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

trade has greatl y increased. And as
all writers have TO deal with publish.
ers, the relation between them, ana
the experience they have Of one
another, with the habits and peculiar
ties of each, naturally concern 'he two
classes, and the concern extends to
laymen in general. a great deal Of
curiosity. il nothing else, is felt about
manuscript-making and manuscript
makers, and publishers come III for
their share.
1t was said long ago that authors
and publishers are natural enemies. L
have often thought that, if they were
not, they ought to be; and yet l am
we'll aware that tn. fault is not all on
one side. They frequently fail to un-
derstand one another naturally enough,
because authors are, as rule, un-
practical, and publishers are practical,
so very practical often as TO consider
their own benefit exclusively. The
former complain that Unfair advan-
tase lie taken of them by the latter,
who declare in turn that the former
have Sd much vanity, and so little COM
mon sense, that no business man can
get along with them. While there
are numberless exceptions, both the
charges are measurably true. 1t is
inevitable thar each class should have
grievances against the other, but there
is no reason Why 50 many Of these
grievances should be so we'll based.
If there were not error Or wrong, or
both, on each side, the discord and
aptagonism would steadily diminish !;
and it is questionable whether there
would be any dimi uticn.
Having always followed the prafes.
sion Of d writer in q wide sense, enl-
5recipg journalism in every depart
merit, magaZine-contrihuiing and book
making, | have been invited to furnish
series of papers containing nv views
ar4 conclusions concerning this branch
n Industry, especially its advantages,
and disadvantages. | shall speak Of
writers in their general import, more
Of writers for newspapers and maya
zines than OF authors strictly, because
those comprise large body, are near
er the people, and because their
methods and occupations are probably
less familiar. Having been an editor
repeatedly, know, inasmuch as
editors usually represent publishers,
how writers are regarded and treated
by them, though | may say that, in
any position Rave held, my
sympa.nitS have always been with
writer's. These belong to my guild,
and ] have tried through life TO light
their hat les as my own. remember
dozers of conflicts | have had with
publishers because unwilling TO dis
regard the right of my brothers of the
pen. and | remember, 100, that in
nearly ali of them, have been VIC
torious. IF editors who have been
writers would not so actively side
with publishers, and eagerly relinqulsh
the attitude they once Eeld, writers
would fare better than they do now.
tits an unpleasant thought; but it is
unquestionable true, that many writers
who have been oppressed, after they
are put in positions where they should
see Justice done, really lend themselves
to oppression. This is particularly
true in journalism, Men who have
inveighed against publishers, and
with entire justice, no sooner find 1t
their interest to serve them than they
carry their services beyond The domain
of duty or equity.
The Influence of journalism often
seems pernicious. Many who aspire
to permanent and desirable places in
it, and reach them after hong and hard
struggles, begin, when fairly seated,
to discourage and throw obstacles in
the way Of others trying to CLIMB up.
Instead of sympath:z;ng with and lend
ing helping hand 70 those below, as
they should, recalling their own ex-
experience, they ridicUle and censure
them. and DO what they Can To push
them down. Such examples are only
TOO common in all professions and
employmenis; but appear more con-
spicuOus and more unnatural among
writers. because they ought iron
their verv calling, 10 he less selfisl
and narrow than the mass of humani
~. And then, as they are toreve
commenting on the weaknesses ant
faults of their fellows, it seems as
they should have fewer faults them
selves. Happily, there are writers
and writers, notably among jaurnai
ists. with whom there is an exceeding
variety for better and for worse.
The objection most frequently mad