The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-30
REWARDS OF LITERATURE.

bonds The estate of the late Paul Lei
cester Ford includes personally of more
than 5000 900. These and other similar
items of information coming to light re-
Gently have re-aroused interest in the
question of literature as a business, and
when Weir Mitchell and Miss Agnes
Repplier advertised in the papers the
other day for railroad stocks lost-show
ing not only the possession of these
things. but also such Indifference to them
as TO make the loss of them a possibI
ity-the sense of literary propriety was
shocked in some quarters 1t was pointed
out that things are very different now
adays from the days of Lovelace and
johnson and Goldsmith and Chatterton
different, even, from the days of Poe. and
the deduction was drawn that the liter
airy trade III these times is as profitable
as any other
This may be true, in some respects.
Certainly, the literary calling is more
lucrative one now than it was some CEN
turtles ago. There is better chance for
literary men to make a livelihood The
increased number of publishing houses
end magazines, the extension of activi-
ties of newspapers, make this possible.
Nevertheless, it is probable that things
were not so bad in the old days as we
are led to believe, and are not so rosy
now as the inspection of bank accounts
of q few successful authors would ind-
cate. johnson Jared not so badly after
a short period of impecuniosity, and Gold
smith. for while, in days when money
went further than at present made more
than 1000 year. Ford and Stockton
were fortunate in striking vein that
| appealed TO the popular taste, and much
OF Mr.. Ford's wealth was inherited and
as regards DR.. Mitchell and Miss Rep
/ picr, the former is practising physician
of pre- eminent standing and with rep
utation for high charges and the lat
ter. it is safe TO say, despite the charm
| and worth of her sparkling essays, has
net been able to buy very many valu-
able stocks or bonds out of her earnings
| And opposed TO the few exceptions is
1 the mighty army of the unsuccessful
! who. at best. grind out a hard living
with their pens.
/ Life, the weekly illustrated journal. oc-
Cupies unique place in the world 81
/ literature. 1t is far more artistic than
/ Punch; it is far cleaner than the French
humorous journals, and il deals witt
/ live public questions to a mucn greater
extent than Fliegende Blacttcr. Among
American humorous publications it's place
/ is distinct as the representative of re
/ fined wit, genial satire and Of the laugh
I able and picturesque side Of polite so
I ccty. The something over 4 hundreG
full-paGe pictures gathered into III,
handsome volume entitled The Socia
comedy" just issued by Life Publishing
Company, furnish a fair sample of tn,
t Kind of thing which Is most delightful il
Lie The pictures deal with the saying.
and doipgs of pretty women and hand
some mon all stylishIy clad and livin,
amid luxurious surroundings. The print
ing and artistic binding of the book ar,
in keeping with the pictures and tn
heavy, coated paper is delight to III,
eye and the touch.
1.-The Social Comedy as a Christina
gift is handsome enough for any one.
In the November number of the At
lantic Monthly viii be found the frs
Paper Of a notable new series by Mrs
Mary Austin. author of THE Shepher,
Of the Sierras and The Little Coyote.
! This sketch, entitled "A Bret Hart
Town, is an excellent example of Mrs
Austins talents for real and minute OBJ
servatiop and graceful and expressiv
style. Mrs. Austin has lived long in tn
silence and solitude of the Western dos
ert. She reproduces this atmosphere Will
remarkable felicity. and her portraya
Of chara cter. whether Of minor, lndial
squaw, or Grcaser, is as notable 70
! pathos and quiet Eumor as fer its init
4 mate appreciation of the spirit of thei
lives.
Robert d. Graham, son of the late GOV
/ crnOr Graham, has just completed a his
tory of the Alamance Regulators and til
| Mecklenburg Declaration of Indepcnd
ence. The book will be a volume o
about four hundred pages, and will b
published during the early part Of tn
coming year.
i -
/ Woodrow Wilson, the new presiden
/ of Princeton University, opens the De
cember Atlantic with an able and stimu
lating article on The Ideals of America
believing that new world has opened
/ before us and that we shall rise as
{ nation to the level of our opportunities