The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-09-22

W HEN Burke Phillips left college he
w said to himself: L will be a
writer So he obtained rooms
near one Of the great publishing cen
tiers and provided himself with books
and periodicals bearing on the subject
and began what he intended should be
hrs life work
lie was a good scholar. and had an
easy way OF putting wordt together,
and he wrote upon almost every con-
cetvable subject. II his knowledge
was sometimes superficial, his felicity
of expression was such that the ordi-
nary reader never suspected it. Pres
emily n sketch was accepted, and a
yesf : subscription placed to his cred
it; then a check for s. came: then an
editcr wrote that he would use one
of his stories and pay him for it upon
publication.
But meanwhi there was an increas-
ing host of vaErant returning manu-
scripts csamoring for more postage
stamrG. Burke had several hundred
dollars in a bank. and this he intended
TO bridge over To the time when his
pen would be strong enough to earn
him a living. But in spite of hard
work and close economy the end or
the first year found lis reserve de-
creased by nearly one-nsilf.
But by this time he had established
himself as a writer. Friends cOngrat-
ulated him. and spoke of his future
as icing assured. Frequently he saw
ais lame at the head of a short story
OF poem or essay. and occasionally his
blood tingleG at finding his article
copied from ore paper to another.
Then came C.Ie of those marvellous
showers that enters into the expert
ence OF nearly every young writer.
He received "A generous check. with a
note intimating that more of his work
would be gladly examined. The next
day came two more checks. and on
the third day came the largest check
ne had received-S3O. and with 1t a
cepting editor.
With these checks in his possession.
Burke felt no Inisgivings for the flu
ture. lie was already stepping over the
threshold Of success, he told himself
and the very next day he went to the
young Eirl who had been watching his
work with such loving interest and
appreciation. and whose faith in him
had been even stronger and more as
sEred than his own.
4 coy tenement was secured near
his former boarding place. and they
went TO housekeeping in n simple I'M
ostentati0rs manner. Burke worked
harder chssn ever, and his young wife
helped him all she could. She had
rad. good deal and was a good
critic. and she assumed most of his
copying. They had little company.
and that was just as they would have
IT. a simple bI sakfast. and then writ
ing and copying; a substar tial dinner.
and then a walk in the park or a
visit to one Of the great libraries, OF
an excursion down the river; then
back TO tea. md after that more writ
ing a-.d copying. and then a long, de-
lightfui talk about their plans and
hopes.
But at length the zine came when
they could only retain the occasional
checks long enough FOR him 60 sign
his name across the baC.z. And it ger-
erallv happened that there was a
pressing claim for SO or S15 when the
heck was FOR only s. or So
All the money was Withdrawn from
the bank then they stopped using
meat and everything but the barest
necessities, then the furniture began
10 md its way 10 ssecondhand
dealer. and at last Burke put the sfon-
Der in his ink bottle and faced the sit
uation sduarely.
You win have to go back to your
father and mother. Edith" he said.
tenderly. ~and I viii do what 1 ought
to have done in the first place--go and
f-y to md soTsthing at which 1 can
make a living.
rs 1t lecessesy. Burle?" she asked
wistfuly.
II see no other way. As soon as ]
can earn "A support VIII send FOR
vow.
And must We give ur our writing
al our plans ard nopeSz piteousiy.
Tor the present, dearest. A living