"THE FORGOTTEN MAN" IN JULY, 1899, the publishing community
learned that financial difficulties were seriously embarrassing
the great house of Harper. For nearly a century this
establishment had maintained a position almost of preeminence
among American publishers. Three generations of Harpers had
successively presided over its destinies; its magazines and
books had become almost a household necessity in all parts of
the United States, and its authors included many of the names
most celebrated in American letters. The average American could
no more associate the idea of bankruptcy with this great
business than with the federal Treasury itself. Yet this
incredible disaster had virtually taken place. At this time the
public knew nothing of the impending ruin; the fact was,
however, that, in July, 1899, the banking house of J. P. Morgan
& Company practically controlled this property. This was the
situation which again called Page to New York. In the preceding
year Mr. S. S. McClure, whose recent success as edito