Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-12-08
The Rewards of Authorship.

The time has gone when it is consid-
cred ignoble for an author to accept re-
wa rds for the creations of his genius,
and with the great rush of men in this
country toward things material, itera-
ture has come to have commercial
value. IS
Advocates of strict bread-and-b butter
philosophy in all other things, those
Americans who have chosen literature as
profession have not disdained to swell
their bank accounts, or to live in marble
houses. Authorship in this country has
been in the main successful In passing
In review the names of our most distin-
guished writer's, it will be seen that few
of them suffer from the goad of poverty.
Bayard Taylor, gentleman of no educa-
ton, as we understand education, who
commenced life as fewnow would or could
commence it, has accumulated within
the past twenty years considerable
fortune, and lives in comfortable ele-
gancs. DIR. Holland, bankrupt coun-
try physician turned editor, and not very
successful at that, has sold enough of
his social platitudes, and delivered lee
lures enough to become rich, and lives
Ill mansion which is the wonder of the
country people for miles around. He is
supposed to receive from lectures and
writing from $4,000 to $4,000 in
year. William Cullen Bryant, who
may Justly be called both author, poet,
and editor, is worth half million, owns
two country seats, and, if he chose,
could drive as fine turnout as Jim
Fisk. Mr.. Bancroft, the historian,
l lTfnfctnr OF por1rr rated
at 800, 900, and the copyright on his
works is of great and constantly increas-
ing value. The Boston authors, Long
fellow and Holmes, are both rich, and
live in elegance. Lowell, Emerson and
Whittier, although not as wealthy, have
long since driven the wolf from the
door. TX. Marvel has an income equal
to that of the President. The genial
Higginson rates way up in the thou
sands. OF minor writer's, Gail Hamil-
ton is said to be rich enough to have a
husband (s100,000). Miss Alcott and
Miss Phelps are now able to get on in
the world alone, $50, 900 each. Mark
Twain was rich enough before his father
in-law died, and now we fear he is too
rich to write for bread or fame. James
Parton says he makes S., 900 year, and
Steedman, Fanny Fern, and others make
comfortable incomes.
Among editors are to be found men
having some of the largest incomes in
the country Numerous as are the
wrecks in the sea of journalism, the
successful men have been eminently
successful. James Gordon Bennett is
three times a millionaire, and clears a
thousand dollars every twenty-four
hours. Bryant and Parke, Goodwin, of
the Evening Post, arebOth very wealthy.
have been worth ten times that sum-
Manton Marble, at thirty-6ve, is very
rich. Most of the other New York edi-
tors are rich. Sam. Bowles, of Spring
field, has large competence. So has
Murat Halstead of the Cincinnati Com
mercial.
But no young man will act wisely
who in these days shall enter, unaided
and poor, upon journalism, with the
hope of speedily, or at any time, com
ing to such a -ortune as this. Men who
have been SO successful in journalism
have the abilities which would have fit
ted them for success in other depart
ments of life. In commercial sense,
journalism and authorship are reasona-
bic successes; but those looking about
for career in life will do well seriously
to reflect before choosing either of those
professions. The prizes are great and
dazzling, and they are well calculated to
blind the eyes to the hundreds Of pita-
bic hacks who are scribbling for bread,
and in whose hearts the hope of fame OF
wealth ha, died ont