The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-11-15
ADVICE TO AUTHORS.
BID Nye Gives a Few Points-His Back.
CANNON History.

BID Nye Gives a Few Points-His Back
CANNON History.
The following letter, written in nervous,
cramped hand, on an empty stomach, with
red INK, was received some months ago, but
politics and other matters of greater import
ance, yielding more money than literature,
nave crowded out an earlier reply. do not
use the full name, which is that of a young
woman, judge. At least, her first name is
Jennie, and, as nearly as one may be able tc
approximate ones age by simply knowing
ones name, should say that she was nc
doubt 10 years of age ON the LIST day of last
April,
HuLMboLDr Minn Aug IL 1SSS-DEAR SIR-Wil
you pleas to tell me what would be the price for
good sised book not to large nor not very small
now this is Just one that have commenced to
write myself and think it is going to be a very
good one Pleas to tell me where | could get it
printed and also all you know about it as | am
very proud of this one pleas be SO kind as to not
mension this in closed find stamp for a nansWer
pleas to obledge me | am Yours truly Pleas In
address it to me at st Vincent in care of Mr.
Tho's Brown as am here now Yours Should
write it on both sides of the paper it being SO Won
can tear it out and turn it over P. s. The name of
it is ~The Folly of Blackeyed Nell
The Second Daughter
ore
The Brenett Flirt,
Replying to this long neglected letter |
would say briefly, yet succinctlv and even
tersely, that much would depend upon the
size of the book There is a tremendous call
this season for an eight ounce book. with
small Aecks Of foam on it.
Can you write such a book9 Can Won
a full nf
passlon3 Can you churn up the great depths
OF human nature and shorten the longing
which one may have for another heart
against which to throb9 Can you do this
and still go on with your primary studies at
Humboldt Can you prepare such work
and still get your spelling lessons every day?
do not know why you should have re-
ferred the matter to me, however | would
rather refrain from giving advice in matters
OF literature as general thing, for am not
irregular litterateur. 1 could not write
book about The Brenett Flirt" to save nv
life Writing passionate things in red ink
on both sides, l regard as gift l cannot
do it,
l once published a work in two volumes
which sold well and is still meeting with an
excellent sale both in this country and in
Europe. 1t was also well received by the
critics; at least nobody said anything dis
paraging of it, and it has helped many a one
to pass a pleasant evening, as | know. 1t
consisted Of two large volumes of history,
being history of the war; in two volumes.
Struck with the wonderful paucity of war his
tory, prepared these two volumes in neat
black and gold muslin and beveled boards.
When closed the work was ornamental, and
when opened it became backgammon board.
Where others had been in the habit of put
ting word painting, and October haze, and
the odor Of crushed watermelon, and the lull
of being miles and miles away from the par
ents of one you deeply love and who is with
you in the heart of the forest and all that,
did not put anything at all. Where a mod
ern author might have written things which
might have caused the rather questionable
career of Don Juan, by contrast, to read like
the loves of a snow man, just left the reader
to insert his own wicked thoughts as he went
along. In this way, and by reinforcing the
corners by means Of zinc shanks on the in
side, l knew that when the critics jumped on
it they would not hurt it,
To this 1 attribute what little literary sue
SSoo now GNU lGd-
son l speak Of it to you. But times are
changing and you must keep up with the
times See, FOR instance, how the smut has
been eradicated from comedy and humor,
and how it has been gently but firmly re-
tanned by romance. Even the bright but
doubtful jokes of war times, twenty years
ago, could not find place in print or on the
stage now and further back than that we
find many, many little bon mots which could
only be found now in a congressional COM
mittee room or a late novel,
I congratulate comedy, Jennie, and I am
sorry for you literary people. But you
can do just as you think best. If you
are writing book for the market, you
have got good subject. 1t conveys the idea
of just enough wickedness so that, if properly
handled, the book will be very much talked
about and therefore sold in great quantities.
sincerely hope that your name will soon be
a household word and that your book will
not only be great success here in New York,
but that every farmer in Minnesota will be
using it on his potato bugs next summer
Bill Nye in New York World.