The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1885-02-17

]
tingly turned those they tired TO bcne-
fit, into downright enemies. Writers
are often accu-ed of affecting eccen-
tricity, hoping, thereby TO get the rep
utation Of .enluses. The cleverer
they are, the worse they are it is said,
10 do business with. and the more
they presume. Brilliant fellows are
frequently the aversion of publishers,
who assert that their mental gifts are
apt to he counterbalanced by some
moral deficiency
Magazine editors, many at least,
are afraid to talk with writers whose
peculiarities they have not mastered
and whose habits they haven't learned.
They particularly avoid introducing
shop, lest they be misunderstood. If
writer mentions contributing TO
their periodicals, and they do not tell
him fatty that they want nothing
from him, or anybody else. he is very
likely to imagine that he has been
asked, even urged to contribute, and
is very angry, having sent in an ar
ticle, if it is not accepted. A profes
sional writer Is prone to believe that
every magazine is anxious 1T is one
of his perennial self-delusions and he
esteems it a deliberate affront not to
be invited TO illuminate its pages, and
the result OF malignant and incOmpre-
hensihie prejudice. He has fashion
Of inviting himself, and if the editor
se polite enough to'say, Il shall be
pleased To look at any paper YOU may
prepare" the writer accounts ii an
absolute engagement. And he resents
accordingly, the return of any Ms ne
may submit. even if il be one that has
been declined elsewhere, with thanks,
dozen times. The editor is, there
fore, in res2ect t. the writer, in a
: perpetual dilemma. lie must either
he rude to point of cbu:lishnes', CT
be subjected 10 false accusations. and
| IN one case or the other be cordially
disiikei by the RAN who farcies he
shows his sensitiveness by treating
others as if they had no sensitiveness
1T all.
These are the principal allegations
and criticisms made by publishers ami
others in respect to writers as a body
and they are, it must lie allowed, ap-
plics bic TO mGnv of them, however
unjust to all. The most Objectionable,
by their absense of discipline aid de
corum, doubtless create a very disa-
greeabe impression, and render them
selves liable-to be understood at their
worst. The creditahle specimens on
the other hand, who prepOBderate,
and fern the bGik OF the profession.
are generally 80 reversed and well-be-
haved that their calling is not thou Int
Of. The writer Of any sort wh0 con-
stantly advertises himself and his
trade, is seldom worthy member of
the fraternity, nor = he one from
whom a f;lvora be dedUctiOn wauli he
drawn. After all that may be conced-
cd in behalf # writers, The aytTag.
opinion OF them mas, il viii lie add
mitted, considerable basis. They arr,
on the whole, official, self assertive,
limited, vain, un lelsa1t, egotistic.
Despite hundreds Of exceptions. such
is the rule. They are impatient, if
not intolerant of criticism-holding
criticism (of Others to be their pecu-
| liar province-and are unable To see
why thew should get back any of the
Bullets they are so fond of dealing.
Being one of them, and not assum-
ing to be an exception, ieel privil-
eyed to comment ON them with free
/ dom and candor, hut without preju-
dice or rancor. They are prone to
various weaknesses and faults, and
often need to he 50 delicately handled
the labor seems not worth the pains.
| am never surprised at the luminosity
they excite in certain quarters, or at
the unfortunate impressions they I'M
part. Their manners are inauspiciOus
hut lhev are better than they SHOW.
1t NAV be urged in their behalf that
the trials and annOvalces Uf their vo-
cation render them skepticai, morose,
irritable, and ego:islia. Their occn-
patton. habits and associations are
certainly different from those of Other
laborers. ana the difference is against
them. | am inclined TO believe that
ma"y % the inky class who have he
come soured with life and Themselves
would have been amiable and aenia
had they followed some other pursuit
No trade is 81 unremuneratiye anC
E generally unsatisfactory as the trade o
: writing. 1t may seem strange that s.
many are drawn into it /; but it has
, IL & a .lrrnnnnnt an1 nffars nrnmiSp