David G. Phillips, one of the latest of American authors to achieve a
measurable success and to give promises of a literary future, was born
in Indianapolis in 1866, his father being a banker in that city. After
a season spent in the local public schools and a preparatory collegiate
course, Mr. Phillips went to Yale, and while there determined to become
either a journalist or an author. On graduating he decided to go into
newspaper work and so became a member of the reportorial staff of the
New York World. It was not long before he attracted the attention of
Mr. Joseph Pulitzer, the proprietor of the World. Mr. Phillips was
in consequence given an editorial position. After some time spent in
the service of the World, Mr. Phillips resigned in order to turn his
attention to novel writing. Of his books A Golden Fleece and The Great
God Success have been fairly well received, but his last work, The
Confessions of a Crœsus, is distinctly the best thing that he has done
in the way of pure literature.