Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-26
WRITING FOR PROFIT.
A Few Scraps Of Literary History
Recalled by the Sight of
STACKS OF DUSTY VOLUMES.
Works of Famous Authoress Who Wrote
for Years Without Pay.
PHENOMENALLY SUCCESSFUL BOOKS

WASHINGTON, May 24.-In the Nations
Library few days ago I came across stacl
of bound volumes of newspapers as high a
ones head almost. Among them were thu
volumes of the National Era, covering tn
period from 1S47 to 1860. 1t was an avoweC
anti-slavery paper, and it may we'll be be
ieved that its appearance at the Nationa
Capital and the "Institution's" stronghold
created more or less of sensation. Scarcely
had its first Issue come wet from the pres
before certain Mr.. Jones, of the City Coun
Gil of Georgetown, introduced resolution
in that body declaring that the publication
of an abolition paper in the city of Wash
ington would be calculated to ''arouse thu
worst feelings of our peaceful population,
and appointing committee of three to in
quire into the propriety of legislative actor
in the premises.
Sounds strange, does it not, in these
piping days when We are all Abolitionisti
together?
The first number was issued January z,
1S47, with the names of G. Bailey as editor
and John G. Whittier as corresponding
editor. A corresponding editor in those
days was not a mere fgure-head, as is SO
commonly the case now-as glance through
those time-stained pages will show. From
the very first there is scarcely an issue with
out letter, an essay or a poem from the
Quaker poets graceful pen. On MAY 20,
1S47, appeared his poem, "The Angels of
Buena Vista, the theme being furnished by
an incident at the battle of that name,
which had occurred only short time before
a GALAXY OF TALENT.
But his was not the only poetic voice up
lifted in freedoms cause. Those gifted
daughters of Ohio, Alice and Phoebe Cary,
were both regular contributors to the
columns of the new paper. Many of their
rarest poetic gems first saw the light in these
pages. The prose sketches of Alice, over
the pen name of Patty Lee, first drew at
tention to the young sisters.
And these were by no means all of that
brilliant galaxy of writers who made the
Era such in literature as we'll as in politics.
There were Grace Greenwood, Mrs M. L.
Bailey, Robert Dale Owen, L. Maria Child,
Lucy Lacorm, Mrs. E. D. E. N. South
worth and Mrs. II. B. Stowe, who all con-
tributed with more or less regularity Of
the two latter a more extended notice is
proper.
Mrs. Southworth was, at that time,
young teacher in the city schools of Wash
ington. She had written a few short stories
for the Baltimore Visitor, a paper which
had brief existence in that city under the
management of DR.. Snodgrass. The latter
sold out to the proprietors of the Era, and
in January, 1849, appeared in the latter the
first installment of her story entitled
"Retribution," which she expected to con-
clude in the following number. But she
did not; it grew upon her, and ran on and
on, week after week. 1t attracted wide
spread attention; drawing letter from Mr..
Whittier himself, in which be predicted
that it would set a thousand pens to going.
1t was the first story published serially in
weekly newspaper in this country, and
very narrowly missed being the first in the
world. Dickens had probably published
his "Dombey and Son" in this form in
1878, but his previous works had probably
all appeared in the form of weekly or
monthly ''parts.'
YEARS OF UNPAID LABOR.
1t may not be without interest to Young
writers of the present day to know that Mrs.
Southworth wrote continuously for two or
three years without receiving one cent of
ls
receive was at the rate of 81 per column.
which was the current price at that time.
After time she was engaged by Henry |
Peterson to write for the old Saturday Even- |
ing Post, and for a long time she wrote reg
ularly for the two, running a story in each |
alternately. Of late years, until very re-
Gently, she has written exclusively for Bon |
ner's Ledger, but of the 81 novels coming |
from her pen, she never wrote line upon a
yearly salary.
OF Harriet Beecher Stowe, it need onlybe |
said that she wrote Uncle Toms Cabin"
and of the National Era. that the immortal
story first saw the light in its columns All
lnheralded it grew upon the world week by
week. DR.. Bailey INDUCED in no flaming.
head lines or editorial exultation over the
most powerful ally-the most potent influ-
ence, that had hitherto enlisted under his
banner, June B, 1851, the first installment
appeared, and it ran continuously until the
April Nothing appears in these
linn and mustY pages, printed 40 years ago,
% indicate the immediate effect of the re-
work. Perhaps it was not very
marked, Ior the tradition goes, that when in
852, the author was negotiating for its pub
ication in book form, her husband declared
hat he would be satisfied if she realized
;nough from the proceeds to buy herself
lew gown.
PHENoMENALLY SUCCESSFUL WORKS.
And lol in four years more than 300, 900
opies were sold in the United States, and
IS many more in Great Britain. In ten
ears it had been translated into French,
German, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Portu-
,uese. Spanish, Italian, Welsh, Russian,
Polish, Hungarian, Wendish, Wallachian,
Armenian, Arabic, and Romaic. 1t is safe
o say that no other book ever made so pro-
uch influence. In molding and crystal
zing public opinion it outweighed the death
f Lovejoy, the eloquence of Phillips, and
he tragedy of Harper's Ferry.
In another alcove l found many of the
looks of Mrs F. 81. Burnett. As all the
world knows, she is an author whose success
las been abundant, not to say phenomenal. ,
Her writings have brought her both fame I
nd fortune, and she is an exception to the
eneral rule. Between 10 and 20 years ago,
should say from memory, she began her
emarkable career, doing most of her work
or PeterSon's Magazine, at that time under
he control of the veteran editor and man of
etters, Charles j. Peterson. Some of her
trongest work was done for his publication,
nd many of the serials thus published re- |
NAMED comparatively unknown to the ,
,reat public that now reads her, until her
ater fame brought them out in book form.
After some experience she wrote the story.
Surly Tins Trouble, /" and offered it to the
century, then known as Scribner's Mdgd-
inc, and edited by the late Dr. Holland. !
hat story was her introduction to the world i
nat now knows her. It marked the corner
tone of hersuccess. There has probably been
othing stronger produced by the present
eneration of writers, herself included.
WRITINGS THAT PAID WELL.
The sum OF $4,000, for which she con-