The Topeka state journal., 1908-07-03
FROA OTHER PENS
THE WRITING TRADE.


The trade of writing, as well as the
profession of letters,is much more high
ly paid in the twentieth century than
ever before in the history of the world,
and the rewards for both mediocrity
and genius promise to be larger in the
future than they are in the present.
AS the captains of industry have
brought to highly specialized condi-
tion the market for brains that spell
achievement in the various fields of in
dustrial enterprise, the publishers have
specialized the market for brains that
produce anything that the ever-widen-
ing public will read. Here Is a market
for blank verse poetry, and there
place where limericks are bought at so
much a line; here house that deals
in the output of the novelist, and there
a hole-in-the-wall where the dramatist
may submit his wares to purchasers
who may make him famous In night
and rich in a twelvemonth, and who
are sufficiently hard driven by COM
petition to keep a keen eye peeled for
whatever bids fair to touch the popular
taste. The commercialization of writ
ing may cause lovers OF literature to
lament, but it has opened most fruit
full field of endeavor to writer folk of
every class.
Mark Twain's earnings amount to al
most 81, 900 000-an amount that many
persons, mistakenly, assert cannot be
honestly made in commerce in life
time. This shows how much richer the
field of humor is today than 1t was
century or a few centuries ago. George
Bernard Shaw might have remained
clerk if the possibilities for getting
money returns were no greater than
those that were offered when Terence
and Plautus wrote. Mr.. Dooley is vast
ly better paid than the Athenian phil
osophers, and Wallace Irwin is much
more handsomely remunerated than
was the brilliant but now almost for
gotten Winthrop Mackworth Praed.-
Louisville Courier-Journal.
CHEAP EUROPEAN POSTAGE.
No possible reason exists why two
cent postage should not be established
at once by the United States with ev-
cry European country that VIII accept
this reduction. The present interna-
tional five cent rate was established
little over 40 years ago. 1t succeeded
prohibitive rates of twice to five times
as high. There were Asiatic countries
to which the postage on single letter
was IS cents to 81. and some distant
lands to which the foreign rate from
this country was $1-5O.
To the present generation such in
ternational postal rates seem inconceiv-
able: but the five cent rate to all parts
of the world seemed a prodigy when
IT began On the North Atlantic, be-
tween this country and England, the
ave cent rate was profitable from the
start. There is a profit today on 1t
with all Europe. The postoffice should
not be a source of revenue. The pres
ent rate is a grievous tax on the i'm
migrant when he is at his poorest. 1t
adds to the cost of trade. 1t serves no
useful purpose.
Some European countries will refuse
to surrender the revenue they receive
from the five cent rate. but with Eng
land possessing the advantage of the
two cent rate to the United States.
France, Germany and Italy cannot
deny it to their people The United
states has always led in cheap post
age. Our postoffice department. having
secured q two cent rate with England,
should extend it to all Europe as far
as Is feasible.-Philadelph Press.