The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-07-19
TYPswRlrlNa AND LITERATURE.


Advice for Those who Wish to Make
Good Impression ON Editors.
"No, I cannot use the typewriter re-
marked literary man the other day,
'nor can / dictate with any satisfaction.
And there are a good many other people
in the same boat with me. L heard one
well known writer say not long ago that
while he could get along well enough
with his correspondence ON the type
writer, he could do nothing at all In
the way of literary work. As for dicta-
ton, it was simply an impossibility for
him. He had tried it repeatedly, but
had never been able to succeed. It was
the more singular in his case because he
was formerly public speaker and was
in the habit of speaking without a man
uscTipt; and he is noted as a taller, be-
ing fluent, ready and rapid. He even
said that he could not dictate a correc-
ton in typewritten copy. The only sat
lsfactory thing for him to do was to take
the copy himself and write in the change.
"Then there is - he must be MAX
ing something like $500 a week from his
literary work in all directions. One
would think that he would be almost
compelled to employ stenographer,
but understand he does all his
work with his own hand. l have
heard Of very prolific editor who
was induced by his friends TO Tighten
his labors by employing stem
ographer and typewriter In his case it
worked very curiously. He had no
trouble about debating, but he found
that by this means he was enabled to do
a great deal more work than he had done
previously-th is, great deal more
writing and so, instead Of diminishing
his labors, he really increased them.
"In my own case can dictate letter
fairly well, and l could do piece of
journalistic work In that way or by type
writing it; but anything that is to have
the literary touch must be carefully
worked out with the pen. And do not
believe that it is simply matter of prac-
tice; though to be sure it is possible
that it may be. That is if one were
trained from a child TO use the type
writer instead of the pen or pencil, the
art of composition might come naturally
to him when lingering the keys. But
greatly doubt whether it can be learned
late in life. Take the case of --.
feel confident that the notable decadence
of his style in recent years, which is un
mistakably very marked, is the result OF
his use Of the typewriter Formerly he
was most fastidious in his style, but now
he is slovenly and careless. The change
is really wonderful to one who has read
him closely for years, as l have.
80 am far from thinking the type
writer an unmixed blessing. At tho
same time / believe that every manu-
script offered for publication ought to b,
typewriter. l believe that would-b,
authors would find it to their advantag,
to go to the small expense which tn,
| copying of their efforts by the typewritel
would entail Editors, find, are mucl
more willing to examine such manu-
scripts than those which are written il
scrawling, Grabbed and uneven hands
even if there be esome individuality abou
these. 1t is not individuality that tn,
| average editor is looking for, it is some
thing fresh and striking and original
and he is loath to take the trouble to de
cipher bad chirography on the bar
chance of finding something worth hi
while. So my advice to the young mel
and young women who add so much t,
the governments postal receipts yea
after year is to have their production
typewritten. They will save postage, o
course, as a typewritten manuscript j
less bulky than one done by hand. An,
in case of several reflections and reat
tempts they may save in postage the cos
of the typewriting. New York Trit
| nne.