The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1898-01-14
MYsTERY OF GREATNESS.
No Rule VIII Suffice for the Attainment
Of Literary Success.

Of Literary Success.
Young writers are always anxious
to know how the great books were
written, and how the immortals felt
and behaved when they were writing
the same. Its often taken for granted
by these young people that there is
some secret prescription for COM
pounding literature, and that SUI
icient perseverance, may master this
formula Investigation hardly con-
firms this view.
A certain well-known author wrote
resolutely every day, whether he felt
like it or not. He turned out with al
most unvarying exactness just about
SO many thousand words at sitting.
His works have been read with pleas
ure by hundreds Of thousands. Hehas
been proclaimed as the favorite novel
ist Of several famous men. He will
not live forever, but he achieved
success which might properly satisfy
a high ambition.
Another noted man determined to
pursue the same course. He had
made marked success in poetry and
short-story work. Now he would
write book. Other people had shut
their teeth together and sat down and
ground out what was, if not real litera-
ture, fair imitation of it. lie would
do the same. His book fell fiat, and
he has never attempted to write an
other.
The author Of one Of the most sue
cessful books of the last 20 years de-
clares that she rewrote every sentence
in it at least 40 times. Her people,
she said, would not mind. They did
queer and unexpected things, and
were constantly striving to balk and
elude the plot, but by persistent and
severe discipline she regulated her
mutinous army until her first work
was finished like very Crichton,"
and bore almost no mark of crudeness.
Another Of the most successful
novelists never rewrites, and he cor
reefs and interlincs but little. One of
the few Americans who has produced
a novel which will live said once in
reply TO question: Copy my work!
II 1 had to copy what write ] should
never write line"
One of the most famous of living
writers reads the work of no contem-
poraries, for fear of coloring or cor
rupting his own output. Other writ
ers, perhaps equally we'll known, read
promiscuously and unflaggingly.
A well-known society woman, shut
temporarily away from the world by
affection, deliberately resolved to
write q book. She Immediately con-
suited distinguished professor of
rhetoric and literature and put her
selfunderhis tuition for some months.
She saturated herself during a con
siderable succeeding period with the
scenes and atmosphere in which her
story was to be laid. Her
friends laughed behind her back,
and quoted to each other the
fable of the mountain and the
mouse, but la grande dame, with
all her fuss and feathers, really pro-
duced a charming little story
worthy to live with some of those di-
yinely-wrought illusions which have
emanated from garrets and from the
pens of crust-fed genius.
On the other hand, one of the most
conspicuous of living writers certifies
that his most brilliant work treats of
a land and people whom he has never
seen, though it is considered by the
critics masterpiece fverisimilitude.
The story electrified everybody who
read it, and was the sensation of the
month among literary circles.
Marcus Aurelius enunciated the
noblest sentiments, though he livedin
a marble palace. Homer begged for
bread. Robert Browning was born
and brought up a gentleman. Robert
Burns was son Of the soil.
In short, there is no rule nor guide
to literary any more than 10 any other
sort of success. A few foundation
principles form a moraland expedient
starting point, but thence each work
or must carve his own way. ''That by
which a man conquers in any passage
is profound secret to every other per-
son in the world" said the seer. He
might have added, "and it can never
be impaired"
The soul with convictions and with
enthusiasts. hating shams and de-
spising imitation and tiattery, is GO
ing TO be heard. amount OF model
study or statistic hunting can give
success TO any other kind.-kate Up
son Clark, in Lcslic's Weekly.