New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-08
THE WOMAN AUTHOR.
What Publishers Say of Her Present Work
and of Her Future.

OF all the professions open to woman in the pres
ent century there none in which she has taken
such a prominent place in that OF literature
Every publishers list bristes with feminine names
some Of the best selling books Of the time Of
FEMININE authorship. and critics who are at most
pains 10 assert that never have done and
never can do anything worth while VIII yet admit
with some hewilde-ment tina: IN current literature
they are almost K not quite a par with men.
Various theories have been propouuded TO account
Tor this circumstance; but the one which suggests
itself most naturally Is that literature was for n
long tine the only means Of selfeZpresson open 20
women They could not lead armies Or sit in Par
lament Though few women at long intervals
were permitted TO rule kingdoms. they were de-
barred from the special training necessary for Sue
cess in music o. painting or architecture: but
woman Of genius with her fathers library at her
command and the educational opportunities afford
ed BY her own home could and did write books
And. as literature was once the only outlet for
feminine energy. it is still the most readily aces
sibls; the conditions which first induced the
sex TO take 10 literature still exist in lesser de-
gree In spite OF all the other fields open 20 her
the modern woman still. 1nds in literature the line
Of least resistance and the women who write
books great host The fences are down
and here. If nowhere else women have a fair field
and favor.
What use they are making Of those opportunities
It is. perhaps. too early 10 determine. but II the
opinion Of publishers counts for anything they
are DONG some OF the pest literary WOIA CT L-r
day; Nevertheless. the publishers have their
trials with their women writers, and see room for
Improvement along certain lines
Every year said r. y. Doubleday. to
Tribune reporter. we use more and more OF the
work OF women. and We md tlat their WORK
grows better and better They improve less rap
idly, however, in business abllILy- They are
'touchy, they lack initiative, and have not enough
OF the common. everyday faith man learns he
must have in dealing with his fellows. In fact. a
Ofreu fears a. viii do her who prob
49, rr-To-s-oO7 T-is h-fsf-
ness Character. who would do for heT the very
best possible Women are conscientious workers.
and things viii even up wonderfully for them IN
dealing with q square business man"
And yet so great a contradiction is woman that
this man, who finds IN her such superb bundance
Of conscience, says that she is smarter than
man Gin the sense Of sharper, that after mar
rage she becomes more so. until she is the one
y would not believe said Z. P. Dutton- did
7 not have numaerless letters to prove the fact,
that supposedly intelligent women could ask the
silly incOnsequent questions they do
In the breath this publisher said that
literary world and are continually scoring sue
Cesses, small and great.
s : Mcclure thinks there IS no sex IN genius.
and declares that but for name handwriting he
would never know, even in his business dealings
with women writer's, whether they men or
women He also thinks that some OF the most
The power to touch the human heart is theirs. ."
he said. and IL fl is true that the devil hates
genuine worth The woman writer Of to-day has
found the weak spot in his armor."
Whether or not women are known writer's
their literary husbands" said another published.
not only by sharp discerning criticism. but in
actual work Don't put that in. John says the
would dress or talk And Oh my dear she
adds, did ever have child Of four who would
Il we did his dad might be forgiven the desire TO
shoot him on the spot