The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1872-08-28
Earnings of Magazine Writers.

The other day / observed state
ment that Bret Harte had made an ar
rangement with the proprietors of the
Atlantic" by which he was to receive
$4,000 year for twelves article to be
contributed-one month-to that
magazine. venture to say that the
foundation for this story is very slight.
The "Atlantic" people are not inclined
to pay any such price for contributions;
and, though they gave Mr.. Harte a
very extravagant rate last year to
write exclusively for their periodicals,
neither they nor he, understand, were
satisfied with the engagement, and both
were glad to discontinue it at the close
of the twelve-month. The literary
men and women who have written ex-
tensively for certain publications have,
so far as l know, been much pleased
at the expiration of the time of their
contract. They say that they always
feel not only cramped and confined,
but that something extraordinary were
expected of them. They lose, to
large extent, the stimulus and motive
for composition, and feel conviced that
under the circumstances they cannot
do their best work. One of the most
desirable engagements follower of
the quill can make q have long been
looking for just such one) is to be
restricted to single publication, and
not even to write for that. Were l
immensely wealthy, and philanthropic
at the same time, should certainly
buy up in this way many industrious
and conceited scribblers, no, in sea-
son and out of season, inhict their pro-
ductions upon patient and long-suf-
fering public. To return to the Allan
tic, 1t is not in the habit of bestow-
ing any such munifcent price upon
authors as that associated with the
name of Mr.. Harte The highest rate
which it allows to its most favored
contributors, like Emerson, Lowell,
Holmes and others never, if am
rightly informed, exceeds $3.50 an ar
ticle, while 800 is regarded by them
as handsome figure for frst-class
contribution. Few things are more
delusive than writing for the maya
zines, unless one likes to write for
pleasure, which, assuredly, is not the
feeling of d professional. / hear al
most every day ambitious desires and
rash menances to make livelihood
by this sort of labor. The livelihood
so made would, l opine, be meagre
and unremunerative, indeed. In the
whole country there are not more than
eight or ten monthlies, and of these
only FIVE or six are really prosperous,
and capable of purchasing manuscripts
at fair rates.
1t is hardly possible, under the most
favorable circumstances, to get more
than three articles printed year in
any one periodical, so that all the very
highest, fifteen would be the amount
Of achievement. The contributions
would not average more than $50 q
piece-in all probability not 50 much
and, consequently, their authors would
realize 81, 200 per annum. He or she
who should have fifteen articles year
in all the magazines would seem to be
perpetual and irresponsible scribbler,
and however we'll they might be writ
ten, they would tire the public and
provoke hostile criticism from their
frequency. question if anybody has
any such number printed, and l am
sure that the majority of Merateurs
who are considered regular contribu-
tors to the monthlies, do not usually
earn 81 900, or even 5000 per annum
in that particular field. l can't see
how any one not lifted above daily
wants aud weekly needs can afford to
pursue literature save as recreation.
Whenever | hear a man talk of living
by his pen, outside of a journalistic
position, l have a shuddering suspi-
| cion either that he is vaporing, or that
he has found some extremely economi-
cal method of supporting existence.
--BoStOn Correspondence Chicago Ti6-
Une.
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