The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-05-15
HALL CANE SAYS: THE HOUSE,
OF LETTERS \LNNAIS HAS
ROOMS TO LET.

NJ 1WentN. wrote an |atitoDlO9fa-
ply for another person. and was pa
ten pounds for it. Vt five and twenty.
| came up 10 London with the manu-
script of :; critical work which | had
written while AT Liverpool. Somebody
had recommended that | should sub
nit il to Il certain great publishing
house. and | took it in person.
.Nftcr waiting three ~torturing weeks
for the decision of the publishers. |
made bold 10 call again. NJ the same
little box at the door OF the office |
had ono more to fill out the sane
document. The boy took it in. and
WAS left to sit on his table. to look
at the desk which he had been whit
Ting away. 10 wait and to trcmble.
Nfter Il time ! heard Il footStep re-
turning. thought it might be the
publisher or the editor of the house.
IT was the boy back again. He had a
pile OF loose sheets OF white paper in
his hands. The editors compli-
mcntS, sir. and. thank. you." said the
boy. and my manuscript went sprawl
inc on the table. gathered ii up.
tucked il as deep as possible under
the wings of my Inverness cape. and
Went downstairs. ashamed. humiliat-
ed. crushed and nroken-Spiritcd- not
quite that, either for remember
that. as got to the fresh air al the
door. my gorge rose within me. and |
exclaimed in anger that would COM
pei better attention from that house
before long. and | did.
The sequel is worth telling, though
my triumph brought me 4 friend in
stead Of an enemy.
That editor became my personal
friend. OF curse he remembered
nothing Of this incident. and | never
poisoned one hour Of our intercourse
by telling him how. when was
Younger and q word would ave buoy
ed me up. ne made ne drink the wa
tiers Of Marah. Three times since that
day the publishing house | speak of
has come TO me. asking that | should
write Il book.
If literary confessions are worth
ANYTHING. this one may perhaps be a
seed that will somewhere find CRATE
full soil. Keep a good heart. even if
YOU have to knock in vain at MANY
doors and kick about the back stat .
of the house of letters. There is room
inside.
Let me conclude with a few words
that may be timely. OF all the litera-
ry cantS that | despise and hate. the
one | hate and despise the most is
that which would have the world be-
lieve that greatly gifted men who
have become distinguished in Iitera-
ture and are earning thousands a wear
by it and have no public existence
and no apology apart from it. hold
it in pity as a profession in contempt
as an art. For my part. | rave found
the profession Of letters a serious
pursuit of which in no and
in no country have | need to be
ashamed. 1t has demanded all
nv powers. fired all my enthusiasm.
developed my sympathies, enlarged
my friendships, touched, amused,
soothed and comfortcd me-. If it has
been hard work, it has been q con
slant inspiration, and | would not
change it for all the glory and more
than all the emOlumcntS Of the best
paid and most illustrious profession in
the world.
Just how far the publication of a serial
story can affect the circulation of q maya
zine IS uncertain. and opinions on this
subject arc apt to he varied and con-
nicting. In some instances the most sue
cessful stories that have sold in book
form upward Of one hundred thousand