Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1899-01-19
HURN0NT Frederick County, Maryland Thursday January 49, |es9
THE LACE. OF AMERICAN NOVELS.

THE LACK.OE AMER1CAN NOVEL6
SURPRISE is constantly expressed both
by our own countrymen and by Europeans
at the paucity of good American novels.
Why do we not have great manyP they
that nowhere in civilization is there suoh
abundant material for interesting and va.
ried fiction as there is here. In the older
and more densely populated lands, life runs
in deep worn grooves social conditions are
fixed, circumstances are inelastic; while
here situations are continually changing,
the improbable is ever occurring, and every
day facts are fraught with romance. The
careers Of hundreds Of Americans, who
have no idea that their experience has been
in any way remarkable, would make very
readable novels, were they artistically
handled or dramatically grouped. Why
then, in land of romance, is there so lit.
tie literary romancep Why do so many Of
us live novels, and 20 few of us write themp
number of theories, most of them far
fetched, have been advanced to explain
this inconsistency. They are all wide Of
the mark. The true answer to the ques-
tion is very direct, and altogether practi.
cal. American novels are not produced
simply because their production is not re.
munerative. Literature is governed by the
laws of trade. 1t is idle to try to separate
it from other industries. Granted that it
is of higher kind, it is not in any way
distinct. Authors use their brains as me.
chanics use their hands, and common labor
ers their muscles, primarily to get a liveli-
hood. They may have an intellectual ambi-
tion; they may seek fame they may be
hungry for applause but, presumrg them
to be poor as their tribe generally is, un.
less they can earn sufficient money to keep
them, they will not persist in writing.
They will do something else which pays,
whether it be measuring dry goods or ped.
ding peanuts The first duty of every
man is to live-at least he thinks so-and
of every American citizen is, or ought to
be, to live, if necessary, by his own unaid.
ed exertions. Any American who would
produce novels which would not in turn
produce for him chops and coffee and cloth.
ing might be genius, but he would be
sadly lacking in common sense. There is
no sort of financial encouragement here
for any man or woman to write novels.
They are, as everybody knows, the most
popular form Of literature. When they
make hit, they sell largely; but their sale
is in no manner proportional to their excel.
lence. The reverse, indeed, is likely to be
true. The poorest fctions are often in the
most active request, while the best fctions,
high and broad though their reputation be,
often yield their authors very little, some
times next to nothing.
Augusta j. Evans, who has written
"Beulah," "St. Elmo" Macaria," and
other stupendous stories, in which encylo.
pedic extracts take the place Of nature and
of art, is reported to have earned a small
fortune by her pen. And yet they are SO
full of fustian and grotesque delineation
that they seem like burlesque Mrs. Ann
S. Stephens, Mrs. Emma D. e. N. South
worth, and other women, turn out what
they call novels at the rate of one a month
or So and are asserted to have a very lucra.
tive trade. They do not pretend to be ar
tists-they have no time for art. Their
object is to get money, and they get ii
most abundantly, considering their cob.
rate their efforts Their industry is won.
derful They can it is affirmed, do whole
chapters in an hour. They can write as
many words as the most rapid phonogra.
pher.
On the other hand, Poe's tales, which
are marvellous creations, without parallel
In any literature, never brought him five
hundred dollars in all. Nathaniel Haw.
thorne, despite his "Scarlet Letter"
"House Of the Seven Cables" Blithe-
dale Romance" and MARBLE Faun,"
works Of rare and original genius, remained
poor through life, and was saved from
actual want only by his Consulship at Liver
pool. Oliver Wendell Holiness Profes.
sor's Story" Elsie Venner," and Guard.
ian Angel" full of subtle analysis, attic
wit, and exquisite humor, gave him ex.
tended fame, but added little to his hank
account ample enough, fortunately, from
inheritance, but not from literature Cur.
tis's delicate and charming fancy, "Prue
and l." has not, to date, filed even very
small corner of his slender purse, and it is
twenty three years since it first appeared.
Howells, Aldrichs, Henry James, Jr's,
delightful stories pay little more than
journeyman's wages They may live, per-
haps, at least in part, by their professions,
though not by writing novels, which is at
best starving office. Even Mrs. Stowe
has not received, it is said, from her
"Uncle Toms Cabin, which has sold fully
two millions Of copies, much more than
ten thousand dollars.
But why do not Americans write more
novels Probably, because they have
prejudice in favor of living. They can
earn more at almost any occupation than
by being novelists The cleverest man
should not produce story in less than six
months at the least, and his story would be
counted fair success if it should yield
him u thousand dollars. second rate
book keeper can exceed that. and why
should one attempt original composition
when it fails to pay as well as mere routine
work Publishers can steal all the novels
they want from abroad They have, thee
f,re, rs they think, no commercial reason
for giving royalty to native authors.
When writing novels shall be rendered
profitable to Americans, they will supply
them, no doubt, and not till then. That
they do not write novels under existing
circumstances is sound evidence of their