The Washington herald., 1907-07-28
FROM WOMAN'S
POINT OF VIEW

It seems incredible that the author OF at
least sixty widely-read novels, many of
which have been dramatized, could be in
such need as that reported Of an English
writer. Yet after hearing the reasons
for her fall from prosperity, absolute ig
norance Of the value Of money, and OF
business methods. faint inkling Of the
havoc extravaganza and foolish invest
ments might create dawns upon the minds
of most OF US.
It is quite possible 10 be so gifted in one
direction as 10 be totally lacking in an
other. but even genius is supposed to
know enough 10 secure the services Of
some person possessing the qualities de-
sired The writer Of books should be
freed from the necessity Of doing the bus
mess necessary to putting them into the
hands of the reading and paying public.
/ / know that authors rights have been
badly protected by law. but that handicap
has been overcome sometimes by clever
/ commercial brains. The era Of dram,
atized novels should have found authors
/ prepared 10 offer their own dramatlza-
/ tons before the pirates became too active.
/ There are a few honorable persons in the
+ business world. and authors have suf-
! fered' by not dealing with them. know
! of two instances where probable comfort
table royalties were lost by the bad judg
ment Of authors. An English author was
! approached by an American dramatist
who had successful star TO take play
based upon a novel he had written. The
author proved his lack Of business sense
by debating terms no dramatist would
consider. and the play was never made.
The star is now dead. and the dramatist
is too busy with more pliable authors TO
even think OF that one again
The other case dealt with an American
writer Of clever stories. She also had an
/ exaggerated opinion Of her own work,
and her literary prominence. and proved
It by refusing a reasonable proposition.
Her story IS still awaiting the hand of
the dramatist, who has as little business
ability as herself. Talent without COM
mcreiaI sense may be remunerative, but
when it is, all the credit belongs TO
chance. A far-sighted manager usually
takes such persons in tow and makes
money for both sides.
In the natural order Of things. prosper
ity cannot last forever. The exceptions
prove the rule. It is the height Of folly
to ignore the future-the certainty Of the
present Is about all Of which we can feel
sure. There are no governments with
good memories to put all deserving men
and women on their pension lists, and
helping hands among the masses are all
too few. The only sure independence is
the Ope We build for ourselves, by savings
well cared for.
The craze for speculation has swept
away the savings Of a multitude. What
we fail to grasp Is the meager chance for
winning, and the self-evident fact that
every person who wins does so through
the losses Of others. The trained speeu-
lator cannot win all the time, so what
chance has the man or woman completely
I ignorant of the game? Imagine a woman
passing over 500 20 a man whom she be-
Heves is going to swell 1t into $4,000,
Where would the money be obtained, pro-
vided her dream came true?
The disdain for small profits allows
many a man to overlook good Hvings. The
humble calling Of fish dealer. depending
wholly upon a house-to-house trade. does
not seem very imposing, but one man,
who has stuck t. that business for years.
has managed to accumulate two or three
houses and 4 pleasure vehicle, living COM
fortably anG prettily all the while. 1t is
needless 10 say that he is not Of the spec
ulating class. I know a dozen cases OF
similar thrift, but there should be thou
sands instead of dozens. This country Of
fers exceptional business opportunities