Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-03-11
Most of tho Leading Lights Are Aversc to
 Correspond"|ce.


 Because writing is my trade is no reason why should be expected to fol- low it for pleasure" said Mark Twain to me once, and forth with the humorist destroyed several letters lying before him on his desk. And this opinion is apparently shared by not a few of the famous writers of the day. Bret Harte, for example, positively refuses to an swer any but letters cf 2 business nature or from friends. Tennyson ignores all letters without discrimination. except in rare instances. Robert Louis Steven son travels around so much that most of his letters never reach hi'l, and those tlon. Mir. Howells is not over-particular with his correspondence, and James Russel Lowell and Robert Browning were even less so. Ouida takes pride in say- ing that but one letter in hundred receives reply at her hands. Mrs Oli- phant, tho English novelist, is also a poor correspondents, except with her in t,mate friends. Frank R. Stockton has recently formed the habit of answering letters only after they have been re- peated two or three times, George Ban crott's age prevents him from being at tentive to a miscellaneous correspond once, while the poet Whittier and Walt whitman have been compelled for the same reason to resort to silence in nu- mcrouS cases. But as there arc those of the literary guild who ignore the public 6plStleS which come to them through the mails, there are others who answer eacL letter as if 1t was the only one they TO ceive in a single post
 No author is more amable as a cores pondent, for example, than is Oliver Wendell Holmes. who answers in some way or other almost every letter that finds its way to his desk. Lew Wallace is likewise inclined to answer all letters. Donald G. Mitchell derives pleasure from his correspondence, and. with the assistance of an energetic wife. replies in every case. r. Marion Crawford and Henry James are both agreeable and ready letter writers. George William his responses to all Among women Mrs. Burnett, pr"H;,ps the busiest, is ono Of the most sa lsfying of corres- pondents. Tho two women generally mentioned in one brcath-why no one knows Mrs. ilumphry Ward and Mar garet Deland-ara kindly to their un- known letter writers. Mrs Alexander and "The Duchess," the two English popular noveliSts. invariably respond even to the most trivial letters. Schol- arly Amelia B. Edwards is brief but certain in her correspondence. Marion Harland is anothor whose pen is always at the command of those who write to her. Mrs Custer regards it as duty to respond to letters. Harriet Prescott Spoffords s atlability of manners extends to her correspondence. Rider Haggard answers nearly all lottcrs by the type writer. while Max O. Rcil devotes two hours of each day to his mail Dumas and Jules Verne employ secretarles, and by their assistance quickly diminish the mail which como to them. Taken as a class, authors arc more burdene6 with letters than almost any other profes l sional men and women, yet few are more l cordial as correspondents w. Box, In Philadalnhia Times.
 How iie Made His Money.
 'Mr. Fabcr," said the old millionaire
 "Yes, sir" answered his private sec rotary.
 Here are fifty begging letters. An swer them all with a refusal"
 ''Yes, sir"
 And you will observe that every one nns two-cent stamp inclosed for re ply"
 "Yes, sir."
 Well, answer them all on posh ards. ."--Tid-B