ALGER, HORATIO (1834-1899), U.S. Writer

Alger is best known for his novels in which underprivileged boys find great success in life through hard work and virtue. Less known is the fact that as a Unitarian pastor in the Cape Cod town of Brewster, he was run out of town for "the abominable and revolting crime of unnatural familiarity with boys." Early in 1866 rumors began to fly about young Rev. Alger, particularly in regards to fifteen-year-old friend, Thomas Crocker. After the scandal broke, one townsman wrote: "On the sabbath after service, one of the boys called at his room to leave a book... {Alger} bolted his door and then committed this unnatural crime, with the poor boy's sister waiting in the carriage in the cold." Alger's family was able to hush up the scandal, particularly when Horatio left the ministry - thereby ensuring there would not be a repeat of this incident at another church. Alger immediately left New England for New York, where his writing career began in earnest. Later, he "informally" adopted several young boys without any brouhaha.