Among the Literati

He was born Hyman but became a lawyer, poet, writer, economist, inventor, locksmith, importer and then Robert. Under that name (Robert Segal) he wrote a book of verse called “The Book of Pain Struggle”, a philosophical work entitled “The Law of Struggle” and now he is about to burst forth with a plan to save this tottering world. He calls the book “Triopoly”. Therein he advocates a social system which has as its basis a federation of industry, labor and the consumer. It will be published next week.

Mr. Segal who, with his brother, Samuel, organized the successful Segal Lock Company, has hopes that his “Triopoly” will find a ready response from the public. According to Mr. Segal’s press representative he has invented some fifty mechanical objects.

Did I say that Lewis Corey, the economist was a Jew? I was wrong. Mr. Corey is a Catholic but his wife is a Jewess and as he says, “My daughter is half-Jewish and her dog has no religion at all.” … The Brentano business is again in Jewish hands. Mr. A. Kroch, famous Chicago bookseller, was the successful bidder at the receiver’s sale held last week. Mr. Kroch bought the Chicago Brentano store outright and has become vice-president of the entire organization. Arthur Brentano, one of the original founders of the firm, will remain as president. The other Brentanos retained in the business are his son Arthur and his nephew, August. Lowell Brentano, who headed the publishing department, will devote himself to his plays. He was for a time contemplating the opening of a new bookstore.

Mrs. Alice Davis Menken, active in social and Jewish affairs, is putting the finishing touches on her book, which will be called “On the Side of Mercy.” It will be a record of her thirty years in social service work and will be published in September. Governor Lehman will write the introduction.

Rose Caylor, who once worked on a newspaper in Chicago and once wrote a novel, has done it again. After three years of constant work she has completed her second novel which will be called “The Journey.” It will be published in the Fall. Miss Caylor promised to deliver the book to her publishers two years ago and explained the delay by saying, “I am an amateur and that’s why I want my book to be good.” By amateur she means a person who does not have to support herself. She is the wife of a succcessful playwright and novelist. Her book is dedicated to Dorothy Parker and is about a successful playwright.

Maxim Lieber, who when he had a beard was the head of his own publishing house, and who now is a literary agent, is feeling very elated since his client, Erskine Caldwell’s novel, “God’s Little Acre”, was found to be fit for public consumption by Magistrate Greenspan. Mr. Lieber also represents Albert Halper. He (Lieber) no longer wears a beard….

Mike Gold never has started that sequel to “Jews Without Money.” …A Jewish publisher turned down a detective story that had a Jewish detective as its central character because he thought no one would think it real. He should see the roster of the New York Police Department….Eugene Meyer, former head of the Federal Reserve, has joined the ranks of Jewish newspaper publishers with the purchase of the “Washington Post.”