In recalling the past, one remembers when he stood in such sore
need of friends that he dislikes even the appearance of passing by
on the other side. There are no riches in the world like stanch
friends who prove themselves to be such in your need, your
adversity, or your weakness. I have some treasured letters
received after it had been telegraphed throughout the land that I
was a bankrupt and had found myself many thousands of dollars
worse off than nothing. The kindly words and looks, the cordial
grasp of the hand, and the temporary loan occasionally, of those
who stood by me when scarcely sane from overwork, trouble, and,
worse than all, from insomnia, can never be forgotten while a
trace of memory is left. Soon after my insolvency there came a
date when all my interests in my books then published must be sold
to the highest bidder. It seemed in a sense like putting my
children up at auction; and yet I was powerless, since my
interests under contracts were a part of my assets. These rights
had been well advertised in the New York and county papers, as the
statute required, and the popularity of the books was well known.
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