The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1903-05-30
THE SNACS OF
LITERATURE
tOriginal.1

him. He supposed they knew all about
1t and determined to abandon the school
OF realism and try story with incident
and action.
To gather inspiration from the ocean,
which he loved, he went to quiet vii
lage at the seashore. On the very
morning of his arrival he met Lucia
Penley, the daughter of cottager.
Miss Penley had a way of understand
ing Winchester's ideas before he had
half expressed them. He told her Of
his failures In the school of realism
and that he was about TO write a novel
in which the hero and heroine were to
be pursued by adverse circumstances.
Seven In ten of the characters We're to
die violent deaths, while the other
three
Miss Penley shook her head.
But the publishers
"Never mind the publishers. Be
what you are or nothing
Winchester was persuaded and re-
solved to make one more trial of the
realistic school. AS he proceeded with
his work he read the manuscript to
Miss Penley. She approved of 1t, but
occasionally suggested his bringing out
an idea or "A motive more plainly.
You think the public won't under
stand?"
I'm thinking Of your publishers,
They are one In perhaps fifty thousand
OF your audience, and any stupidity on
their part is detrimental In like pro
portion Indeed you must pass them
to get at the public"
Il wonder why | didn't think of that
before" said Winchester musingly
In the autumn Winchester took his
manuscript to the city and began to
send Ii round the circle of publishers,
The result was the same as before. 1t
was returned with thanks FOR being
permitted to read IT," In despair the
author worked his way into the sane.
tum of one OF the persons who had
read aud declined his production and
begged for his reasons.
My dear fellow" replied the "rend
err" you are too late. During the past
six months the sensational historical
novel has appeared and revoIutionized
everything. Six months ago | would
have recommended your story for pub
llcation; today would not dare do So
Then Winchester regretted that he
had not gone into the sensational
school. He resolved to shut himself up
for the winter and do So He finished
his story by early spring and submitted
It, Meanwhile the paper covered novel
In which such stories had usually APP
peared had passed out and the expen-
siye cloth book had taken It's place.
Winchester was told that his story was
too short To be sold "in cloth"
With load on his heart he went
home and spent months In lengthenlng
II. When he submitted II again he was
Informed that It appeared to have been
padded
Winchester resolved to try once more
and make his novel long enough 10 suit
any one. He had noticed that writer's
OF genius had demonstrated that there
was ample opportunity for high grade
literary work In the school OF incident
IN well as In the school OF realism. lie
therefore determined to select n subject
capable of being worked TO advantage
and make one supreme effort, Five
years elapsed before he finished his
maguum opus. His wife had helped
him with an occasional suggestion and
after the work was put into good form
read II carefully and pronounced II by
far the best thing he had ever done.
He felt encouraged. for he had begun
TO have great regard for her opinion
Then he sent II To the publishers,
lie was crushed by the first reply
III you will cut your story" II said,
ito one nth Its length, we will gladly
use It. In Its present form 1t is IN
available"
Again Winchester sought the read,
err and asked him his reasons,
within few months" replied the
reader" the whole character OF the
literary market has changed. The
short story is replacing the long novel >
Winchester went home 10 his wife
and told her that his hopes had again
been dashed.
"Bardwell." she replied. Il think you
have had MI the pleasure YOU eau get
with your pen, and that's all there is in
II except for one in tifty million, SO
you'd better take up something new
How would you Ike 10 30 into the pub
fishing business
why do you suggest that liner
because before met you had dis
cayarat what Won have hppn Sp Ipuu
learning. You know Rose Drake that
has been selling by the hundred thou
sand lately? Well, | am It's author"
Great heavens
1.-THE way got II published was this
| found an obscure publisher who had
for years tried his own judgment. max.
ing failure every time. aud at the
moment | struck him he vas desper.
ate. After reading Rose Drake he
sent for me and said;
"ln my Judgment that's the worst
novel ever written. But. "a have
found my Judgment no good l'm going
TO the opposite extreme, and am ready
TO sign contract for Its publication :
but Rose Drake is beautiful
story"
We'll. now that I've made one sue
cvss perhaps | can make more. We
might as well have all there In in IT.
SO you'd better turn publisher"
"I'li do So" said the ex-author,
throwing his arms about his wife. And
he did. but unfortunately his wifes
next novel appeared under an unai-