The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-12-02
wv seeliohs which had to he gathered
individually by human hands
REWARDS OF IJTER

FRANK K. Stockton died not
ieaFlng a fine old country nIaca ona
not lnconslderable quantity of e+ocLe 80
ponds. The estate of the late pa,l -
ceSlef FORD includes personally of Nor.
- F-o','oo' These and other similar
i'enns OF coming to light re-
'hry nave fe-aroused interest in the
literature as a business. and
"hen Weir Mitchell and Miss gnec
1eppler advertised in the papers tho
o'hcl Jay Tor railroad stocks lost-show-
ing not only the possession of tboro
'nlngS, put also such Indifference m tba,,
aS 20 make the loss of them q noseihil-
lty-the sense of literary proprietv was
ohoeheu III some quarters. 1t was pointed
"u' 'nal thlngs are very different now
doavs from the days of Lovelace and
JonhSoh and Goldsmith and Chatterton:
inherent, 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,
ms may be true, in some respects
certainly, the literary calling is a more
lucrative one now than it was some CEN
tGrles ago. There is a better chance for
literary men to make a livelihood. The
increased lumber of publishing houses
ana magazines, the extension of activi-
ties Of newspapers, make this possible.
nevertheless, it is probable that things
we're not so bad in the old days as we
are lea 10 believe, and are not 50 rosy
now as the inspection of bank accounts
OF q lew successful authors would indi-
cate. Johnson Jared not so badly after
a short period Of impecuniosity. and Cold
smith, for a while, in days when money
went further than at present. made more
IMAM $4,000 a year. Ford and Stockton
were fortunate in striking a vein that
appealed to the popular taste, and much
OF Mr.. Ford,s wealth was inherited; and
as regards DR.. Mitchell and Miss Rep
plier, the former is a practising physician
OF pre-eminent standing and with a rep
~utation for high charges, and the lat
Ter, 1t is safe to say, despite the charm
and worth OF her sparkling essays. has
not been able to buy very many valu-
able stocks or bonds out of her earnings.
And opposed to the few exceptions is
the mighty army Of the unsuccessful,
who, at best, grind out a hard living
with their pens.
Life, the weekly Illustrated journal. oc-
CupleS a unique place in the world Of
literature. 1t is far more artistic than
Punch: it is far cleaner than the French
humorous journals, and it deals with
live public questions to a mucn greater
extent than Fliegende Blaetter. Among
American humorous publications its place
is distinct as the representative of re-
fined wit, genial satire and Of the laugh
able and picturesque side Of polite so
ciety. The something over a hundred
full-page pictures gathered into the
handsome volume entitled 1.-The Social
comedy just issued by Life Publishing
Company, furnish a fair sample Of the
kind of thing which is most delightful ia
Lie. The pictures deal with the sayings
and Goings of pretty women and hand
some men all stylishly clad and living
amid luxurious surroundings. The print
ing and artistic binding of the book are
in keeping with the pictures and the
heavy. coated paper is q delight to the
eye and the touch.
The Social Comedy as a Christmas
gift is handsome enough for any one.
In the November number of the At
lantic Monthly will be found the frs
paper of a notable new series by Mrs
Mary Austin, author of THE shepherd
Of the Sinrras' and The Little Coyote
This sketch, entitled "A Bret Hart'
Town. is an excellent example of Mrs
!, Austin's talents for real and minute oh.
seryation and graceful and expressive
, style. Mrs. Austin has lived long in th'
: silence and solitude of the Western des.
crt. She reproluces this atmosphere will
, remarkable felicity, and her portraya
L of character. whether Of miner, Indian
y souaw. CT G~rcaser, is as notable TO
4 pathos and quiet Eumor as for It's mt
c mate appreciation OF the spirit CT thel
! lives.
S Robert -. Graham, son Of the late GOV
q crnor Graham, has just completed a his
torv Of the Alamance Regulators and tn
. Mccklcnburg Declaration of lndepend
2 cnc- The book will be q volume o
about -four hundred pages, and Will D
published during the early part CT tn
coming year.
Woodrow Wilson, the new prcsldch
$ of Princeton University, opens the dc
l cember Atlantic with an able and stlmu
: 1atinc article on The Ideals OF America
believing that A new world mas opehc'
before us and that we shall rise as
! nation to the level of our opportunities