Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1892-09-24

distinguishes literary and art life frt N
every other field of human experience and
aspiration. To succeed In the best sense Of
any calling you must have genius, but
success today is measured by money, and
we may as we'll for the moment take the
best possible view Of this criterion-the
golden yardstick. We may take 1t as q
general rule that every person entering
upon the profession Of literature has in
view two things-fame and money, with a
heavy balance Of preference to the credit
of the latter.
In this view of the case can we safely say
that genius succeeds better than mere
agile and clever talentS Take the success
full novels, for example, published during
the year, and what will be the impression
With one exception, Che most popular and
paying novels Of recent issue have been Of
poor workmanship and have appealed I'd
human sympathy through other channels
than art; but they have been written by
men and women of genius who were will.
ing to cater to vulgar taste for the sake
of success. The reader who runs IL not apt
to make note Of this clever, If debasing,
trick of the literary profession, nor Is II
our purpose TO analyze II. What we have
in mind Is to point out why 1t Is that writers
have harder time OF 1t than other profess
sional people.
Some one has said that genius is patience,
but the saying will not hold when applied
to the irritable restless, Unsuitable knights
of the pen. The time has passed when the
poet, the novelist or the essayist was con.
tent to delve for the applause of posterity.
Success must be immediate or some other
string must be pulled; fame and money
forthwith is the demand, but II fame can
not be had, then notoriety and money,
money at all events
We called attention not long ago to the
system of literary blooming" which is but
part of the general scheme in which liter
airy effort has involved itself of late Even
genius has been hustled" into to it to
such an extent that one regards askance
every sudden apparition above the literary
horizon.
To set our own opinion In plain words,
we seriously doubt whether genius in art
is better paid today than 1t was In tho time
of the garnet and the crust, save where II
truckles to mere popular demand. The
money making genius watches tine wealth
ervane of current taste as broker watches
the movements of financial weathercocks
and strikes for the lucky lead. He deals
In literary margins, he bulls or bears the
market he takes chance on every change
Of the wind. Perhaps this is why there are
80 few genuine creations In literature at
present.
The poet writes to suit the needs of the
magazine editors. 80 likewise does the
prose writer, and In this way journalism
Is shaping both men and literature. Genius
is no longer proud and fond of savage
liheYty," or IL IL b ti,s eS&gencies OF life
overpressed with the weight OF artificial
needs and dazzled by the glare OF gold shut
out the possibility Of entertaining lofty
ambitions. The French the English and
the American authors seem to be in mad
chase otter great incomes, rather than In
search of the muses.. Genius succeeds, but
at loss no matter what are its receipts il,
bills and checks -Chautauquan.