The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-01-31
GOSSIP ABOUT NovELIsrs.
Their Profits During s0a and Their Plans
for 1903.
ISpccial CorrcspondcnceI

Especial Correspondence
NEW YORK, Jan. v.-Publishcrs say that
the year 1892 was nos Il particularly good
one for the writers of fiction, ut least from
the pecuniary point of view
Mir. W. ID. IIowells did not have n CON
spicuous success with his works of fiction
the past year, although the demand for his
stories is steady, and the income can be
pretty accurately estimated us soon as tho
manuscript is received. IIe has entered
into contract to do perhaps more literary
work during the coming year than he has
ever done before. Besides series of papers
for one of the monthly magazines he has
engaged to write Il new novel
MIR. IIowells income is variously esti.
mated. He alone knows what it is. but it. is
certainly the largest received by any man
III America who makes literature a profess
sion. While he is not u shrcwd finnncier
as the term is understood, he is an exceed
lngly prudent man, and his friends say
that his savings have already amounted to
n sum sufficient to keep him in comfort if
he should carry out his purpose of going to
Italy permanently to reside
Mrs. Burnett has also entered into n con-
tract to write new story some time in 1893,
which will also be published serially, and
Tor which she will receive, according to re-
port, some 5000. Mrs. Burnett is still am
bilious to write play which will establish
her repute rs Il dramatist, but critics who
have studied her works are of opinion that
while she has the dramatic instinct she
does not possess that constructive capacity
which is essential fora successful play. Lit
tie Lord Fauntleroy" was very faulty as a
play and only succeeded because of the
unique character indicated by its title
Edward Eggleston is engaged in writing
n new novel. He usually produces one in
about two years, and the serial rights are
sold Mt such Il figure that, with the royal
ties, he can count upon something like
81 900 as the profits of the story Having
finished his story, DIR. Egglcston devotes
himself to his historical studies, and is Just
now preparing n series of lectures upon
colonial subjects, which arc to be delivered
to the students of Columbia college
Mr. Kirk Alunroc, who has gone to Flor
ida to spend the winter, as is his custom,
carried with him contracts for two stories
which are to be completed by spring. lilo
can count with certainty upon an income
OF about 5000 II year as the result of his
story writing for the young
Richard Harding Davis has discovered
that, while there may be honor and wide
fame in the writing of short stories, yet such
success does not mean necessarily large Pc
cuniary returns. His friends think that his
career as Il short story writer is practically
over-not of necessity but of choice He is
engaged in active journalistic work, and his
attention has been turned to the drama, it
being limited that play of his will be pro-
duccd by the new association which has
been organized to place upon the stage en-
perimcntaliy dramas which seem to have
merit in them.
For Miss wilkins 1892 was very profit
able year. She has received more offers
than she cdSld entertain, and she now gets
Tor Il single story sum which, when she
began, she would have regarded as n small
fortune. Yet her longest story which has
just been published between covers after
having run rs a serial i'll one of the magl-
zines does not sustain her reputation, and
her published play was pronounced by two
or three of the most competent dramatic
managers i'll New York to be wholly insult
able for stage presentation. Miss Wilkins.
however, has ambition to produce a great
play, but those who have studied her work
critically are inclined to think that she lacks
the constructive quality.
There has been one curious development
OF literature during the past year, and that
is that while Mark Twain seems to main.
tain his popularity in Great Britain he has
lost some measure of it in this country
His latest story published during the year
attracted no attention either from the pub
lie or the critics in this country, while in
England it was very we'll received Mark
Twain is said to be contemplating another
long story, to be finished some time during
the coming summer.
Another literary development of the past
year has been the marked dccadence in
popularity of some authors who few years
ago commanded their own prices Edgar
Fawcett is one of these, and his chum,
Edgar Saltus, who received in royalties one
year us much as SIS, 900, seems to have had
his day. +. j. EDWARDS.