The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-19
ILLUSTRATORS ARE
 IN GREAT DEMAND Publishers of the Country tm-
 ploy Many Artists PROFESSION IS VACTING Broad Education, Versatility and We'll Developed Talent Needed to Win
 Success as Book lIustra-
 tor-Many Fail.
PROFESSION IS NACTING

tor-Many Fail.
 Boston. November 1S.-Books. Books Be oksl With the approach of Christmas. tide the counters of every department store of every American city, to say nothing of the well-illed stalls of the book dealers, arouse wonder in the aver age man at the prodigality of talent which produces much reading matter including little literature-and so many llrstrations-including at least a little art
 The pictures and book-cover designs have become in the eyes of many pub fishers as important as the text. A great many people buy volumes because they are good to look at. The extent to which the illustration of books and magazines has become one of the recognized pro- fessons in this country was strilSingly disclosed a few days ago, when figures were published regarding the earnings of Charles Dana Gibson, who has given up black and white work and gone abroad 10 study painting: and 1t was stated that MT Gibson though perhaps the most highly paid draughtsman this country has known, was not altogether in a class by himself as regards compensation There are a number of American illus trators whose income exceeds S25,000 year, and a still larger number of others those doing the good but not remarkable drawings which appear in ordinary books and magazines, earn from $500O to $lO,- 000.
 As the precarious professions go that means a great deal The late Laurence Hutton once advised a young literary man to quit writing as quickly as possi-5 ble and get an illustration. He instanced as an example of the superior opportunl- ties of the artist his own compensa- tion for one of his books in the prepara- ton of which he made, on his own ac- count an expensive journey to the Holy Land to gather his material. and re- ceived for the work when il was finished a check for s25O. The publisher afterwards engaged an Illustrator to make draw ings for it. paying him $2500 and the entire expense of a two months trip to Palestine.
 Palmy Days Gone.
 The palmy days of illustration are some times said to have passed. It certainly no longer is the uncrowded occupation that it was 10 years ago when the pup fishers were all scrapping for the work of A little group of artists who knew how in amply their talent to the making of drawings suitable for reproduction. The art schools for many years have been turning out their annual grist or young people who have learned to draW' ana who continually haunt the editorial oIllees in the larger cities, armed wlth port folios of clever sketches. In the ordinary erade of illustration, furthermore, and
 no work the half- tone reproductions from photo /lphs have come into compete with pen sketches and wash drawings.
 The field, nevertheless, is broadening all the time. new people are coming to the front and publishers are bringing ont more illustrated books every year. These are. in fact, good times for con s,derable group of young American artists who arc able to meet the very exactlns renu,1ements of book and magazine H. lustration. ,,4s The art editor of a publishing house Tn this city said recently: T am vlslteu every week by scores of applicants TOT uo,lx They bring me portfolios or sl,otsbes moi always so well drawn as you might expect from the stusents oi famous masters, and generally quite un- suited to ire mechanical necessities. oh- nrenared for what they are attempting to do thev drift in here from about every quarter of the globe. some are frora our local art schools. Many or tbem come over here from New York T have iuet had visits from two English men. both better trained fellows so Tar as understandiI the craft goes, than the majority of the Americans who call on me.
 aon one occasion not long ago young woman from far western city turned m with a lot of crude wash draWings. From what she said I am sure her ram ilv had made great sacrihces to send her cast. in the hope that she would ma immediate employment and get the mag nifcent remuneration, which, as they had read. a few women illustrators receive She was pretty, vivacious ana lnteih- pent She had about half learned to draw in the home art school, but knew noth- ing of decorative design, nothing or ms tory. nothing of literature or life. She simply wasn't up to the job of taking the manuscript of distinguished au- thor and making an accurate decorative interpretation of it. What could De ex- pected of such "a girl but that sue Will go back home after few weeks strug- gle. convinced that there is favorltism and nreiudice among eastern publishers
 Here is simply an example of what we are constantly encountering. rms mousse, like great many others. gives employ ,nent to number of Illustrators, and It ,rieht give employment to still others, fer we sometimes issue books which would contain drawings if we knew Just fine right person to make them The sent opportunities for book decora- ti,n-that's what it really is-exceed the number of thoroughly trained people.
 Difficulties to Be Met.
 The increasing difficulty of being good illustrator is also emphasized by c Howard Walker. the architect and designer who directs the department Of design in the school of the Museum of Fine Arts in this city. MT. Walker re- marks
 .ccnversation with publishers has con viuced me that while the illustrator has greater chance for work than he had 10 years ago. because there are more publishing houses and because it is more generally recognized that illustrat d Looks sell best, still the requirements of the profession have increased, perhaps even more rapidly. Illustration has c''rno rn,,, Q and more to demand broad know ledge of decorative design as well as the ability to draw the human figure. 'ic among the Christmas books in any or the stores and notice how not only the DooK -ayers vii c1l are so attractive nowd-