Connecticut western news., 1908-02-13
THE TOP ROUND @ THE LADDER.
TOriginal.l

sessing some means, she intended to eschew the drudgery of editorial work and strike at once into authorship. But one man in her native village was suf- ficiently intellectual to secure her friendship. Curtis Forster, q young physician who had studied his profess sion in town and returned to practice it in the country. He was plodding and practical. He strongly advised her to choose role offering greater chances of success, that of wife and mother, with himself for the husband, and when she refused begged her If she were unsuccessful to consider the offer still open.
 She had met with some success by writing stories for the country papers and began in her new field with others more finished, it is true, but the same simple work that had so pleased her neighbors. Occasionally she would dis pose of one of them to q magazine, but at the end of year after figuring up her net proceeds she had gained but a twentieth of her expenditures.
 She had brought with her from the country bit of editorial work, which had remained ill the bottom of her trunk Feeling that she should make an effort to add something to her in- come for the next year even if 1t were not by her chogen creative work, she took out this manuscript smoothed the rumpfed pages and looked 1t over. 1t consisted of series of selections from the most affecting scenes in the works of Washington Irving, to each of which she had written brief introduction, admirably initiating the authors style.
 It was accepted. and the book made a hit The authors income for the year from this source was equal to her expenditures. Her publisher suggest ed the writing of another similar book made up of extracts from the humor of a noted author.
 The publishers suggestion was ac- companied by so handsome an offer that she accepted. The second book was more popular than the first and the proceeds derived many times lar ger. Then commenced q scramble among publishers for the works of Camilla Deming. Success is gratify ing in any form. and the young author was very much delighted with hers. She did not now consider her work simply editorial. At any rate, she saw in it an opening for her own creations.
 She had long had on hand a novel which from time to time she had sub mitted to publishers, then revised and submitted again, always with the same result-"Unavailable Selecting one of a dozen publishers who were now bounding her for her work, she placed it in his hands, and 1t was published immediately.
 s,About this time she received a note from Dr. Forster congratulating her vein of exhilaration, giving with charming naivete the remark of her last publisher, You will soon be at the top of the ladder if you don't mar ry." Forster replied, Marry and turn the ladder upside down."
 The novel was a success. Though not as successful as the two previous books, still 1t sold we'll. Camilla wait ed before entering upon any new work
 
 then vent to her publisher for a con ference. He told her that there was a demand for work like her previous ones and suggested that she take up Thackeray and extract scenes as she had done with Irving.
 Somehow the advice fell on Camilla like wet blanket. She was at turn ing point in her career. What should she do? She felt the need of some one in whom she had confidence to- assist her in seeingathe problem in its true light. Packing her belongings, she took a train for home. Arriving there, she sent for pr. Forster, stated her case and asked his advice. He took copy of each of her three books and prom ised to see her when he had carefully read them. In a few days he called upon her with his report, which she well knew would be the plain, unvar- nished truth:
 "The sale of your first two books was based on the genius of another. Publishers, in order to secure that which they were sure of selling, so f1attered you that they partly con- vinced you that your success was largely due to your own effort. Your novel is pleasing, but not work of genius"
 Camilla drew a long sigh-the sigh of one bitterly disappointed.
 Camilla" the doctor went on. "what is this you lament-that you are not pre-eninent in creating imagi- nary beings who are intended to move before us like real people. enact their triumps and weep at their failures? It is noble field, I admit, field in which there have been but few real masters, but there is a/ nobler one. In it the characters are real and come from the great Creator. It is 2 field into which I would myself gladly en- ter if you would consent to enter 1t with me. If you will abandon the fictitious and take up the real, your characters will be a husband who adores you and children whose being is not the fanciful emanation of your brain but part of yourself. The