The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-06
Literary Men and Newspapers.

good deal Of discussion has lately arisen
upon the alleged dictum OF well-known
London journal that a literary man degrades
himself by writing for newspaper. The
statement reveals extraordinary ignorance
with regard to the history not only Of news
papers in general. but OF the very journal
in which the assertion Is said to have been
put forth.
1t Is said. in substance. that. while man
OF letters may. with self-respect, work for
book publisher, he lowers himself by
working for the publisher OF newspaper.
Now. as it happens. there was period: we
refer to the latter part Of the seventeenth
century and the earlier part of the eigh-
teenth. when 1t was considered discredit-
able to write for the booksellers. II. In
those days. literary gentleman. like the
ingenious Mr.. Pope, desired to bring
out translation Of the niad. he circu-
lated subscription paper among his
noble and distinguished friends, upon
which they recorded promise to take
one or more copies Of the forthcom-
ing work, at 30 many guineas the copy.
That WAS the method OF publishing followed
by those who wished to practise the profess
sion Of literature without any loss Of caste.
Those who were unable or unwilling to re-
sort to this process either because. like
MILTON in his old age. they had no noble or
distinguished patrons. or BECAUSE again
like MILTON. they believed In the intrinsic
merit OF their writings. entered into con-
tract with a bookseller who paid them
sum on the nail or in installments. and as
sumed the cost Of publication. These men.
the forerunners of a system which was to
become universal. were. for long time
treated with derson by the bene-
ficiaries OF patronage and the sub
scription process; they were reviled
as booksellers hacks. Grub street drudges.
and so forth. The fact that the deni-
zens OF Grub street were always repre-
sented as starving In satires like the Dun
clad. penned by those who published by
subscription. shows that the fundamental
objection to the method OF publishing by
booksellers. was not social. but pecuniary;
the compensation was relatively made
quate: and in those days. as in later days.
money made the mare go In society as well
as on the racing track.
There came change in the latter half of
the last century. and the system of publica-
ton by subscription was almost entirely
superseded by the method of publishing
through booksellers. who assumed the cost
Of publication, paying to authors either
sum down or royalty. Henceforth the
sef-respecting man OF letters would, I'M
less his projected book were of peculiarly
esoterc character have considered 1t be-
meath him to distribute a subscription list
among his friends, or to indite fulsome
70 ~
AS regards the latter practice. DR.. JOHNSON
rendered good service to the guild OF letters
by his treatment Of Lord CHESTERFIELD.
Most relevant to our purpose is the fact
that, at the close OF the last century,
men ceased to hear OF Grub street toiers
and booksellers hacks. for the reason that
almost every writor who printed a book did
30 under contract with bookseller. who
now began to be called q publisher, when
he not only sold books but produced them.
About the same time. however. that the
publisher took the place OF the old-fash-
Toned patron. solely for the reason that
transactions with him proved. upon the
whole. more expeditions and more lucra-
tive. We begin to hear OF penny-a-
liners. Who hold much the samo relation
to the clients OF book publishers as
the latter once held toward the bene-
ficlaries OF the subscription system. The
sole ground tor the contempt with which