Document text
--> --> Horatio Alger, scrawny genius By Jeff Cheek Horatio Alger had a superior brain trapped in a thin, scrawny body. During the Civil War, he twice tried to enlist in the Union Army but could not pass the physical. Later, the police arrested and held him without bail. They refused to believe their timid little prisoner was the famous writer. He was born on Friday 13, January 1832 in Revere, Mass. His father was a domineering, Unitarian minister who was determined that his son would also train to he a preacher. Horatio lived in isolation at Harvard. His more worldly classmates called him "Holy Horatio." His landlady, a widow named Curran, tried to seduce him. Once she walked into his bedroom stark naked. Horatio fled and wrote in his diary: "I shall have to move to someplace where there is more respect for decency." His next landlord was an elderly man, Floyd Thurstone. When Horatio learned his friend was about to loose his home to the bank, he entered an essay contest, then gave the $40 first prize to Thurstone to make his mortgage payment. Graduating in 1852, Horatio rejected his father's demand that he study for the ministry. He tried to support himself as a tutor. Finally, after going without food for a week, he agreed to enter Harvard's School of Divinity. At the graduation ceremony, he learned that Thurstone had died, leaving him $2,000. Alger took the money and left for Paris to study art. The 28 year old misfit met an understanding French cafe singer, Elsie Montselet, who took him home with her. The next day, Horatio wrote in his diary: "I was a fool to have waited so long." When his money ran out, he came home and became a minister, but secretly worked on a book. He published "Rag Dick" in 1866. It was a best seller. In the next three decades, he wrote 118 more. His books have sold an estimated half billion copies. Actually, he only wrote one hook. The others have the same plot with different characters and locales. The hero is honest, self confident, hard working and brave. By diligence and courage, he succeeds in life, makes a fortune and marries the boss's daughter. Each book was an idealized version of the American dream. When he was in his late 50's, Alger fell in love with a married woman. Her names was supposedly Una Smith. Her husband was away on an extended business trip. Una moved in with Horatio and the love struck writer spent his savings on gifts and entertainment for his paramour. Smith returned, reclaimed his wife, and sailed for France. Poor Horatio wanted to follow his paramour but he was broke. Alger sat down and in an incredible 27 days wrote two 80,000 word books, "Frank & Fearless," and "Upward & Onward". He caught the next boat for Paris, only to find that Una was no longer interested in him. He wandered around Europe for months, then sailed for home. His agent said that he had aged twenty years. He literally died of a broken heart, dying at his agent's home on July 18, 1899. Horatio Alger plans are often called "Pie In The Sky" ideas. Arminta Braasch sent me a signed copy of her cookbook "The Gastrological Cook Book," which has a recipe for "Pie in the Sky" pie. Like Horatio, it is different, but good. INGREDIENTS: 3 eggs, beaten 1 cup sugar 2 1/2 tablespoons tapioca 1 cup fresh orange juice 1 tablespoon lemon juice Grated rind of one orange 1 unbaked pie shell PREPARATION: Stir all ingredients together, pour into pie shell. Bake at 350 degrees until firm, about 35 minutes. Very tasty with a dollop of whipped cream. Jeff Cheek lives in Medford Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing