The herald., 1895-08-04
DON'T

A letter has been received-and every
editor has received one or more-stating
that the writer has graduated with hon
ors and is desirous Of taking up the pro-
fession of letters or literature as voca-
ton. To this Young woman we should
apply the advice of Punch, given, it is
true, in another question, and say,
"Don't.'
The field OF literature is one OF the most
difficult and the same time one of the
most fascinating, but the literary grave
Yards are full OF writer's who have strug
gled hard to make literature pay. We
should advise our young correspondent,
il she must write. to secure some posi-
ton and write at odd times, and if she
has genius some one will find it out, but
to start in to support life by writing is
a very hazardous experiment ana the
men and women writers of the day who
make Il good income are few and far be.
tween when compared to the whole peo.
pie.
Nearly every writer who has earned
name as the author of books has done
after wears of struggling. OF the great
army of writers ali, with the exception of
few novelists, do not make a legitimate
living by writing. Julian Hawthorne,
a type OF the young writers. was the liter
ary editor OF the World, Stoddard is the
critic of the Mail and Express, Boyson
is a professor in Columbia college. Howells
Malcomb JohnsCn, one of the cleveIest
writers of the.day, told reporter that he
never earned over SD year from his
writings. Almost every writer in the
east is in some way connected with pub
lications, as editors, readers or reviewers.
In this way they are sure of a certain in
! come and devote the rest OF their time to
other books and articles.
IL our young friend desires warning
from the ancents. she has wide field
| and will find that fortune has rarely
condescended to be tn, companion OF
| merit" Homer. poor and blind, recited
! his verses for bread. The facetious poet
Plautus was a miller's assistant. Nylan-
/ der sold his notes to Dion Cassius for
"square meal" Aldus Manutius was
| almost beggar and failed in trying TO
move his library from Venice to Rome.
Agrippa died in his workshop Cervantes
starved to death. Camoens dropped in
, tho streets from lack of food. Tasso the
eminent, once lived a week on cents.
He was so poor he could not buy can
! die. Ariosto was very poor and lived in
a m BILE way. The great cardinal, Ben
| tiyogIlo. once the pride of literary Italy,
was wiped out by his creditors. lie Sage
| whose romances are still read, lived in
! abect poverty. Du Ryer, the celebrated
! French poet was very poor while Van
! gelas, one OF the most polished writers
! OF the French age, died a pauper. Cor
|
| TO- 600 verses for $500. Parchas, the
famous traveller, was imprisoned by his
printer. John Stowe gave up literature
and became tailor. DR.. Dee, the famous
mathematical writer, died in extreme
poverty. Spenser. the poet, died OF want
| of bread. Milton was so poor that "a
tart was a luxury" and he could not al
ways get bread. Hawthorne our own au-
thor, had struggle with adversely.
OF all the literary men and women OF
San Francisco, about whom so much is
said and written. none make living in
dependent of other positions. Bierce Is
on u salary. Fitch is literary editor of
the Chronicle. Bonner is an editorial
writer on the Call and in the east it is
the same. Stedman makes his money al
banking. Hopkinson Smith is rich, Big
Glow has q rich wife. Those who earn a
living income by following legitimate lit
erary pursuits. writing books and con
tributing to the various periodicals, are
very few. Authorship is delightful pro
fession and the realm of culture and re
tinement. The artistic atmosphere is very
seductive, and many are viking to work
hard to taste its sweets, but IN spite OF al
this we should say to our young CORE
spondent "Don'u. .'-Pasadena News.