The morning call., 1891-02-01
SOCIETY GUIDES"
How WRITTEN.
This Is Explained in a New Novel Il
Illustrating Life in New York.
4 Bright Chapter That Tells How Books Are
Prepared for Those Who Are Not in the
swim and Who Want to Get in.

the" Century," and it refers TO the hero Of
the story, Charley Willard, who is endeavor-
ing to get into New FORK society, and who
studies Guide to Good Manners as Rec
ognized in the Very Best Society,"" by one
of the 400.
1t CHANGED about this time that Sampson
brought an Old college chum of his to eat a
Sunday dinner at the clearinghouse in
Eighteenth street. He introduced this
friend to Willard, with that impressiveness
which belonged to all that the melancholy
Sampson did, as Mr.. Bradley. Mr.. Harri-
son Holmes Bradley, the author; you know
his writings"
Willard was covered with concealed shame
TO think that he did not happen TO know the
books Of an author with name so resonant,
but be did not confess his ignorance. This
was his first acquaintance with real liter
airy man-for the High School teacher in
Cappadocia who wrote poetry for the coun-
try papers would hardly count. The aspir-
ing Willard thought himself in luck in thus
early making the acquaintance of man of
letters, for to the half-sophislicated an
author seems person who reflects a mild
and moonshiny luster on even a casual ac-
quaintance. To know Mr.. Bradley might
be first step toward gaining access to the
more distinguished society of the metropolis.
Harrison Holmes Bradley proved to be,
on examination, New Englander of the
gaunt variety, an acute man of thirty, who
ate his roast turkey and mashed potatoes
with tlat ayidity he was wont to manifest
when running down an elusive fact in an
encyclopedia. At the table Willard, for want
of 9th er conversation, pIucked up courage
to ask him whether he was connected with
a newspaper.
NO, l am engaged in general literary
work, said Bradley.
Neither Willard nor any one else at the
table had the fainteSt notion OF the nature
Of general literary work" 1t sounded
large, and Bradley was a clever talker on
many themes fresh to Willard, and when he
went away the author exacted a promise
from Charley 10 call Oh him soon in his
den, and he gave him visiting card which
bore street number in Harlem.
Two weeks later Millard, who was quite
unwilling 10 miss chance of making the
acquaintance of
DISTINGUISHED MAN
Through whom he might make other ELI
glble friends. called on Bradley. He found
him at work in his shirt sleeves in hall bed
room Of a clearinghouse, smoking and
writing as he sat with gas stove for near
Deighbor on the left hand and a table,
which was originally intended to serve as a
wash-Stand. on the other side Of him. The
author welcomed his guest with unaffected
cOndescenSion, and borrowed chair from
the next room for him to sit on. Finding
Millard curious about tile WAYS of authors
be entertained his guest with various auec-
doies going to show how books are made,
and tending TO throw light on the relation of
authors to publishers. Willard noted what
seemed to him bias against publishers. of
whom, us human species, Bradley evidently
entertained no great opinion. Millard's love
Tor naTtlculaTs niOnuG Inv Trq1Iau5s
statement at their first meeting that he was
engaged in general literary work He con-
triyed 10 bring e author to talk of what
he was doing and how il was done.
You see," said Bradley, pleased to i'm
part information on a theme in which he
was much interested himself, "a literary
life isn't what people generally take it to
be. Most men in general literary work fail
because they can do only one thing or at
able TO do everything"
e. - suppose that is so" said Willard, still
unable TO form any notion Of what was i'm
Piled in Bradley's everything. To him all
literature was divided into prose and
poetry. General literature seemed to in
clude both OF these, and something more.
Last week." Bradley continued, Illus
tratively, Il finished an index, wrote some
verses for pictorial advertisement of Ap-
pleblossom's Toilet Soap, and ground out an
encyclopedia article on Christian Missions,
ana HdSdLiHe history OF the game oil
bumDlepuppy. l am now just beginning a
novel of society life. Versatility is the very
foundation of success if it hadn't been for
my knack OF doing all sorts of things |
never should have succeeded as | have"
Judging by Bradley's surroundings and
his own account of the sordid drudgery of
worker in general literature
HIS SUCCESS
Did not seem to Willard very stunning
one. But Bradley was evidently content
with it, and What more can one ask of
fortune?
There is another element that goes a
long way toward success in literature" pro-
eeeded The author, land that is ability to
work rapidly. When Garfield was shot 1
was out OF work and two weeks behind with
my board. went straight to the Astor
Library and worked till the library closed,
gathering material When l went to bed
that night, or rather the next morning, had
paper on Famous Assassinations of
History ready for the best market But
what l hate the most about our business is
the having to write now and then a thunder
and-lightniDg story for the weekly blood
curdiers. Now there is Milwan, the poet,
man Of genius, but by shop girls and boys
reading the Saturday-night papers he is
adored as Guy st. Cyr, the author of long
list OF CHASTITY horribles thrown off to get
money"
This sort of work of all kinds is what
Millard. 41''-0u
General literary work is the evening
dress We put on it when it has to pass mus
ter before strangers" said Bradley, laugh
ing.
What Millard noted with sort of admira-
non was Bradley's perfect cOmplaeency, his
contentment in grinding Phiistine grists,
the Zest even that he evinced for literary
pothunting, the continual exhilaration that
he got out of this hazardous gamble for q
iIvlHp and fhR rank nil
be made his own affairs tributary to the in
terest of his conversation.
at length Bradley emptied his pipe and
laid 1t across his manuscript, at the same
time rising nervously from his chair and
sitting down on the bed for a change.
Millard," he said with Bohemian free
dom OF address, you must know more
about society than do. Give me advice on
point of etiquette
Charley Willard was fattered as he never
had been fattered before. He had not
hoped TO be considered an oracle so soon.
-" You see," Bradley went on, the pub
nsher OF new magazine called the United
States Monthly has
ASKED ME TO DINNER.
" 1t is away over in BROOKLYN. and haeidee
inc real reason L can't go is that haven't
got dress-coat. Now, what is the thing IN
DO about regrets. cards and so on p"
fresh from reading his new Guide TO
Good Manners" Willard felt competent To
decide any question of bristol-board how
ever weighty or complicated. He delivered
his opinion with great assurance in the very
words of the book.
believe in my SOUL" said Bradley,
laughing, that you prigged that from the
Guide to Good Manners as Recognized in
the Very Best Society,""
Willard looked foolish, but answered
good-naturedly: We'll, what if did Have
you read tho book?
bradley rocked his long, slender body
backward and forward, as though about to
ment.
There Is only one good thing can say
Tor that book" he said, recovering himself
What's that?" asked Willard, a little
host. va VI mo
why, that / got $500 for writing It."
GU wrote it?" exclaimed Willard NOT
concealing his opinion that Bradley was not
ness.
You see was offered two hundred for a
DOCK ON manners. l needed tile money most
consumediy. There was Sampson. who
know or h. I