The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-01

brain work. and it is practically impos-
sible to keep up the sort OF STRAIN
undergone by every literary man i0r
many years without breaking down. Y,
course if the would-be author mas smait
Independence, and is thus sure OF NOT
actually starving, there IS no real reason
why he should not give himself up 70
letters altogether, but still my strong az
vice to the young people who come 70 ny
for my opinion on the matter always Is,
stick to your profession, and II you nave
it in you to write anything realiy gooo
you will always find time to do It
Then you often find yourself IN the
wouid-be dramatist and author.
81 should be afraid to say how many
young men consult me on these matters IN
the course of year. TIL lately gener-
ally read, or at least glanced over, manu-
scripts sent to me; but, OF course, tne
writers, although they did me the nonor
of seeking my advice, rarely TOOK
the trouble of following il. will give
you two absolutely true instances "nlch
have occurred during the last ten years.
Two professors, both married men, Win
children, and each teaching IN one OF our
great lycees or public schools, came 10 me
with manuscripts in their hands. 10
both, after careful perusal OF their WORK,
/ gave the same answer. 'Iou VIII never
succeed in literature, for you have no orig
inality or literary power, although your
language is pure, and your style correct
therefore, if only for the sake OF tnoSe oe.
pendent on you give up all tnouShs u
making letters your profession, ana remain
steadfast to the honorable career IN wnlcn
you are beginning 20 make . eersala
mark among your fellows One OF these
professors had unfortunately already mad
an article accepted and inserted In maya
zine; he disregarded my advice, threw up
his post, and leaped into the great hterary
ocean, where so many come to certain us
aster. Six weeks ago | was impiored py
some charitable people of my acquaintance
to give a small donation to an unhappy
brother pen, who, together with MS I'M
fortunate wife and children, were literally
dying of starvation. Upon investigation
discovered that this unfortunate man and
my professor were one and the same per-
son. As for the other man who had come
at the same time, and mad followed my
advice. he always visits me about Christ
mas time. to bring his good wishes Tor the
coming year, and to thank me with
grateful heart for having dealt faithfully
by him. He has now an important scho-
lastic position in the University OF Paris,
and is earning an income Of 81, 600 francs
year"
And do you believe in journalism as
stepping stone 10 literature 2"
course, have been q journalist in my
time, and some of the writing in our news
papers is undoubtedly literature in ats
highest form. The young man who be-
gins writing TO support himself invariably
drops into newspaper work. Nothing Is
so well paid-I speak from the day-to-day
and pot-boiling point of view-but, as the
work has TO De done with extreme rapid
ity, the style insensibly alters, and from
being literature becomes journalism. II
was in order to provide q certain number
OF young men with the wherewithai
to md at least time to write pos
sible masterpieces that my friend
Edmond de Goncourt and his brother
Jules conceived the noble and touching
idea of leaving their whole fortune 10 an
institute, the Academic de Goncourt, the
members OF which would require but two
qualincations-poyerty and exceptional
literary power. My friend and his
brother first thought of this when they
were quite young and living in circle OF
brilliant geniases condemned to turn ont
pot boilers for daily bread. 1t VIII sur
prise you TO hear that among those who
were destined to form part Of the first
academy were Emile Zoia. Theodore
de Bsnville, Flaubert, the gifted author
of Madame Bovary' and myself: of these,
two are dead and lola and myself have
arrived IS We say here. Thus men of 3
method will benefit by my friends gener-
osity." 81
And do you approve Of women writ
ing?'
How should not when my own wife
has always written and when much that
is best IN my own literary work is owing
10 her influence and suggestion 4
woman can so often say things that we
rongner natures cannot express in just
Language"
Then Daudet tells in q few eloquent
words all that his wife has been to him
=" often think OF first meeting with her."
he says, smiling Il was quite young
fellow and had quite prejudice against
literary women and especially against
poetesses; but l came, ! saw, and was con-
quered, and have remained under the
charm ever since"