The record-union., 1894-02-15
WRITING FOR THE PRESS.

The RECoRD-UNIoN has steady run of
calls from worthy people, and long has
had, who submit manuscripts represent
ing the product of their skill as writers,
be passed upon their compositions, but
only the few really expect candid replies.
In seven cases out of ten these writers
are beginners, are tyros who wish to
know but fear TO learn, whether they
have ''the spark of genius" that can be
recognized and that gives promise of sue
cess for them.
Not one out ofthe ten, however, receives
an affirmative reply, for the one who is
by nature stamped as an original thinker
and as gifted with the phenomenal ex-
preston, come out from among the hum
dreds or the tens of hundreds of all those
who attempt to make literature career.
OF all with whom we come in contact of
the order referred to-they who have an
itching to write and who do not realize
how jealous a mistress the art is-not
more than one in ten has realized that
writer's are made, not born. A few do
come forward who believe in that truth
and sincerely mean by reading and pa
tient effort to attain that degree of skill
which will give their productions some
claim for attention.
A very few of these persevere and win
in greater or less degree; but the great
body of even this limited number per-
ceiving the truth, fall weary by the way
side.
The RECORD UNION has been the me-
dunn of introducing to the public in the
very many years Of its life, goodly
number of the successful, who have be-
come more or less prominent and have
gained distinction as graceful and read
able writer's; but compared with the
great army of those who have failed
these are but very few indeed.
It would seem to be necessary every
now and then to preach anew the old
truth that writers. as rule, are evolved;
especially true of newspaper writers of
all grades. The newspaper matter of the
era, to command attention and enlist SYM
pathy, is not of necessity the scholarly,
the brilliant or the imaginative. It is not
of the order of the essay or the sermon.
It is not the product of what, for want of
a better term, is styled genius" It is the
result of cultivated faculties; of diligent
and careful good reading; of the habit of
thought; of intelligent observation,
and very largely of patient apprentice
ship to experience.
The people who are to write for news
paper readers and succeed must think
fearlessly and constantly. We agree
with George NJ. Hyde, in The Outlook,
when he declares that SIT is credit to
the whole world when a school of honest
pen-grapplers recognize their present in
ability to do the first grade of literary
work-called soriginaP-and consent to
submit themselves to the natural laws Of
literary growth, conscientiously reading
ana aualyZlQg the HaleTIa1S A1TeaOy Do-
fore them, in the faith that admiration
and sympathy may beget inspiration.
Writers are made, not born. Originality
without some mental preparation is all
hocus pocus. Burke wisely says, There
is no faculty of the mind which bring its
energy into effect unless the memory be
stored with ideas for it to work upon.'
Many would have courage to perseyere if
they observed how dependent on reading
literary composition has been in the lives
of the worlds brightest and best"
Writing for the newspaper press as an
avocation may be delightful for those
who have time, leisure and the ability
born of reading. thought and good talk
ing.n as one has put it. But those who
would make it a vocation must have 1t
driven into their capacity to comprehend,
and craven upon their intelligence, that
newspaper writers do not come full
Aadced to their tasks. To all those others
who imagine that they are gifted, and
mistake readiness in recording their