The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-01
LITERARY REMAINS.

A London paper has printed a short story
said to be an early production of the late
George Du Maurier. No comment on the
quality of the story is made by the CORE
spondent who announces the fact, but 1t Is
reasonable to assume that it's only inter-
est lies in it's authorship and that its lit
eIary merit alone would not have secured
it a publisher. Certainly the author had
not rated it of sufficient value to offer 1t
for publication, even after his reputation
had reached the point where anything from
his pen would have been eagerly accepted
by magazine editors. He began his literary
career so late in life that there was reason
TO hope that the public would be spared the
infection upon it of writings which
his own judgment had withheld from
publication. Every professional writer
has had his callow period and has
produced much matter whose proper
receptacle is the waste basket. If the sue
cessful author had the forethought to de-
stroy these crude efforts his reputation
would suffer less when he was gone and his
judicious friends have less cause to grieve.
Probably Du Maurier left but little in this
line. since his early labors were mainly in
the direction of art. not literature. and the
reading world has little reason for fear in
his case. Notwithstanding the appearance
already of the story mentioned. But,
though this be true of him. others are less
fortunate. The reputation of Robert Louis
Stevenson has not been helped by hurrying
into print almost unedited mass of his
Literary remains" He was prolific
writer, and. like many workers with pen
and brush, he made experimental sketches
and tried different methods of producing
desired effects. AS consequence his work.
shop. judging by recent Developments,
seems to have been filled with literary frag-
ments some of which--heretical though the
assertion seem to confirmed Stevenson wor-
shipers-are decidedly amateurish.
But, whatever may be thought of the
wisdom and propriety of publishing each
and every unfinished essay or sketch found
in the desk of a deceased author, good
many people who help to make up the read
ing public cherish a belief that even the
dead have certain rights, one of which is
the protection of their personality. To
SOiHS cANCHt every puts
self into his books. and the greater the
books the greater this unconscious revela-
ton of the inner man, but when
he has done this there is still reserv d
something for his intimates, his family and
his friends; something that does not belong
10 the world. but which. according to the
pull fishers, the world must have if possible
when he has departed this life. This end
is commonly reached by the publication of
private letters, nothing apparently being
too sacred to scatter broadcast. Thackeray
avoided this by forbidding the publication
of his letters. A French writer who died
recently protected his correspondents, il
not himself by ordering his papers burned
Stevenson has already been made a victim
| by the printing of personal notes written
under pressure OF haste and illness and
with no thought of the future critical pub
| lie. Victor Hugo's personal letters have
| but just got into possession OF the publish
| ers. and IL is TO be regretted that no one
Of his descendants had the good taste te
| withhold them still longer. In the collec.
| ton are letters 10 his wife when both were
young. and the love-stricken youth OF To-
day who sends special delivery letter te