The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1888-11-17

1000. To the writer's personal
knowledge the late George G.. Small
(Brcktop) was paid 5000. But there
was n time in poor Small's history
when his income amounted to triple
that sum, and it came from the half
interest he held in n once very popular
paper, now defunct, named Hitd oats.
Small was originally a carpenter and
worked for years ut the bench. His
first writings were published in the
Police gazette. He was n warm-hearted
man and helped many a struggling
writer to attain ut least fair need of
success. He died comparatively poor.
Larry Hopkins, or Hop" who helped
Hiid oats to success, is now in
Australia. But for bad management
the paper would be alive and prosper
Gus to-day.
Small made this city his home.
Another Brooklyn man immensely
popular rs story writer is Denis D.
Sullivan, who, when he don't sign his
own name to his productions, uses the
nom de plume, Corporal Morgan Rat
tier. His forte is Irish stories and
romances for boys. He is printer
by trade. Many of the men who pose
in the higher ranks of literature secret
ly envy the final success of their less
pretentious brethren, and not a few of
these moguls have sent stories To the
cheaper publications only to have them
refused. A case came under my notice
not many months ago that is worth
describing. l was shown letter
from prominent member of the
Authors Club, who offered TO write
sketch weekly-under an assumed
name. of course-for popular paper
for ridiculously small sum. The
would-be contributor was informed by
return mail that his offer could not be
entertained.
Every now and then it is chronicled
by the daily papers that party of
boys having had their minds iniiamed
by reading Indian stories have robbed
their parents and started West TO have
"go" with the red men. AS n mat
ter of fact not an Indian nor a pirate
story has been published by any New
York weekly in years-one paper of
rather limited circulation excepted.
There are plenty of so-called "boys'
libraries" where gore is served up in
4
nickel. None of the larger house, will
publish such matter. even if it was de-
monstrated TO them that there was
money in the scheme.
Both the Munros--thsv are brothers
come from an inland town in Nova
Scotia. The elder (Gcorge) was in
tended for the ministry. but gavo up
that idea and came to New York, where
he obtained work in publishing
house. He eventually engaged in
business for himself, and sent for his
brother Norman. who entered Georges
employ. A wide difference in age
exists between tho two. and their
natures are not similar. George, with
out being penurious, is said to be saw
ing. Norman is open-handed and
generous, and yet lie is probably the
more wealthy Of the two. When he
started in business it was on a very
mcager capital, and just about sixteen
years ago. To-day Norman l.. Munro
is worth over million dollars. Two
years ago he sworc in n suit whore he
was plaintiff for infringement on his
rights that the year previously hc had
spent S350,000 in advertising alone.
James Elverson, proprietor of Saturday
Night, is also very wealthy. He was
once Washington correspondent for
the Public Ledger. the owner of which,
George w. Childs. gave him censidera-
BILE help at the outset of his career rs
publisher. Both members of tho
original firm OF Street & Smith are
dead. Previous to starting tho
New York Weekly they were en-
ployed in the Office of the Dispatch.
Both died rich. Without exception.
however, Robert Bonner. who retired
from the Ledger quite recently, is tho
most wealthy OF any of the publishers
named.
With all his wealth the life of pub
Usher who attends punctually to his
business is far from being happy
he reaches his Office in the morning
until he leaves at night. No class of
business men are SO annoyed by adver-
tisiug canvassers. But there is another
pest that for pure cussedsess can give
the most cheeky advertising agents
points. This species is ladies who
have had stories rejected by the editor.
They abuse the latter to their hearts
content. and then insist upon reading
the rejected manuscript to the publish
er, promising in advance to prove that
the aforesaid story is one OF the best Of
its kind evolved from human brain.
The publisher doesn't stop to listen.
He discovers with alarming sudden
ness that he has an engagement with
an ink manufacturer around the corner
and leaves. Does the crushed author
ess take herself off? No. she doesn't.
Instead she waits for hours, if need be,
the return of the publisher, and If he
fails to come back she will be on hand
bright and early next morning. I've
known publisher in fit of dcspera-
ton to purchase n story he did not
want from one of these persistent per-
sons. He thought so little of it that
he gave it away in pamphlet form rs
supplement TO his paper.
That was some years ago and the
writer of the story has since improved
so much in the character Of her work,
and her services are so largely sought
after, that she is able to- dictate large
fart,g rvbi.b orn calInn, rafpeal