The Hawaiian gazette., 1881-08-03


ture, CT it might be some account Of dog.
After two or three years Of industrious
practice in short stories and essays, had
fancied could succeed in woodworking with
\ first attempt, and simidly suggested that l
might "lry my hand in his weekly journal.
He at once agreed. and gOod-nataredly had
about half a volume "set up" so as 10 give
the production every chance IN the reading.
But the attempt was premature; its waxen
wings melted, and he was obliged 20 decline.
By-and-hy got rev pair, and, making
formal attempt in two volumes, was lucky
errugh to make a success.
The history Of this little transaction viii be
found interesting, not, Of course, troio my own
share, but as illustrating that charm Of hearty
COED will which marked every act Of las
where his friends were concerned. Here also
enters on the scene his faithful eOadlut0r and
assistant, W. H. Wills; sterling character,
practical. bOsiness-like, and yet never letting
his naturally friendly temper be overcome by
the stern necessities of his Office. He had
vast amount Of business, as maybe conceived;
vet his letters. of which I-have some hundred
before me now, were always playful, amusing,
clever and written in flowing lengthy style
even 70 Crossing His sagaeity was hearth
ly appreciated by his chief. He ever appear
al = most favorable specimen Of the successful
literary man.
Al the risk Of becoming more personal,
nav enter a little at length on the subject OF
what Lamb calls the kindly ensendure Of
this Sfory-which, in truth, has some flavor
Of the romance Of authorship. had sent my
successful two-Volnme venture to my friend.
Ny DEAR Do not condemn me un-
heard Il know you are putting ON the black
cap.) have been silent, but only on paper; ;
for fortnight after you last heard from me l
was roaring with pam. The first use Of my
couyalesceace was 10 read your story-.like a
steam engihe. Ny impression is that 1t is the
Z best novel have read for years; why l think
So need not tell. l posted off with It TO
/ Dickens whose impression Of 1t results in this:
/ that we should like you to write novel for
| dHtbs Te,H RosRd. IL you respond to that
wish it will afford NE great pleasure.
/ Experience has shown that the pre-appear-
ance Of a novel in our pages, instead OF occu-
/ pying the field for disqualification in VOLUMES,
Y gives an enormous stimulus to the issue in a
/ complete form. We can therefore insure you
I for your work, if it will fill three volumes,
I five hundred pounds (f500), part Of which
( we would pay for our use Of your manuscript,
I and part tie publisher Of the volumes would
I pay; but we would, in case Of acceptance,
u EAAA4uANN NNA @sANf NAAAShNA tAAs ~ k1NAAN@
/ ton may fetch.
This was almost thrilling to read. Every
word was as inspiring as the blast Of trum-
pet. 1t will be noted how pleased the writer
( IS at the very communication of his intelli-
I gence. Aud then the "peeane ~ Five hun
dred pounds The dlligept magaIine-writeg
might excl4im with one OF Jerrold's charac-
\ tiers, " Is there 50 much money in the world y
/ Ii was really liberal and generous.
I No time was lost in setting to work. | had
v soon blocked out plan-what dramatists call
7 i scs7ta7Io-and had, about as soon, set TO work,
ard written good many chapters and sent
7 them In.
( Alter many debates, 1t was determined to
accept the venture.
I Next let me convey to Won the intelligence
! (wrote our chief that resolve to launch it,
/ fully coufdiug in your conviction Of the power
Of tie story. On all business points Wills will
! communicate with you.
The only suggestion l have to make as 10
/ Ms. in hand and IN type is that - wants
relief. 1t is disagreeSble character, as you
mean it to be, and l should be afraid to do SO
much with him, if the case were mine, with
I out taking the taste Of him here and there out
/ Of the readers mouth II n remarkable that,
/ if you do not administer s disagreeable char
Z SILeE NAit4utafr tuS puUtAC hafN q NGS4NeA
I tendency to think that the story is disagreeable
and not merely the fictitious person.
/ What do you think of this title -? It is
a good Que in itself, and would express the
/ eldest sisters pursuit, and, glanced at now
I and then in the text, would hold the reader in
suspense Let me know your opinion as tG
/ the title. l need not assure you that the
! greatest care will be taken Of you here, and
that We shall make you thoroughly well
and widely known as we possibly can.
The letter just quoted conveys most pre-
ciOus lesson to the n0yel-writer-whose craft
Indeed, requires many lessons. Having writ
I ten nearly twenty novels myself, l may speak
with little experience, and frankly own thai
II WIS not till had passed my dOzenth that
began to learn some few principles OF the art
having written, as SO many DO, " as the spirii
moved or by fancied inspiration.
All this happily settled, the affair was duly
announced No expense was spared. Vivid
yellow posters, six or seven feet luRg, pro-
claimed the name of the new story in black
brilliant characters on every blank wall and
boarding in the kingdom; while smaller anc
more c0uveuient-siLed proclamatious, IN quartz
as It were, told this tale IN more modest way
So that, if there vas really any light at all, j
( was not under bgshei l lad pride IN and
fondness for these testimonials, and have Eeli-
EiousIT preserved all that dealt with ny Owl
Efforts; kind Of literature, as may be con,
ceived. Of 4 bulky sort, and filling great spae,
as they accumulated. Wien debating efsctua
titles for these and other Eritings, recall Iii.
taking ne to his room without telling me VIA
he had selected, and, by way Of test or sur.
prise, exhibiting one of these gigantic pr0a.l5-
nations stretched at full length acruss thi
floor Of the ROM What do you think ~ b.
would ask Tou must know, he would add
his eve beginning to twinkle with meFTimeE
shat When Wills corrects the proofs Of thes'
things, he has 10 20 on his knees with a brush
and pot Of paints beside him :" The cost O
this system Of advertising vas enormous II
the year, but everything vas done magnif-
Gently at " the Office
As the story advanced the councils multi.
piled, as veil as the Suggestions and improve
uenrs- Experiments even we're made II
particular directions, and an episode vas fur
nished " to see how It would look in print :
sheets being ''set mp" IN this way regardless
Of cnst. and dismissed as unsatisfactory. Al
this vas IaboFi0Hs and troublesome, bat, a
was said, the experiment. was worth making
and few sensible writers bat would have vel
coined the opportunity Of learning their Graf
under such teacher. Il would be impossibl'
to describe the fertility Of his resources, tn:
Ingenuity exhibited, the pains and thought b,
gave to the natter. Under such auspices
L was admitted tfat vas = wiling pupil
With equal readiness to adopt and 70 carry on
al that was sHgges.sd-ths work benehtteds /
need hardly be said
The emil gained was satisfactory 10 al ecu.
cerued. The work vas successful passed
through several editions, and still sells Tn
copyright was disposed Of for sum nearly
squ1! to What vas allotted 70 ne One ear1
Gus evidence Of its success was the fact that 4
firm Of psrfunlerz n Bond Street, named q Hez