The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-02-17

Iar1ty, was able to earn something Ike
s., COO a year, although it is doubtful
whether these figures can be maintained
unless he devises some new sensation.
But he is not dependent upon his literary
income, and in this respect is like hfs
bosom friend, Edgar Fawcett. Of course
the foundation for Mark Twain's wealth
was laid when he wrote 1.-THE Innocents
Abroad" and it has been increased by
some of his other publications. But by far
the larger portion of his wealth has come
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
come 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 an 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 it does not cost them so much to live
as it does some of the men named above
and Miss Murfree is independent of any
literary income.
writer's of fiction in this country were by
Mrs. Stowe, and at a later period Mrs. Bur-
nett. Mrs. 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 fair royalty for all dramatic pro
auctions of this story her receipts would
have been very great. Fortunes have been
made in the play of "Uncle TENS Cabin ~
but Mrs. Stowe has never received penny
from the stage representation.
On the other hand, Mrs Burnett's great
prosperity is due almost entirely to the
play of little Lord Fanntleroy." She
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 great
deal for Little Lord Fauntleroy'' when it
appeared as a 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
scmebs1ing Ikea Thousand dollars 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 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 syndicates.
The reason asserted was that this author
found that he could realize at least ten
times the money from such 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 sort of half denial
has come from those who are authorized
80 speak for him. Yet the statement
should occasion no surprise, for it is evi
dent that a revolution is at hand in the
manner Of publishing romances and works
of fiction.
Ten years ago daily newspaper would
have thought it absurd to publish serial
story, and perhaps the most distinguished
editor in the United States declared some
ten years ago that the publishing of fiction
was not journalism. Yet his own paper is
now running two serials. and every news
paper Of consequence in the land is ar
eager bidder for the works of the greatest
authors. Therefore it seems likely that
the newspapers will in short time usurr
the place held by the magazines for 81
many years as the medium through which
stories of famous authors are put before
the public. r. j EDwARDs