The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-04-30
AUTHORS.
George w. Cables Experience with
His Most Successful story Before
IIe WAS known to Fame.


George w. Cables Experience with
His Most Successful story Before
He Was known to Fame.
Colonel Higginson has written an
elaborate paper for Harper's Bazaar,
in which he vigorously attacks the idea
so generally entertained that editors
and publishers do not care to print the
productions Of unknown contributors,
and that an article Of great merit may
DO rejected simply because its author is
unknown, yet be eagerly sought for
after he has acquired a reputation.
The experience of Mr.. George w. Gable,
the popular novelist. goes far toward
establishing that theory and s%ur-rebut-
ting Colonel Higginson's REPUTATION of
it. THE first story l v WROTE
said Mr.. Gable in q recent conversation.
II sent in succession TO three different
publishers, by all of whom it was de-
clined, with thanks 1t now forms the
twcnty-eighth and twenty-ninth chap
tiers of my novel, The Grandissimes,'
and has done more to establish my re-
putation than anything else have ever
written. Poison Jone',' the most
popular of all my stories. | sent to a
publisher, who refused it. l laid it
aside in my desk and thought no more
Of it for several months. Then | sent
it to another publisher. He also would
| have consigned it to his waste basket
but for the stamps which | had inclosed
to insure its return. Again | laid it
aside for some time. Then | sent it to
a third publisher. He, too, would none
of it. After my nam had become
somewhat known | received handsome
terms for Poison Jone' from one of
the very publishers who had rejected it
when l was in ~obscurity.
ut is useless for any II to deny
said Mr.. Gable, chat writers unknown
in literature have q hard struggle al
first to obtain a hearing. Sill, l'believe
that any one who has a story worth
telling or original ideas worth record
ing-no matter on what subject-can
eventually find some publisher with sui.
ficient. discernment to recognize the
fact. In literature, as in everything
else, people are like watcr-sure to find
their level soone or later. | think the
plan | used frequently to follow is +.
good one for all young writers anxious
to have their productions see the light
of day. When I first aspired to write
for something more substantial thar
love or glory | made out a list of all tn,
American periodicals. commencing witt
what | considered the best, and going
by regular gradations to the poorest
If ! wrote a story | would send 1t to al
of these periodicals, commencing will
the first, in the order of their refusal
Let any young writer do this, and. m
word for it, if his cf1usion possesses an,
merit whatever it viii not be rejected
by the entire list"
Mr.. Cable says that, though he Away
had an inward conviction that he coul,
be a writer, circumstances seemed t.
force him into commercial pursuits, ant
for several years he was chief clerk t,
a large firm IN New Orleans. beside
holding a prominent position in the Cot
ton Exchange of that city. For u tim
he wrote in amateurish way for evera
local papers, and was finally engage
to write Il column every week, for tn
Sunday edition of the New Orlean
Ptcayanc. When that paper change
hands lie was assigned to write a serie
of articles giving a history of all the 1t
ligious and charitable Institutions of til
city. TO do that he had to read til
history of New Orleans, which he foun
TO be virtually that of Louisiana. II
was so charmed with the romance
interviewer with that history that /
then resolved to write stories of til
early creole days. For an entire yes
he read all that he could find pertain
ing to the subject without putting pc
to paper, meantime retaining his cleri,
al position. 1t is now about four yea
since he gave up commercial pursui
to devote himself wholly 10 literatur'
He was first led to think of going upo
the platform to read selections from h
own works by his success in making &
appeal to the congregation of Il Presb
terrain church, of which he was Il men
Der, to pay of an old debt. Prior
that time he had always been very tr
id about letting his voice be heard
public, but his address to the churt
people had such a remarkable effect
the total amount Of the debt, which h;
been hanging Owe them for years, b
ing promptly subscribed within Il fe
minutes after he had tinishcd-that
{ took some lessons in clocution and G
saycd to give public readings from /
own works, with what success all ii
world knows.-Philadeiphta Times.