The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-29
Literature as a Means of Support.

The wel-known novelist. Mr.. WALTER
BEsANT, has an article in the August num-
Der Of the Forum in which he discusses
literature considered as Il career. He
points out that as compared with the men,
bers Of the so-called liberal professions.
men Of letters arc underpaid and unsocially
valued in England. and he thinks that such
disabilities might be remcdied by assuring
to authors larger share Of the profits
accruing from their books. and by the in
stitution Of n society analogous to the
French Academy. We do not purpose ut
this time to examine the feasibility of these
suggestions. but we would mark some state
ments of fact which are both interesting In
themselves and indicative OF the revolu-
tion brought about by newspapers in the
relations OF writer's to the reading public.
Mr.. BEsANT recognizes that the number
Of men who actually live by the production
OF original literary compositions. apart
from journalism in one or another OF its
branches. is comparatively small. There
are, he says, in England half dozen drama
fists, about IL hundred novelists, Il few sue
ccssful writer's OF educational books which
are mines Of wealth to the successful. and
a few publishers hacks The greatest prizes
are those Of the dramatists: but these are
few and worry hard to win. OF the English
novelists it is asserted that fifty of them
make over five thousand dollars year. AS
for magazine writing. this at best Is ancil-
larry and cannot furnish an adequate means
of support. An analysis OF the contents OF
the seven leading English magazines for
the last three years has convinced Mr..
BEsANT that one cannot live by writing for
the monthlies. II we except. therefore,
some fifty novelists and a few producers Of
educational books, the English literature
which reaches the public In bound volumes
is still what it used to be. a crutch and not
staff.
When we pass. however. to the literature
| which reaches the public through tho news
| papers, we encounter very different state
of things. This kind OF literature is. in
| truth, staff Mr.. BEsANT dwels with the
emphasis which tho subject deserves on
| the immense enlargement OF opportunity
and independence which those who live by
writing have OF late years received by the
development OF journalism. The editorial
articles OF tho great journals in London and
| in the provinces are written by scholars
and gentlemen. and it Is reckoned fortu-
nate as well as most honorable thing to
occupy the position OF leader-writer on a
great daily. The time. moreover. has gone
by when newspapers relied almost exclu-
siyely upon staff OF regular leader
writer's; now the editors welcome contri-
buttons of special papers from men who
can speak with authority on particular
topics. This innovation opens up to writ
ers wide field OF employment. The num-
Der Of English newspapers is enormous and
is constantly increasing, and the circula-
ton Of the weekly penny papers may be
computed at many millions. All these
journals vie with each other in obtaining
the best fiction and the most striking arti'
Giles possible. The result is that they offei
l means OF subsistence longer . mere