The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-01-04
MlsrORTuNEs TO AUTHORS.

Among the literary announcements d
the month we find "A notice Of new move
Nv Hoffman, the author Of "Greyslcar."-
Two or three years since, historical nov
81 by this author WINS announced, called
the "Red Spur Of the Ramapo;" but il has
never appeared, and the public, probably,
are ignorant OF the cause ofits non-nppear-
ance. The cause was remarkable, and
NAV be set down among the calamities oil
authors; but il WINS not unique, for we
have heard ofmany similar disasters. Mr..
Hoffman had been employed somc six
months upon his romance, he had tnkcn
uDusual care in its composition, and an
eminent book publishers firm Ind contract
cd with him for the COPYRIGHT, aud il was
nearly completed; the public were talking
shout il, and all the romance readers were
snxiously anticipating trent in it's peru
cal. The author, MS he wrote il, placed the
sheets in = large portfolio by the side Of his
wrting.,nble, to secure them from being
lost. One day he happened IN look into
his literary suh-trensury, and 10 his nstonish-
ment and alarm, discovered that there
were not more than hnlia-dozcn sheets Of
Ms. in il. None but mn author could
Judge ofan authors feelings in such m
emergency, but there were few men of any
profession who could have acted rs calm.
" no did the author Of .Grevslear" on this
occasion, and MS the gren, Newton is report.
cd 10 have done on similar one.
Mr.. Hoffman called to the chanbermaid
who had been entrusted with the care Of
bic room, md snid:
"Marv, have YOU ever taken any papers
from this placer"
"Sure, have, Sir" replied she with in.
nocent frankness.
"For whit purpose hive you taken
them, MIR, 7" said the author.
"Sure, Sir, To kindle the fire, and ]
thought vou were very good to put them
there" replied Mary.
"And pray. Mary. how long have yon
been 10 the habit Of taking papers out oil
herc?''
"All the winter. sure" said Mary, "hn'
didnh think there was any COED to them,
Tor they were seribh!ed I'll over"
"Ah! Mar, !" exclaimed tho ruined M.
thor. I'd, YOU know ,ha, you nave done me
On irreparahle ininr, 7"
"A rcparntle INJURY" exclaimed MARY,
"what's iha,7 Sure, but am very sorry,
eir."
"And 40 nm |" said tho author; but be
ssid nothing more.
A disaster very like this, hefel Mr.
Headey, while he WINS engaged in the com
position ofhis ..Wnshin.,on aud ms Gencr
ais" The chambcrmaid who was '.iying'
his room took il into her head one morning
to clean his windows, during his absence,
and seeing pile Of papers in his desk, "sll
scsibbled over," she took them for wipers,
and DESTROYED nearly the first volume Of
'.Washing,on aud his Generals" SO tina,
she nuthor Ind all his work to do over
again. Az Mr.. lendlev il rather more
isrsscible in his temper than Mr.. Hoffman
il is not improbable that he and his Mar.
Ind very different conversation from That
which passed between Mr.. Hoffman aud
biz manuscript DESTROYER. We had the
misfortune once to have bundle Of vnlua-
bic autographs DESTROYED by "Mnry,n
who took them to sngc fowl with, and
since then we hive not allowed any 4
Ewes daughters the privilege Of rummagine
among our precious papers; and we would
advise all auihars 10 keen women md chill.
dren out az their studies, Ct writing RI ms.
A. Mr.. I!offm n is 10 To- ge. cii,or al the
Literary World, he will rpohably give more
timc to the writing al romnnces which musl
Be ,nore congenial cmp'o men, TO him thin,
the isksome drodgcr" Of editing n week.,
paper. Tho inaj1riiy Of renders seem 4
think nothing can be mare easy nns
pleasant than 10 cdi, paper, but Of all thu
different cmpla,ments BY which men mak'
their hrend aud butter. there is none, VI
firmly believe, that so taxes the mind, tenn
per and flesh MS that of editing a paper
There is none thu, reqniresn nicer tact,
sounder Judgment, more constant mp
plication, quicker wit. or n kinder hear,
A churlish temper could never succeed a
IN editor; nor narrow minded man, no
% Ignorant one, nor hasty one, nor NJ
vntosgiving one. An editor must Of ncces
sity turn himself inside out to the public
h cannot b. hypocrte any more than
hushand eau be hypocri,e 10 his wife,.
He must expose himself in all that he does
o much in selecting the thoughts of other
. in publishing his own. and the bette
way Tor him in the outset is 10 begin franz
" to cave himself from after contradiction
and notifications. Whoever succeeds 10
esably we'll ne On editor, 10 something NOR
shaa IN ordinary man, let his cotempor'
re- say or think of him as they will.--Ho
lsSs Nagasine.
Dlsnsy said, in reference 10 several pc
90. oil relations 10 each other, but wi