The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-12-28
GREAT LITERARY FEATS.
American Author Wrote One Thous-
and Novels in Forty Years.
UIondon Tit Bits.)

NOndOn Tit Bits.)
It has been claimed for the elder
Dumas, though it is open to doubt,
that he wrote twenty-three novels in
a single year.
This meant a steady output of more
than 1,250, 900 words, a feat OF author
ship all the more remarkable when the
high literary quality of the stories is
taken into account 1t is wonderful
that Dumas should have maintained
such an express speed of writing for
so long as a whole twelve months. al
though, of course, other authors have
beaten him in point of speed per novel.
THE Stickit Minister" is said TO have
occupied Mr.. r. S. Crockett only nine
or ten days in actual writing. But
while he was at work on it and ap-
preaching the end there was a break,
and for a considerable time he found
himself logged" and unable to do any
thing with the delightful story; and
Mr.. Crockett, VINO is one of our most
rapid authors, has never exceeded four
novels a year.
Mr.. Prentis Ingraham, the American
author, long before his death a year
ago, succeeded in breaking the record
attributed to Dumas. In the course Of
forty years authorship Mr.. 1ngrahan
turned out the amazing number of 1000
novels. aggTegating some $4,000, 900
WOrds--tWenty-five novels a year for
fcrty yearsl His most successful novel,
which went into many large editions,
was written with a pen within a fort
night, at an average rate of 10000
words day. In later years, by dictat-
ing to shorthand writers. Mr.. Ingra-
ham found he could easily increase his
fs.Rw1 Ev,r4F Of tV4Cr
the five or six years prior to his death.
at the age OF so, he frequently turned
out 10000 words in an eight-hour day
by employing three or four secretaries.
who took 1T In turns to rest and work
while he went rapidly debating to
them. In this way, on one occasion,
he received a commission to write a
60,000-Word serial story on. a Monday
began work On it on the Tuesday and
sent the complete manuscript to the
publishers on the Friday OF the same
week.
What is probably the greatest feat Of
rapid journalism on record was per-
formed by that prince Of journalists,
Sir Edward Russell. SIR Edward re
ceived private and exclusive news Of
thu death of Edwin Arnold, and knew
he had the subject matter for what
American journalists call a "beat,"
and most British journalists style a
SCOOP" It was 1880 o'clock in the
evening when he got the news, and
anything he might write needed to be
written and sent of by train at 8
o'clock. In one hour and twenty min
utes Sir Edward had turned out three
and three-quarter columns of DiOg-
raphical and leading articles for his
paper-between 1900 and 5000 words.
Mention of biography reminds US.
somewhat paradoxically perhaps, Of
what is the most pathetic literary rec
ord-Ceneral Grants writing of his
famous autobiography, the profits Of
which are said to have amounted to
very large sum. IN the year before he
died Grant was ruined by the failure
of the bank in which he was a part
ner, and he turned to writing hts life
story as q means OF partly redeenning
his fortune. He was III the midst Of his
work when he fell i'll. and the doctors
admitted to him that he had cancer Of
the mouth and nothing could save
him. In this intolerable situation, suf-
fering the fortunes only that dreaded
cancer can infiict, longing TO die yet
praying to live, if only TO complete his
autobiography SO as not to leave his
wife penniless, the great general strug-
gled on day after day, week after week,
writing the thrilling and distinguished
life" which was ending in such cruel
circumstances. And he accomplished
his heroic task. Two or three days
fer he had written "Finis" and laid
down his pen peace came to him,
though he died without knowing that
by his bravery in his agony of. mind
and body he had made his dearly-loved
wife a wealthy woman.