The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-15
INCOMES OF WRITERS.
James Parten's Views and His Own Ex-
perienee-Cther Instances.
TSnecisI Corresrsonderce

James Partcn's Views and His Own Ex-
perienee-Cther Instances.
Especial Correspondence
NEW YORK, Jan. Not long before his
| death James Parton Is reported 10 have
said that person who decided TO support
himself exclusively by his pen must be
content to live on about &, coo a year. The
best, according 70 Mr.. Parton. that liter
airy man could hope 70 attain would De
Sc, 600 or $500 \ year for perhaps ten OF
twelve years, when the authors experience
was ripe and while he was still in his
prime.
This statement seemed rather strange
coming from so successful an author as
Mr.. Parton, yet Il was reported IN such a
way as leaves but little doubt that this
was his opinion Yet he was himself
an example Of the falsity Of it, although
he mag have thought that his case was
the exception that proves the rule. Mr..
Parton was a constant writer and a
pretty frequent author for more than forty
years Some Of his books had phenomenal
sale. His Life Of Horace Greeley" brought
him not only q handsome income, but q
small capital. His History OF Ben But
Ter" and especially Of Buffers life in New
Orleans after the capture of that city, was
very popular during the war days, and
Parton's life Of Aaron Burr added ma
terially to his possessions
Parton earned so much money that he
was able to accumulate. and when he left
New York and went TO Nevburyport,
Mass, 10 live, just as old age was begin
ming TO come upon him, Re had sufficient
property to support him, even il he did not
write another line. OF course he could not
live in luxury, but he lived in comfort,
surrounded by all those things which made
life agreeable to hin Undoubtedly MIR.
Parton would have accumulated nothing
had he not been blessed with good business
qualities, but that may be said Of any one
who saves money enough 70 support him
and his family in his old age
Parton was not a great author. He
wrote as business, and 1t was his busf
ness TO give what his clentage wanted.
And that Is the secret Of the success OF
those who have adopted literature as pro-
fession. Those who take up the pen in or
der TO win an exalted and permanent fame
must undoubtedly give but little heed to
the Pecuniary consideration, but those who
expect to make a living out OF authorship
must do as is done in every other profes-
sion-serve their clients and increase them
If possible.
There are good many other examples
which indicate that Mr. Parton was mis-
taken. In his own vicinity there lived
several men who had done exceedingly
well at the business of authorship. Mr..
Charles Carleton Coffin abandoned journal
ism after a brilliant career as war CORE
srondarr -T-1 hos 20 - HE <1r
tune and a good income by writing in a
popular manner historical and anecdotal
works designed mainly for young persons
Mr.. J. T. Trowbridge lives comfortably on
the income be gets from bis boys stories,
and SO does Oliver Optic. Mr.. Adams,
who Is Oliver Optic in real life, although
his hair IS gray and he has become an old
man, has Just entered into a contract to
furnish series of ten stories for young
persons written in the style which earned
him popularity forty years ago. He viii
probably write those ten stories within
year, for he is very rapid workman, and
while tie precise terms Of payment are not
known, it is believed that hs viii receive
not less than 81, 900 for them
General Lew Wallace is said to have re-
ceived from S775, coo to So, COO royalty upon
his single book Ben Hur," but that is one
Of those spasmodic and phenomenal sue
cesses which become traditional Miss Al
colt, besides living handsomely, left an es-
tate valued at 500, 900, all of which had
been made in about twenty years Mr.
George Parsons Lathrop, his brother-in-
law, Julian Hawthorne, Edgar Saltus and
Edgar Fawcett have no other profession
than literature. Lathrop and Hawthorne
do some journalistic work, while Fawcett
has private fortune. Each Of these men
counts on making as much as 5, 600 q year.
and Saltus' income one year was nearly
$50
There have been a number Of successful
authors of late who have complained that
they cannot live by their pens. 4 few
years ago a novel appeared entitled ''Guern
dale" 1t was published over a nom de
plume, -. s. Of Dale" and it was regarded
as one of the successful books OF the year
Its author, Mr.. ScimSon, was a recent
graduate of Harvard college, and the sue
cess Of the book inspired him with literary
ambition Yet be mas practically aban-
doned literature excepting IS a by play,
and Is making money practicing law.
Robert Grant, another young Boston litter
ateUr who won some fame, relies upon the
practice Of a dryer profession than liter
allure fer his support. John Habberton,
who made a great nit with ''Helen's
Babies" and who writes exceedingly clever
stories, relies upon Journalism for his sup
port, while literature IS a side issue with
him Mrs. BGruett made no money until
her play. Little Lard Fau1tleroy," was
produced. although she had previously
written several very successful novels, and
she has practically abandoned story telling
for the drama.
These cases, however, simply illustrate
the fact that that sort Of literature which
develops fiction cauuos be relied upon for
a very handsome support The authors
who make money sre those like Parton,
Benson J. Leasing. Coin, VINO are able 70
Set forth. in q slyle which does not shoot
over the head % the P1blic, either history
or the stories u achievement or the careers
Of famous men IL . manner which makes
the telling OF the story most attractive The
author who can cultivate this quality is
sure OF repeating the successes Of these
who have heen named. and would probably
earn more money IN this sort OF writing
than he could # BE ws2t into any other
business o. profession
e J EDwAKDs.