, 1891-02-10

FRANK r.
Mr.. Stockton for many years derived the
largest part OF his support as a reader for
publishing houses, and it was not until he
was well on in the prime of life that he
caught the public fancy with the story
Of "Rudder Grange" and the shorter
tale entitled "The Lady or the Tigerir
Mr.. Howells, whose repute is perhaps
greater than his popularity with the mass
es, would be unable to live upon the re-
ceipts from any of his books If he was not
able to dispose of them to Harper's, to be
first printed serially in the magazine of
that house. Even then his income would
be small for a man OF his tastes and social
necessities. SO he was very glad to accept
a proposition for journalistic work as one
of the sub-editors Of Harper's, and for this
service he receives n larger annual sum
than any Of his books has ever brought
him.
Edgar Saltus, in the height of his popu-
larity, was able to earn something like
5000 "A year, although it is doubtful
whether these figures can be maintained
unless he deyises some new sensation.
But he is not dependent upon his literary
income, and in this respect is like his
bosom friend, Edgar Fawcett. OF course
the foundation for Mark Twain's wealth
was laid when he wrote The Innocents
ALL RaNAA NAANA ~ mas DNNh ny
some of his other publications. But by far
the larger portion of his wealth has com
from his dramatic ventures, from his
business investments and from his profits
as partner in the house which published
Gen. Grants memoirs.
Bret Harte lives entirely upon the in
CONF from his writings. He receives an
nually about $4,000, but this is due en-
tirely to the fact that his stories are sold
to nm English syndicate, and are published
simultaneously in many Journals in this
country and in Great Britain. Miss Muir
free, Miss Sarah Orne Jewett and Mrs. Barr
receive fair sums every year Tor their work,
but 1t does not cost them so much to live
as 1t does some of the men named above,
and Miss Murfree is Independent of any
literary income.
The largest sums earned by female
writers of fiction in this country were by
Mrs. Stowe, and at IA later period Mrs. Bur
nett. Ma Stoves fortune would have been
enormous had she entrusted her income
from Uncle Toms Cabin to some com
petent business man. For had she insisted
upon a fair royalty for all dramatic pro-
auctions of this story her receipts would
have been very great. Fortunes nave been
made in the play Of Uncle Toms Cabin"
but Mrs. Stowe has never received u penny
from the stage representation.
On the other hand, Mrs. Burnett's great
prosperity is due almost entirely to the
play of Little Lord Fauntleroy." In
was quite famous as an author before this
delightful story appeared, but her story of
"That Lass Of Lowrie's," which brought
her her first fame, was of merely moment
airy profit. Nor did she receive n great
deal for Little Lord Fauntleroy'' when it
appeared as q serial. But her profits on
the sale of the book were large, though
small in comparison with the fortune
which came to her from the dramatic rep
resentation. When she began to draw
something like q thousand dollars a week
royalties from the play, she then told her
friends that for the first time in her life
she appreciated and enjoyed wealth.
1t was said at a public dinner recently
that one famous writer of fiction, whose
name was not mentioned, would hereafter
abandon magazine and book publication,
and would furnish his stories to the news
papers through the medium OF s~yndicates.
The reason asserted was that this author
found that he could realize at least ten
times the money from UGH disposition
that he could get from magazine and
book publications. 1t was thought this
might refer to Mr.. Howells, for he is an
nounced to be a coming contributor to
the newspapers, but a sort of half denial
has come from those who are authorized
to speak for him. Yet the statement
should occasion no surprise, for it is evil
dent that a revolution is at hand in the
manner of publishing romances and works
of fiction.
Ten years ago a daily newspaper would
ave thought it absurd to publish a serial
story, and perhaps the most distinguished
editor in the United States declared some
ten years g that the publishing of fiction
was not journalism. Yet his own paper is
low running two serials, and every news
paper of consequence in the land is an
eager bidder for the works of the greatest
authors. Therefore it seems likely that
the newspapers will in a short time usurp
the place held by the magazines for so
many years as the medium through which
stories of famous authors are put before
the public. E. ]. EDWARDS