The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-12-13
OUR LITERARY BUDGET.
Literature Considered as q Professional
Means Of Earning a Living.
WRITING FROM The DESK OF THE SHOP.
The Current Drift OF Magazine Management
is Toward Gathering Literature Out
side OF the AuthorIal Close.

There ID probably a greater distance be-
tween the professionals and the amateurs in
the practice Of the graphic and plastic arts
than exists between the professional and the
amateur in literary pursuits. but the difference
Is quite as marked in one case as in the other
when we come 70 compare products and mea-
sure the makers by what they have made.
Taking that evidence of artisanship which Is
generally though enormously accepted as the
exponent of art we shall easily prove that the
skill Of the author trained in the academy Of
the professionals IS incomparably better than
that Of the mere mterloper who browses but
tentatively along the slopes Of Helicon. Set
ting genius aside as something extra
ordinary and unmgnageable. we may
safely take 1t as rule that the
writer who cOnscienti0usly develops his lite
rary form .lt we were fguratiyely inclined
we might say his Cadmean muscles will
show better product than one who depends
upon inspiration and luck. as the amateur in
a large degree necessarily must. But who
are they whom We may properly call profess
siOnai authors, in the world OF sport the
amateurs define professionals "a persons who
follow any sport for the purpose OF gain. in
the graphic and plastic arts. when we rob
terms Of a customary redundancy. we find
nearly the same distinction drawn. but in lit
eratnre the differentiation Is not so clear.
Journalism, which IS a sort OF literary
magma, has been used as a paste 70 cement
all manner Of stubs together. and through 1t
the amateurs and the profess Onals have IN
termingled until he o is no sepai ating them
along any definite line of cleavage. We all
know, nevertheless, the clear-cut work OF the
trained literature maker whenever and
wherever We see It we cannot be deceived by
the tyro, no matter what his genius His
output may be fresh vigorous. original and
informed with unmistakable indivi lualitv Of
style. but the artsanshIp OF the trained pro-
fessional IL not there. A great deal has been
sad and written against magazines OF tho
highest class on account OF their preference
Tor the work of professional authors and their
exclusion OF untrled writers from their lists
OF contributors. Indeed. 1t would look at
present a. II this cry had affected the judy
ment Of editors: for undoubtedly the current
drift of magazine management Is tow I'd gath
erng literature, such as 1t IS, outside OF the
auth0rlal close. The popularity OF the person
has begun 10 DO more thought OF than the
ability 10 write something that IS at once gen.
ulne thought and unQuestlOnaDle Literature.
When we come 10 look at it, all of the greatest
English authors We're OF are professionals IN
the best sense. Shakespeare, Dryden, Pope,
Johnson Scott Carlyle Tennyson. Thack-
cray Dickens, Hawthorne, Emerson. Long
AcllbW ana MI the resi- OF tutuls uDb ~
mention long list of eminent women writer's.
are inscribed IN the catalogue OF authors WHO
produced literature rom the desk OF the shop.
Goethe BalZac. Dumas. how many writer's OF
alien languages might we not add. writers
who. sometimes even when money was not
necessity o. them. made the most OF the
market. Hugo WAS notable example OF
professional success And why should liter
ature-uaking not be profession IN as dis
tnct "a way as is the law the ministry. med
icine or teaching Moreover. why should
not professional writer's do as much better
writing than unframed experlmenters, as
professional lawyer, can DO better law prac-
tice than can amateurs In fact. they can and
they do. A child may be born genius.
but il cannot be born with q rich and varied
vocabulary at its ready command. Literature
comes Of q knowledge Of language coupled
and blended with knowledge of life. This
composite comes earlier 10 some and easier 10
some than 10 others. but 1t must come before
there is any genuine authorship. As we'll
might the cowboy attempt 20 lecture on the
philosophy OF Leibnitz AS for an unframed
person to try 10 equal the literary style OF
Macaulay or the fine expression Of romance
which is the glory OF Scott and the grandeur
Of Hugo.-The Chautauquan for December