The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-27
FAMOUS NOW; OBSCURE THEN.
What a Decade Has Meant to Many of
the Leading Authors of To- Day.


the Leading Authors of To-Day.
1t is not necessary to look back many
years to find men whose names are
household words to-day, and who have
achieved both fame and fortune, occu-
plying obscure positions and giving no
indication of the brilliant future that
was awaiting them.
Fifteen years ago DR.. Conan Doyle
was industriously working up a medi-
cal practice, with all the attendant
hard work and struggle, at Southsea.
His pen was as yet untried and he
seemed destined to live and die coun-
try doctor. 1t was four years later
when he was tempted to try his prem
tice hand at writing, with what result
the world and his bankers know. When
Conan Doyle was dispensing physic at
Southsea S. r. Crockett could not even
claim the doubtful position of "A Stick
it Minister for it was only in 1886 that
he entered the Free Church of Scot
land, in which he served an apprentice
ship of seven long years before he
found that his vocation lay with the
pen rather than in the pulpit.
At this time, too, only Is years ago,
Ian Maclaren" had won popularity as
minister of Seton Park church, Liver
pool: but for a dozen more years his
pen was engaged in writing sermons
before it turned to the pathos and
beauty of Beside the Bonnie Brier
Bush"
Hall Caine, who can now rely on
making his own weight in gold out of
single novel, was quite unknown Is
years ago. After years of ill-paid Jour-
nalism in Liverpool, he had come to
London to be Dante Rossettis private
secretary and to find scope and inspira..
| ton for the gifts that.were in him. The
| change of environment worked mira
Gle, for, in 1885, his powerful SHADOW
OF Crime introduced a new prophet
to the world of readers.
Fifteen years ago Anthony Hope was
scholar of Baliol, and his only ambi-
ton was to follow in the footsteps Of
his uncle, Sir Henry Hawkins as lie
then was. 1t was not until 1890 that
he proved himself "a man Of mark" in
quite another field of labor
In 1884 Stanley Weyman, the gifted
author of so many historical novels
was waiting for briefs in DR.. Johnson's
| buildings, and did not even attempt to
| solace his waiting hours by "trying his
hand" at fiction, of which he is now
| such a master.
Rudyard kipling, in the early sos
| was assistant editor of the Indian Pho
neer on many less rupees a month than
| he now earns pounds a week. He was
writing his Departmental Ditties" in
| MS Few spare moments, and hoped some
| day, as the height of his ambition, to
! induce the world to read them in book
| form. Rider Haggard had already writ
| ten one book, "Cetywayo and His White
| Neighbours" and published it at a loss
| of $50, and was on the verge of pub
| fishing Dawn at a net profit of se10
| for years hard work.
Mrs. Humphrey Ward was too busy
| with domestic cares to recognize the
| genius that was waking in her, and had
| been content to write only simple
| child's story, and Mrs F. A. Steel was
an Indian 'mem-sahib," with never a
| thought of pen or fame. The same
| story may be told of scores of men now
| worldfamous in other fields of effort.
The present viceroy of India was read
| ing for his B. A. degree at Oxford If
1884, and was already looking forward
| to an apprenticeship to politics, which
| began in the following year as assistant
| private secretary to LoHd Salisbury
| Sir Alfred Miner was a hard-worked
| sub-editor of the Pall Mall Gazettt
with never a dream of the days when
he would be his eXcellel cy' and high
commissioner of South Africa, anG
Lord Kitchener was L cavalry major
in Egypt, after a spell of of scurc, if use.
| full, survey work in Cyprus.