The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-08-22

Authors aud Publishers.
The London correspondent of the New
York Times gives some interesting reminis-
ccnces OF the early struggles of some of the
most distinguished authors, in which he
says.
Dickens's earliest work, we are told, is
lost in the Old Montdy Magazine, Thacke-
rays in the Constitutional. John Ruskin' $
first editor was n clerk in the Crown Office,
| and 1t was in his FriendShip's O6ering the
great art critic did his first work, mostly in
the shape of verses. Samuel Smiles made
his appearance in the now defunct Edin-
burgh Weekly Chronicle. Hepworth Dixon
wrote first in a small provincial journal, and
for some years was editor OF an obscure paper
at Cheltenham. Charles Dickens began life
as a reporter so did Justin Mccarthy so
likewise have The best and most reliable
journalists of the age. Douglas .Ierrold was
a printer so were Franklin, Horace Greeley,
Bennett, and Artemus Ward. Many of the
compositions which Thackeray published
late In life had been "declined with
thanks F" by editors and publishers. "Rob-
inson Crusoe," as well as "Vanity FAIR
| went begging through the circle of English
| publishers before acceptance came at last,
| and with II fame and profit to all concerned.
One publisher refused to give Sl25 for Tom
Jones, which, purchased by more enter
| prising tradesman, realized for Him during
his lifetime profit of S90,000l "Janc
| Eyre" IL a more recent case in point.
Even Carlyle, after being "editpl' out OF
all recognition in the Edinburqh Recicm, was
finally rejected as contributor altogether.
Every publisher to whom the author offered
1t refused kinglake's E6then," Motley S
al, ~
| thanks by the first publisher to whom he
submitted Il so also was Carlyles French
Revolution" Even George Eliot found it
difficult to got along until she found a mas
culinc advocate in the late George Henry
Lewes. Charles Lamb used TO get sixpence
apiece for paragraphs in the Morning Post.
Ordinary writers now get siXpence a
| line for notes in the Pal Mall, and Tenny-
son receives Il guinea line for his verses in
| any magazine he may choose to honor with
his contributions. do not Gull the whole
| of these items from Mr.. Oldcastle's book, but
find the author suggestive. He is not only
| gossipy himself, but the cause of gossip in
others. lie suggests. lie says George Eliot
received $40, 600 for Romola." know THO
statement to be true, and | also know that
the publishers have not yet seen half their
money back. Mr.. James Payn receives Sl2
uhN h"it ioi u ituSu.ihe page vi Dut
only S. for the NincteenM Century. Mr.. Old
castle says that is Knowles's regulation price,
yet friend of mine received $3.50 for less
than thirty pages. The highest general pay
OH the regular monthly magazines is SIS a
page. When tho late Shirley brooks and
Tom Taylor wrote for me in the Gentleman
| never paid them less than $40 page.
Punch's miniature pocket book, with n page
about the size of your hand, is paid for at
the rate of S25 page. Eight or ten years
ago was myself paid at that rate for some
burlesque verses on "The Belle" Poetry,
like fiction, has an exceptional experience.
| Until last year, Tnnysoi received 5000 a
year for his copyrights; but Mr.. Oldcastle
says I" there is only room for one Tennyson
at n time" Walter Scott received over $40, =
900 for =" The Lady of the Lake." but Scott
had to abandon poetry when Lord Byron APP
peared and while Lord Byron was calculat-
ing one morning that he had made Sl20, 000
by poetry, Shelley was complaining of the
printers bill, which he had TO defray out OF
his own pocket. Poetry OF the Shelley quail
ity, it is to be feared, would be no more prof
table now than it was in the poets lifetime.
Rrowning's receipts are not equal in year
to the verisst newspaper hack who scribbles
bad prose. Arnold's "Iight of Asia ~ will
hardly bring him in as much as dozen po-
litical leaders -" thrown off" for the Dali,
Telegraph. journalism is handsomely paid
in London, witness the writers of the Times
the correspondents of the Ne'os and the Tele
graph.