The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-04-14
BROWNS AMANUENSIS.

Ellen Mackay Hutchinson. IN Century Mage.
zinc.
BROWNS AMANUENSIS.
Brown was magazine writer, of what
Is sometimes called the fast school. His
were the veriest bubbles of the current
literature of the day, the merest froth of
the tritles which are skinned rather
than read by the busy world of pleasure.
He touched-I borrow the beautiful Ian
guage of fashionable reviewer-he
touched the passing follies of the day
with a light and facile pen, and people
smirked over his articles in a manner
pleasant to witness. My opinion is, that
his abilities were-in short, were not first
rate, but he used them very ably. He
never wrote in mems language for q
lady's magazine, and never threw away
the delicate wit which suited its pages
upon the middle-aged gentlemen who
prefer scandal and satire.
To the world of periodicals, Brown was
known rs rising comic writer, while to
himself he was man of crushed ambi-
ton and rejected manuscripts. In a
drawer of his writing table, under a
Chubb's lock. were a treatise on ethics,
several pamphlets on political and finan-
cial questions, biography of the poet
Mason-unduly neglected now, but who
fourished good deal in the last century
and, lastly, history of Nova Zembla,
with an account of the climate and pro-
auctions of that isolated region. These
several manuscripts were brought into
existence when Mr.. Brown first came to
London. While he had money he wrote
what he pleased; when he had not he had
the good sense (and good fortune) to
write what pleased the public. The re-
suit was, that he was in fair way of do
ing well in his line of business.
But Brown was, unhappily, rather of
. restless temper. I'll be q butterfly"
he said to himself, after he hawked his
ethics from west to east and back again;
and for some months he labored with
fair success in the field of the highest
literature, and got his bread and butter
by it, and amused himself in his leisure
hours like any other young gentleman.
It must be observed, however, that he
never lost that lofty opinion of his own
talents which had formerly stimulated
his efforts, and he was on the lookout for
. subject on which he might build a great
work of fiction. '' Fiction" he said to
himself, " is the thing. If I could only
get hold Of plot, real plot, would
write romance which should commence
. new era in the literature of this coun-
try"
So Brown was accustomed to mediate;
but it was not until very recently that
anything came of it. 1t was after read
ing of important events taking place in
Spain, that he determined to lay his
scene there. Spain was the land of TO
nance; his characters should be the men
now swaying its destinies, his time the
present day. II will read up the his
tory" he said; "and with Gil Bias, Mr..
Borrow, and the Tales of the Alhambra,
think something may be done" Fa-
miliarity with modern Spanish customs
was, however, indispensable, and
Browns knowledge of that subject was
limited. Fortunately, information, like
any other article. can be obtained readi-
ly in London by those who can pay for it,
and after ten minutes reflection, which
was as much as he now devoted to any
question, Brown sent the following ad-
vertisement for insertion in the Times:
AMANUENsIs WANTED.-The Applicant will
be required TO have recently travelled or resid-
ed in Spain. Remuneration according to quail
ifcations. Apply to B. B 90 Hampstead Road.
Brown had certain literary engage
ments which it was necessary to fulfill in
q given time, and he set himself busily
to work to get rid of these Is soon as pos
sible. To this end he stunned amuse-
ments, public and private. retired into
the solitude of his apartments, and re-
quested the prim maid-servant who at
tended at his call to receive all visitors
with the assertion that he was out of
town. In consequence of these arrange
ments, he was enabled to produce in the
course of the day a great deal of what
printers call 81 copy''-a name which, in
the present state of literature, is fire.
quently correct in more senses than One.
On the morning when the advertise
ment appeared, Brown was seated at
work AS usual, and had just completed q
philosophical paper On the Diminished
Diameter of Ladies' Hats, - when the
maid-servant fresh from the country,
opened the door.
eff you please, sir
e.Well," said Brown, mildly.
There's lady down stairs and she
wants you, sir"
Now Brown was not accustomed to re-
ceive visits from ladies, and the an
nouncement caused him some little sur
prise; but he was not curious and desired
quiet. So he replied: "She wants me,
does sheP I'm very sorry, but she can't