The Rainbow-Hued Trail Around the World

Dallas: Cosette-Faust Newton, 1932. First (only) limited, deluxe, autograph edition. 24x17cm, xxiii, 310, [1]pp. Photographs by the author, illustrations by Margaret Ann Scruggs. Illustrated map endpapers, fold out chart, bibliography, index, glossary at rear. Signed by Newton and Scruggs on the hand-embellished, gold leaf decorated, at least 5 color printed limitation page. Pictorial, textured black cloth is bumped and somewhat faded, else very good. Laid in are a bifold announcement for two of Faust-Newton's later books of poetry from the Kaleidograph Press, and an original voyage souvenir for her S.S. Miramar Cruiser De Luxe of the Newton Garden-Ship Line.

Lavishly produced and self published travel memoir from the larger than life Dallas poet, academic, eccentric, and socialite, Cosette Faust-Newton (1889-1975).  Includes many of her poems sprinkled throughout the text, fantastical line drawings and map endpapers by the important Dallas artist and printmaker, Margaret Ann Scruggs, and copious photographs from the journey which went through San Francisco, Hawaii, Japan, China, The Philippines, Malay States, Dutch East Indies, British India, India, Europe, Holland, and New York.  Though this is her first book, Faust-Newton has listed no less than five other titles "In immediate, uniform-with-this-volume, preparation" which were to be a part of the "Around the World" series.  In attempting to outline the fascinating story of the woman who was well ahead of her time, this cataloguer feels a list format is best.

1.  Received her first Ph.D. in Philology in 1916 and went on to earn a dozen professional and academic degrees.  Several are credited here on the title page: M.A., M.S., M.E., M.D., Ph.D., J.D., J.S.D., LL.D.
2.  Married Frank Newton in 1918, travelled and lectured extensively as she describes:

"When we were married my husband agreed that I was to do with my life what I wished ... I am away in Europe and all parts of America for maybe a year, maybe longer, writing, lecturing, living my own life, and then every once in a while I go home on a visit. Then it's all happiness without the prison-like feeling that many women protest against. I have an apartment in New York, a gift from my husband, and I keep a trunk in Paris. For there are many times when one just has to be alone and be just oneself."

3.  Hired a private detective to have her gardener kidnapped and held for questioning in her attic re. a missing jade ring gifted to her by a Chinese princess.  The ring was never found, the gardener was sued for damages, and Faust-Newton was charged with false imprisonment, which was later dismissed.
4.  Built a three-decker yacht called the S.S. Miramar or the "Garden Ship of Dreams" in her back yard in which she entertained the Dallas elite on pleasure cruises beginning in 1941.  The rare program offered here is from the first voyage, a grand ball supervised by a fanciful crew:

"Chief Officer, Aeolus-Neptune; Chief Surgeon, Dr. F. H. Newton; Chief Engineer, Ulysses; Purser, Pan; and Chief Steward, Apollo."

.....this story continues with street parties, neighbors' noise complaints, disrepair and vandalism by juveniles, booby-traps set, cells with jail doors erected in the house, and eventually a suit by the city demanding the dismantling of the ship.  

A fascinating book and related ephemera from a truly remarkable figure whose story should be more well known.


For further reading, please see "The Prisoner of Highland Park," by China Garland in D Magazine, November 1, 1977, which we have quoted here.    


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