Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-07-19
TIE PROFITS OF AUTHORS.
Almost a Disgrace Not TO Have
Written One Successful
Story.

DVstOh NOrIospOnuonVo Hhlduelputa TIees'
A last thing may be mentioned when
reference is made to authorship. Sc
many successful novels have lately
been issued in Boston that the day
seems to be at hand when it will be q
sort of disgrace not to have produced
at least one successful book. The
business is, to a striking degree
falling into the hands of the ladies
There lives no woman who can write
at all but who can write at least a
charming letter. The moment one oil
these discovers that to write success
fully is to write precisely as she would
do in a letter to friend, and that it is
not "a composition" that is requir-
ed, that moment she may SO write
as to mske a success. What is o sue
cessp The Boston novel, Mr..
Isaacs," has reached a sale of 14,00O
copies, which is about $1,000 or $1,000
in the pocket of its author. A sale
OF 10000 may be arrived at. But q
book fades as does roses, the most
charming of books SIS does the most
yermilion of roses. Alas when the
author publishes his second novel it
is generally found that oil the cream
in the milk has gone into the first
book. Very, very rarely is it that
there is any more cream in that vessel
of milk. One baysmal mystery lies
in the question. Who pays the pub
Usher for such books as do not sue
o,ed?"
A large proportion Of books of all
kinds drop stone dead from the press;
who has to suffer for it2 There is
among successful authors q gloomy
suspicion JDau in some occult fashion
they have to pay the publishers for
the unsuccessful books. Does a CONS
mission house Of any kind put every
thing into its account 1t would be a
boon unspeakable if some publisher,
standing up for his brethren every.
where, would say, I'VE have no CON
cealments. Things are precisely as
we state them" Perhaps they are.
But if any aspirant for literary emOlu.
ments should read these lines let him
know that if the nearly unanimous
voice of authors could be ar
ticulsted in one word it would
be, if you seek reputation
exclusively, 60 ahead. If it 10 gold
you crave, 90 not into the seductive
paths Of Parnassus. Dig potatoes,
build fences, sell calicoes, argue cases
at the bar, doctor-if your conscience
allows you to do so-your ailing fellow
creatures, preach the gospel, do any
thing that is honorable, but seek not
wealth in literature.
The life time earnings of even a
washington irving were leps than
$2OO,0OO. Very rarely, indeed, as
James Parton says, can a literary
man clear $4,000 year; our most sue
cessful authors rarely pass 5000 a
year. Absurdly irrelevant as it is,
let one thing happening while this
il being written 'be here recorded
Just outside the window a lorr
line Of horses stand ready
harnessed to take the street cars
around an up grade corner. The
horses are 80 placed 10 line as 90 he
taken each IN It's due turn Just,now
the writer observed that the instant
the driver detailed for the purpose
was out of sight around a corner, a
bqrsS whose turn would come next
deliberately walked down the line and
placed himself az the last 10 the line
the last thus to be used. Watching
closely he noticed that 1t was but one
horse that did this, did it so invaria
bly,, and not until the driver was out
Of sight around the corner, as to
make it impossible but that it was
done to escape work. Gould horse
be that Intelligent anywhere outside
Of New England? AS 10 themorality
lOf the act, ALAS alssl p"