Curious Libel Action.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 69, 25 March 1904, Page 4

Curious Libel Action.

A literary sensation has just been created by the filing of a suit against Harper and Brothers, which fcangs upon a private entry made in Nathaniel Hawthorne's notebook when the famous author was acting as American Consul in Liverpool nearly 50 years ago. The suit is brought by Mrs Sarah .J. Lippincott, who is known in the literary world as Grace Greenwood. Mrs Lippincott, who, as Grace Greenwood, was known far and wide as a pioneer newspaper correspondent and as lire author of several books that wure famous in their day, is now a whitehaired woman past 70. She recently read aloud in publications by Harber and Brothers pages from Hawthorne's book containing references to herself which inflicted upon her serious mental discomfort and physical illness. The passage to which special objection is made relates to a visit made by Mr» Lippincott to the home of Charles Ivemble, the famous actor. It reads "About Hie middly of September Bennocli returned to tlie Continent. Bennoch told my father an anecdote of our friend Grace Greenwood winch as recorded in one of his private lluteliooka. Grace, Bennock nays, was incited to a private reading of Shakespeare by Oh-arles ICemble, and shi* thought it behoved her to manifest hfcr good taste and d»pth of iVcling by going into hysterics, and finally feinting away upon the floor: Theriupon Charles Kenible looked up from his book and addressed himself („ her sternly and severely : 'Ma'am ' said he, 'this won't do. ilu'ain vo'n disturb the company. Ma'am' 'von •xpose yourself.' This last bit had the desired effect, for poor Gr u-o prolmbly thought her drapery had not adjusted itself us it ought and that, perhaps, she really was exposing more of her charms than should be imparted in a mixed companv. So ehe came to herself in a hurry, and after a few subsided into a decorous listener." Mrs Lippincbtt declares Unit this account is both improper, disgusting, and false. She aays the truth is that the ag\>d actor himself was so affected that hu broke down and cried, and that she, mnong others, was in tears. Mis Lippincott's suit for 50,000d01. involves members of the Hawthorne famiij' now living.