Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-20
THE EARTH BUBBLE.
r,,,,,,. pv,en, willard in tie Areouau.I

for once had played unsuned,
esems the sole work OF lifetime that away the
rest have uined. Robert BroxStn0.
Owen Capelle was literary man who
wrote for living. The expression is not
redundant; il is merely accurate. DO all
literary mon write for living? Happily
mot. And, on tho other hard. who would
be 40 rash as to venture the assertion that
all who write for a living are makers OF
Gteraturer
With Owen Cspelle literature was at
once an art and business. IL was an art
because be worked at il reverently. con-
scientiously. with q considerable degree
of talent. and assisted not infrequentiy bv
something very like inspiration. Ii was
again a business, for the reason that by II
he earned the support OF himself. wire,
and family, bartering his manuscripts ana
other forms Of literary labor WITH a tnoue-
rate amount Of shrcwdncss. ana after much
the same method as that by which the
farmer soils his garden truck or the baker
batch Of doughnuts.
II NAV not be unnteresting to the reader
70 learn-and ii IL certainly necessary 10
this narrative 10 explain Just what owen
Capelle wrotc-and how much oil an IN,
como his labor brought. Several novels OF
his fabrication had been given to the pub:
he hy that well known blishing-house OF
VeJlum & Marble. and from these nc bad
altogether an annual royalty OF ABOUT
nj 900. OF short stories. he wrote ten or
twelve In the course OF year, which
brought returns according TO their quality
and length. and averaged under 500 apiece.
He also turned out" literary articles lot
a daily journal, and he received sinall
salary for assisting in the editorial Work OF
n children's magazine. lndusulous by
nature. and, after his marriage go.deu on
Nv necessity, he worked hard nine hours u
day. with few holidays; and his income
was nearly as large as the salary OF pro-
fessional baseball player. -,
Itmust not be supposed, however, that
Owen Capellc was famous. lie was modeT
rstely well known 10 limited circle OF
readers. In his early years before writing
had become with him commonplace OF
daily labor, be'hsd espied Fame stroling
In the path little way ahead OF nm. III
Uould be easy enough. he thought, to
oyertake her, whenever he had earned
sorne Of his own time TO devote 10 the ef-
fort. The wears were passing now rather
randy. for he was OF the middle period OF
lie. vet he was no nearer to her, and had
almost ceased TO lift his eyes III her dlrec-
ton.
that a conversation took place between
MIR Marble, of the publishing firm. and q
certain Great Author. of which MIR. Capelle
and his affairs formed the subject. The
Great Author, who knew Capelle intimate
". spoke with no little feeling of his labo-
rious. ill-rewarded career. He declared his
belief that the story-writer would have
made a splendid name for himself but toi
the operation of the law Of supply and do
rand. The publisher was surprised. he
had been accustomed 10 look upon Cspele
as exceptionally prosperous. lie was
however, one of those men who make
principle of maintanga certain degree OF
continent in their souls-sonething IKE
yensioned-of poor relation, who. az rare
Intervals, NAV come in Tor sometimes
handsome. He straigbtway resolved 10
make an example of Mr.. Capello to his con-
ave have been publishing Capelle's sto.
ries for several years" said be, and, ne
added frankly, II don't hesitate TO say we
are making good enough thihg out %
them. | expect We ought to do something
for him. What would YOU adviser"
"The best thing in this world" SAID the
Great Author, lis cash" -,
'sWould he taks lit do you think 2"
"You might try him."
"I could put il on the ground that w
had more than our share out OF hrs BOOKS
Isuspect we have. as n matter OF fact"
"I'ndoubtedly." said the Great Author
~You make us fellows who know how I,
write books pay for your experience witt
those who don't"
The publisher, ignoring this remark
continued: suppose gave him certain
sum and stipulated that he was 10 use IL e
pay expenses while he abstained from wori
and onioyed vacation of month or two
How is that?"
Prime"
Gle might take his wife and children u
the scashore. for example"
Yes; or. for a better example, he nigh
send his wife and children there. aud sta
al home and enjoy life tor brief span."
'.His home then isn't-er""
The Great Author waggcd his head slow
~ from side TO side. Whenever fec
the need of renewing my VOWS TO bachelor
hood" SAID he, 81 60 10 visit poor Caoell
al his house that | NAV regard HIM Will
in the bosom of his family. The sight is
perfect antidote to matrimonv."
PERHAPS he is happy, though sug
gested Mr.. Marble.
81 respect him too much TO believe IT.,
answered the Great Author.
A few DAYS later the plan for vacatio
WAS submitted to Owen Capeile.. He wa
very much astonished. At first he was IL
clined 10 refuse the gift. He knew yer
we'll that any respectable character IN on
Of his stories would. after a conflict of q
vers,fied emotions. have declined on til
ground that il remotely resembled charity
But for himself he was compelled 70 thin
of Mr.. Capelle and the little Capelles. ii
was accustomed to tell her everything
for she had q disagreeable way OF hnaIn
II out lust the same If he aid not. Mha
would she say TO his declining this offer
YES, and how long would she keep on say
Ing il? The thought of the tall, squar
person, whom he loved as man loves
Woman that ia only his wife. threw hil
into something very like funk.
And he accepted.
The sum of money which Owen Capell
received was not enormous, but IL was an
DIV sufficient to carry out the plan. Mr.
Cepeile and the children were TO 60 to I'll
seashore, and the story-wrlter was TO r
main in the city or travel about, a. J
chose, with months good salary, paid
edvance. in his pocket.
Let us consider that we are maxim
you present of some time," MIR. Marb
had said
As he rode back from the depot, att
putting Mrs. Capelle and liberal co
sQnment of small Capelles on board Il
train, the story-writer said to himself:
"What shall do with itY"
His wife had warned him 10 keep avs
from his study, that he. might not
tempted to do any writing. lnstincti'
steps. however. led him into the wor
chop. To mcthodically industrious ms
Il was a little confusing TO be thus su
denly beset by leisure.
Stretched out in an easy-chair. his lars
plpe filed with fragrant tobacco, he reco
noitred the situation, discussing with hir
eelf one after another the various uses
which the vacation might be put.
The problem was 10 find something
do. which he should enjoy doing. and y
which should not be work an easy enouG
matter for most mortals but, "a IT ha
pened. rather perplexing one for Ow'
Capelle.
III ne had put his thoughts into wor
and spoken them aloud they would ha
run something after this fashion,;
1T will not do for me to take run o
into the country. for | shall find myself J
etinctively picking up material wheIevel
30. Ii would be work in disguise.
might spend the time III some partloul
line Of study. That il very much Ii
work, however. Or / might do some 8
entific reading-I am getting sadly behil
on these later discoveries. and some
them would come handy as elements
plots--bah there is work again.
"Or suppose" he continued, in a va
endeavor TO luff 10 a different track,
make use Of this blessed gift Of days