The "Boy Naturalist," Ernest T. Morris, strove for many years to be a naturalist-explorer-travel writer, but met with limited success. Although his New York World newspaper columns on life in the Amazon Valley were read by thousands, his book detailing his most thrilling journey was rejected by C. Scribner and others. He had high hopes... Continue Reading →
The Rejected
This past Friday I made a research trip to the library hosting the archives of a major American publisher of the nineteenth century. I went there hoping to find a reference to the manuscripts they had rejected, and the reasons why. My current research project, Ernest T. Morris, the "Boy Naturalist," had his book turned... Continue Reading →
The Accidental Homage to Ernest Morris
The photo below was taken three days ago of the Old Washington Street Bridge in Indianapolis, which is now a pedestrian walkway linking downtown to the White river State Park and Indianapolis Zoo. It was built in 1914 to replace the original wooden bridge that was destroyed by a flood in 1913. That foot of... Continue Reading →
In Search of Human Heads
Ernest T. Morris (1856-1891), known as the "Boy Naturalist" or "Boy Explorer," made seven trips to the Amazon valley between 1875 and 1884. He was a Special Correspondent for the New York World, writing many columns describing his journeys. This text covers his first and second journeys, including (starting in Chapter IV) his 1876-1877 trek... Continue Reading →
