New-York tribune., 1882-04-09
TIE STORY or 4 Us.
From The 81 Pc,crsbllrn Wcek.

TIE STORY or 4 Ms
From The 81 Pctcrsburg Week
In tho elegant country house of hlphonsc Daudet
some of tho best known French authors assembled
one day BY the side of the sympathetic face of
the host could he seen the stout Emile Zoa-there
also was seen the intelligent profile Of Edmund dc
ConcouTt. and next to him quietly sat the fair
Frederick Wilhelm Schulze the latter, who left his
country long time ago has gained ut present "a
great fame in Germany under a French pseudonym.
The company related incidents which had hap
pencd during thClr youthful days. Schulze, as
usual, complained OF the bad taste OF the German
public, Of the publishers whose motto Is cl cap and
nasty" of the newspapers being entirely uncOn-
nected with literature. He did not spare even the
critics. As for me, think y0n Judge your cOun
try too harslly,' interrupted the author of lie
Nabab" "Of course neither your talent nor your
industry have bcon of much use to you, but then
you were quite young. ana you nave not written
any serious work. Ne also had great difficulty in
gaining publicity. but why do not your authors
touch vital questions so deeply as we do q! Why are
they satisfied with clerical variations on the worn
out theme of Srrauoss love to Gretchen. Look
how books are read IN Germany. How my own
novels and yours are paid their weight IN gold"
1t IS" replied SchGlle, only because we are IN
fashion, because conquered France dictates the
fashion to the Germans. even in literature Go to
the publishing Office oi any German magazine under
a German name ana you viii see what success yOu
have. IL is true that IN Paris yOu would not get
much for your novels If YOU wee to introduce them
under the name OF an unknown author. Thanks to
their real value they would be read. the papers
would speak OF thcm and you may even become the
for very small circle OF highly educated people. We
read only TO Kill time, and for this purpose the pub
fishers crowd Themselves with trash, which sells
better than the work of the disciples OF BalZac.
new book is entirely lest if it be not supported IN
the newspapers by powerful clique of critics. it
is true that later or, "hen many years have passed,
the book is remembered OF discovered III tile
archives Of literature, but the author has possibly
died of starvation, or his talent has entirely van
ished in the struggle of lite Try to sell one of your
unpublished works in Germany and you Will see
Your ijohemcns Is quite ready. | shall soon
have finished the TRANSLATION OF It, send 1t anony-
mously to the country of poets and thinkers
There was short pause Daudet appeared
thoughtful. Suddenly his face was lighted up by
a smile and he held ont his hand to Schulze. " All
right lie said. "we are gong TO send Les Bohe-
miens to Germany have nothing to fear much
less that am not the destroyer, rs yOu are. 40
not throw overheard all the good old habits. Zola,
for example would have TO fear / should like TO
tryD few DAYS aiterward - Les Bohemiens'
was renamed Carice,' and its author Johann
Lohrbeer. According to the desire of Dandct,
SchnlZe first sent the manuscript 20 Berlin to =.
Three months aiterward the manuscript was re-
turned without comment. and carriage unpaid.
Schulze then sent it to l,eipsc to l'- This time
an answer received. bnt the publisher begged to
be excused Inc could not publish Clarice as he
had already too many offers. The letter was accom-
panied by Il catalogue of new publications for sale.
Other publishers refused without giving any eX-
plantations. One said that he had discontinued pub
fishing novels, as they were no longer bought
Readers satisfied with JeaHeions. and buy only
useful books, such as can adorn the drawing room
table, editions Dc lure of famous authors Daudet
was angry. :" Try the newspapers he said to
Schulze. " 1t is their sacred duty TO develop the
literary taste of their readers. 1t W Is pub
lished the excellent paper Die hQrJcngtocke 1t al
ways gives the novels oi our school have already
sent 1t several tales. IOr which | was well paid
SchulZe sent Clarice" 10 The HorGcsgi0cke Three
months aitcrward the manuscript came back to
Paris and with it printed circular with these
words: Dear Sir.--We return you the manuscript
which YOU sent us unfortunately We cannot make
any use of IT. Daudet twtched neryously his
beautiful mOustaChe, shrugged his shoulder. and
m
bit / shall paste of the leaves. and YOU must
send the manuscript in that state, Four weeks
passed again. and ClarceV returned to 'aris-thc
leaves still pasted together. letter which accom-
panied it contained tho following; Highly hon
ored Mr. AuthoI.-We cannot accept yonr remark
able work. because arc so gutted with literary
productions that we have enough novels and tales
for at least three years" " You have some cOnnec-
ton with German publishing firms said Daudct in
a discOnentcd tone of voice perhaps your recon-
will cause the editors to read my produc-
tiOn.' SchulZe wrote to the weekly paper IN alien
Zoncr, and three months aiterward he received the |
letter: " Dear Mr. Schule-We return |
you the novel of Herr Lohrbcer Evidently you |
have not read tine manuscript, otherwise YOU wodld
not have sent ii to The author describes things
which cannot possibly he inserted in family paper |
Moreover, all the charact rs OF high society which |
are found are rOgueS this cannot he. lon ask us |
hat we think OF the talent of LOhrbeer. His style |
Of writing is not bad undoubtedly; he is an expert
cnced author, but bis style is hgh-ilown ana not |
natural; the plot of the novel Is poor the intrigue
not dramatic and rather tedious; IN q word. tie |
author is no novelist. We regret" etc. The friends |
received tins criticism with loud bursts of laughter;
Daudet framed the letter and adorned his study |
with 1t. 49,
The manuscript again went travelling through
Germany, ana was again returned to IariS with
printed circular. Only an editor Of new news
Dapcr recognized in l.Ohrbeer some traces OF talent,
md begged him to send him something else, remind
ng him that he could only receive books without
iny cx press tendency and containing nothing I'M
proper Historic tales answering these conditions
lave the greater chance of being received. Is 1t
Iot enough (" asked Schulze Once more let us
W. said Daudct: " Is not s. an active pub |
Usher r. I" Yes indeed replied Schulze. There is
hardly a day in which he does not publish some
lovclty. and can't say that these books are not
'ery huTtlu to literature; the publishers do not
,ay for that trash yet thanks to advertisements
nd putting libraries are filed with 1t, and the
publishers get rich. Let us try 5" This time
he manuscript remained at the publishers. who
sked how much would be required for the book.
How much do you generally get for your novels -
sked Schulze. " From 10000 to 10000 francs"
Well then il is better to let the publisher fix the
um himself" replied SchulZe. The answer came a
ew DAYS afterward. s. wrote: In fixing n
rice for your novel | make great sacrifice AN
RECEPTION to the general rule Usually the first
iOrks of unknowns are not paid for at all can
i've you 20 marks. DO this rs a favor. and hope
on will soon send me fresh work" After having
cad this letter. Daudct crumpled 1t in his hands
nd threw ii out of the window. TO To the deVll!' |
G cried. " For a year my novel has been travel |
ng, and / might have died of hunger long ago
ow, / shall send n telegram TO the editor of the
iorgen olocke that Daudet has finished his novel
Les BOhemiens.' and wishes 10 know how much the
ltOr would offer him for the first German edition" |
he same evening telegram was received with |
hese words as All answer" 1000 francs"
ACROSS TIE GARDEN WALL.
Il