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R. EDMUND HODGSON YATES, who is the son of the well-known actor, was for many years Chief of the Missing Letter Department in the Post Office, and while in that position wrote several well-known novels, of which "Black Sheep" and "The Yellow Flag" have, perhaps, been the most popular. Mr. Yates, who had himself written successfully for the stage, was for six years the theatrical critic of The Daily News. He retired from the Post Office in 1872, in order to devote himself entirely to literary work, and during the same year went on a lecturing tour in the United States. Two years later he established The World, a paper which, at the time of its appearance, marked a new departure in journalism, and which continues successfully to hold its own against a host of younger rivals. A full account of his career appeared in 1884 in his extremely entertaining "Personal Reminiscences."