russell has been one of the most potent influences in this new departure; his has been a higher muckraking, which consists in the main of an intelligent weaving together of important facts in order to carry home a certain lesson. Our morals have been improved by this sort of thing and we rejoice in men like Mr. Russell. We hope, sir, that you will live many years among us and continue to exert your good offices. You are a. first-rate magazine writer, which is high praise. And you deserve to be congratulated on your achievements, Our hats are off to you! GEORGE F, BAER Born September 26, 1842 General Baer is popularly supposed to be in the public-be. damned class that many years ago was started by Mr. Vander- bilt, General Bar's celebrated reference to divine intervention connection with the anthracite coal strike in 1902 having lifted him into this class. He began his career as a country journalist and before the Civil War he the part owner of a paper During the war he was active; was elected a captain in the Army of the Potomac, was in the second battle of Bull Run and at Chancellorsville was detailed as adjutant- general, After the war he studied law, Conrig “ came a prominent lawyer, was counscl for the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad and the confidential ac viser of Mr. Morgan. Later he became president of the Phil delphia & Reading and other raitroads. Sir, up to the moment of going to press, we have not dis covered that you have displayed any socialistic tendencies. You are a prominent financier, prominent railroad man and prominent coal-mine owner. In these capacities it is our busi ness to salute you, and we do salute you with approp: manifestations of unprejudiced good will. We take pleasure in making ourselves think, on this your natal day, that you are doing the best you can for the brotherhood of man. And we congratulate you accordingly on your birthday, HENRY PHIPPS Born September 27, 1839 Mr. Phipps, it will be remembered, was a one-time associate with Mr. Carnegie and distinguished for having, next to Mr. Car- negie, the largest interest in the United States Steel Compan: as born in Philadelphia, worked i a hoy and rose to his present position through indi- vidual ability. He is one of our most note- worthy examples of a self-made ma Mr. Phipps, we bow to your superior achievements and wish yot well! Gasoline for Battleships ‘i is rumored that the problem of putting automobile engines into battleships has been successfully worked out in Eng land, and that in ten or twelve years all existing navies will have been sent to the scrap heap and coaling stations will be of no more use. Present times are too fast for navies. Their struggles to keep up are becoming ludicrous. comicbooks.com