The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-08-24
LITERARY LEAVES.
John MORLEY'S CONJECTURE
ABOUT WRITER'S.

profes.lop of an Author-The People OF
Tba.kerav-The origin of Aiphabets-
Note. About Books and Makers OF
Books.
In his response for Literature" at
the centenary of the Royal Literary
Fund recently, Mr.. John Morley said :;
Il often wonder whether there are
fifty, or even twenty, men and women
who are earning competence by the
authorshship of books, putting school
books out of the question. We can de-
pend upon it-and in saying this am
not sure that ought not to address my
remarks equally to the ladies who
grace US with their presence to night
that the book writer. unless he chance
to have a great natural gift for
fiction. however frugal and home
lv his life. whatever mis- sources
of accumulated knowledge. II he
depends upon the authorship OF books
as his only resource, he or she Will be
likely to have hard time Of l.. And
this marks great change in our Int
erary history-that the opening now,
for those who look to literary as a sub
sistence, is in journalism. IL has been
truly said that the great advantage OF
literature is that it has the last word.
So it has. in a sense: at least. the high
est kind of literature has. But there Is
also kind Of literature which nobody
can afford To desplse, and which has the
first world mean journalistic lltera-
ture. The great historian of the Coun-
Gil of Trent said that it was enough for
him if he got a dozen readers IN an age.
THAT is one kind of literature. The
other kind, to which tine modern ideal
more nearly conforms. is that which
has 100 600 readers for two minutes al
ter breakfast The result for journalism
has been undoubtedly good. aud we
have now in Eugland-in journalism OF
the highest kinda vlyaclty, an INDUS
Try. and will even say consclentlOus-
ness which has never before been seen
in journalism. know very well what
journalism Is. | began good many
years ago Dy teaching Lord Palmerston
and Mr. Disraeli and Mr.. Gladstone the
arts OF craftsmanship in the columns Of
important prints. As Thackeray has
said of that band Of which was very
humble member, we taught painters
how to paint. poets how to write. and
we taught ladies Of the ballet how to
plrOuette.
Il have now had the advantage OF
seeing the other side of II and IN my
very small experience l have been
taught myself by a young gentleman
of twenty or Of iive-aud-Gwenty the arts
of politics and public life. On the
whole. however singing, however
biting journalism may be, It Is great
force for good and we may be well
satisfied il there is certain diversion
Of cultivation. of intellectual interest.
and of moral interest into what seems
IKE ephemeral production because
along with 1t there Is no
cessation of great monumental
works. We have them in every
form and in every kind; and !
must say that for one feel that the
more letters are followed as "A proies-
sion the less likely IS the great art OF
literature TO suffer. But the more let
.ers are followed as. profession, the
greater and the heavier will be the de
.nands upon this society. Many Will
drift into il. will struggle on. and VIII
not find out their mistake until 1t Is
TOO late. All of US hold our lie. ana
even our reason. as Sir Walter scott
well says, upon q tenure more pre-
carious than we should be content u
hold even an Irish cabin upon.
With many. or with some. the stage
larkens before the curtain falls. Youth
must always have Its struggle and bat.
lie aud l have heard from those who
nave now graspel the glitterlng bub-
oles Of fame and reputation that the
laws Of their youth, hen they were III
solitary chambers with not too much to
eat. when they had within them the
Ire of the zeal for truth and kuOWl-
edge. aud all The enthusiasm and lilu-
sions of yOuth-that those, after all.
were not the least happy portions OF
heir lives. Youth, therefore, must
fight lis battles: but it Is not for youth
that this society exists. Ii Is Tor thOse
who. a. say. nave made mistake In
.acir vocation: and there is no vocation
,n nlicn there are 50 many who think
CaUm.eiyCs called in proportion to the
few wLO are chosen.
In conclusion, will only express
INV full confidence in the future OF let
.ers in this country. | am fully per-
suaded, as am sure all OF youare. that
he same moral energy. the same vivid
Intellectual perception. the same mas
lery OF that great instrument. our
language, which has made our lltera-
ture one Of the greatest tTiumphs OF
Great Britain-that all these qualities
will remain. will operate. and will add |
still further in the future 10 that great
capital which the reSOwn OF our men
Of letters has given to Us, and Will still
further strengthen the moral dominion
Of our realm, which is more important
10 US than extent Of territorial posses
sions, and more lasting than any mate
rial supremacy"