Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1885-09-10

she artists minor pictures are all brought
into requisition. If lie be prosperous a lit
tie music hidden behind a sumptuous screen,
and some very delicate Refreshments ars
added. Flowers wisely, but not too law
ishly, disposed harmonic everything. Ths
visitors are delighted. To many of them
an artists studio is a kind Of border hand
Of Bohemia, through which passes thg
fascinating, because unknown, way from
conventionalism 10 naturalism. They vastly
enjoy themselves, and depart with the fixed
belief that the picture they have been asked
to inspect is excellent, because they have
had good time. This isn't their expressed
logic, but it is the logical result of their
good feeling. They praise the picture, the
painter, the stuiio; they cordially advise
their friends TO go there, and, ten 10 one,
the picture itself is, by these means disposed
Of before it has left its original easel
Literary wares. also, may he greatly
helped by social advertising. Ii becomes
known-how, nobody ever exactly under
stands-that such ami such writer might
be prevailed upon 20 deliver a course OF lee
lures upon some interesting topic in private
drawing-rooms. Drawing-room lectures
being among the most prevalent Of fashion
able fancies, almost Immediately some lady
desires to have the course of lectures ia her
parlors. She canvasses her visiting list;
checks the names OF those likely TO take
tickets; begins a round of calls, casually
mentioning the proposed course, and that a
few tickets remain unsold; and in a short
time, If the lecturer be perscl Of reputa-
ton, the tickets are all eagerly
taken at from So 10 s. the course
without 4 single word of news
paper advertising. A course of this
sort, given by visiting Englishman early
in the winter, was 50 great a financial sue
cess that the tickets sold before the lectures
began at premium equal to the original
price.
If it lie quietly given out in society that
the Forthcoming novel of the clever young
story writer, John johnson, is founded upon
certain well-known incidents in the lives OF
leading society people, or that certain of its
characters are portraits which will be read
lily recognized, the first edition will De ex-
hausted almost before it reaches the book
sellers counters, and long before the critics
have had chance to make or mar its sue
cess. The probability is that the story is
purely fictitious, and that the supposed por-
traits are as difficult to distinguish as most
painted ones; but society, delighted with the
idea Of seeing It's neighbor pilloriei in print.
buys the volume freely, and fancies it finds
what il seeks within It.
Personal popularity in society IS one OF
the most advantageous methods Of literary
and artistic advertising. II would be easy
10 name dozen of the most prol-.nent Of
the younger literary folk, who, though
possessing marked ability, have won far
more of their fame by their tactful tongues
and agreeable manners than by the nimble-
ness Of their pens, or the multiplicity Of
thci- publications. Personally, they are so
charming that those they meet are inspired
with an interest in their work, which years
Of anonymous composition or the abstrac-
ton of name without an identity would
not create.
The days when ON artist in any line cou.i
wisely shut himself up, and be dismal, dis
tant. yes, even dirty-if the expression may
BE- pardone1-are long since past. In
America. and especially in the metropolis,
society has become power which, however
much you may privately scorn it, you must
recognize. 1t is often really sincere when
it seems shallowest, and its impulses are not
seldom kindly. even when thoughtlessly ex-
pressed. Like fire it is a good servant, but
a bad master, and like fire, too it is apt to
consume that which j. wholly committed to
Its keepin MARGARET ANTHoS.