The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-01-25


~ kind enough to explain to
me why my contribution
was not acceptable. His
Ih reasons were excellent, and
YAM [ felt that they were what
eAAk1 / knew to be true; but I
y was not paying particular
attention to his words. I
have the fatal gift of second sight in
regard to length of life, and L saw
that he would pass from this world
within two years. As to the cause Of
death l could not say. He seemed in
excellent health now, though not of
robust constitution; few men who do
Office work exhibit the quality of
ruggedness which is associated with
length Of life, yet many live to good
old age. l was filled with q strange
pity for the man before me, so fair
minded, generous, and, in his way,
so attractive. Yet I could not say
word of his short career.
This gift is difficult to describe. 1
only know that possess it. BY ex-
perience l have learned to guess how
near any person is to dissolution and
to avoid his society, for 1 dread a
dying person, man or woman.
Your stories, Alcott," the editor
was saying, slack moral purpose,
patriotism, belief in high motives,
in affection. The people who read
stories want that sort of thing. They
read for amusement, for emotional ex-
element, to be tlattered by approba-
ton of q sort of cheap generosity
which they feel they could easily in
dulge in themselves if rich. The
mission of all art it has been said.
is to create and foster agreeable illu-
sions.'"
Eyes" responded, rousing myself
to answer. II have heard that, but
despise that sort of cheap art 1t is
work for valet, not a philosopher. :"
People don't want philosophy,
Alcott. Most persons accept their re-
ligion, their politics, and their philos-
ophy, from the current talk. IF I
were rich should be happy That
is the unspoken eofiyictio11--.,s!.,,
while, let somebody tell n>a.-L-a.v -.
tuous I am and how much deserve.
You don't do that. Just as likely as
not your hero robs bank or wins
money on a horse race or kills an
enemy and has never qualm of con-
science afterwards. That isn't
proper. You want to make dishonest
people suffer for their sins and show
that Americans beat the world"
f1Tn hatC To-, IL
any nation at the top?''
II have tried to point out the way
you might succeed, but if it seems
only jest to you, if you don't care to
profit by my experience, why let it
60"
The editor was wounded by my
fippancy, and l could only pity him
and think: "Too bad! Only two
years longer to live!"
"You want me to initiate Kiplinp?"
I said.
"No, Kipling's merits belong solely
to him. But if you'd change this end
ing and make the men reform, it
might 60"
Elk it up for me, that's good
fellow said. "You can't imagine
how L hate to touch thing have
written, even to read it over again,
after l have grown cold"
You will never make a success of
literature unless you get over that.
Alcott. What would LAWYER amount
to ii he could not tire ont a jury by
repetition, or al actor, OF, in fact, any
professional man? But authors seem
to think they can say thing once and
have the world at their feet"
was glad to get away. The verv
thought of death disturbs me. It
makes mo ask myself how long am I
to Ii e, and as I cannot see myself, I
tort RE myself in futile questionings
of t future.
A tout year later met Mr.. King,
the editor, Oh the street.
II had strange dream last night. -
he said. 81 thought I was dead, and
that you said you had known about it
long ego. What do you think of t?'
He tried to smile, but saw he was
scared. Death daunts all when looked
OF face to face.
II don't have much faith in
dreams" was my reply. 'If you had
failed in rs many things as have
you would welcome death as n
change"
One says these things to others but
they are falsehoods. fear death.
Il tried to set you on the right
road to succeed in literature, but you
wouldn't follow my advice
"How could I? Am to so on kill
ing people in fiction, and finding
corpses behind doors, and marrying
poor girls to rich men. and all that
sort of horror, just to amuse a lot oil
IDLE or weary mortals, aud earn per-
haps two dollars week in money? It's
all very well for you editors. who have
q regular salary, but for rs outsiders,
it's rough riding"
You little know of the trials OF an
editors life if ron think You have all
the bitterness OF literary care az, u
retorted King, gloomiIy. Between
the practical joker who wants to ge!
up quarrel with any one, and the
crank who is driven by a strange mad.
ness to pitch in to somebody all the
time. there is less peace aud less sat
isfaction in editing than in any other
profession L modern days. Tam think
ing OF taking a sea voyage"
L wished to warn him of the danger
! At such change, but could | say
mat his fate might be escaped on land
any better than at sea?
Give good mind to go with you, /"
] remarked.