The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-01-22
THE TOP ROUND
Of THE LADDER.

| eN9NiuN NVtAt tuIuh@s HAN luWANVA
eschcw the drudgcry cf editorial worl
and strike at once Into authorship. Bu
| one man In her native village was sur
| ncicntly Intellectual TO secure hc
friendship. Curtis Forster a younl
physician who had studied his profcs
sion In town and returned TO practlc,
Il In the country. He was ploddin,
and practical, He strongly advised hel
to choose role Offering greater chances
Of success. that OF wife aud mother
with himself for the husband. and
when she refused begged her II shs
were unsuccessful to consider tho Offer
stlll open,
She had met with some success by
writing stories for the country papers
and began In hcr new Geld with Others
more finished, II In true, but the same
simple work that had so pleased her
neighbors, Occasionally she would dis.
pose Of one OF them to a magazine,
but at the end OF year after figuring
up her net proceeds she had gained
but twentieth Of her expenditures.
She had brought with her from tho
country bit Of editorial work, which
had remained In the bottom OF hor
trunk. Feeling that she should make
ali effort to add something 10 her In
come for the next year even II II were
nat kv har shnaan ..raa tipa .yneh aha
took out this manuscript. smoothed the
rnmpled pages and looked It over. II
consisted OF a series OF selections from
the most affecting scenes In the works
o. Washington Irving. TO each Of which
she had written brief Introduction,
admirably initiating the authors style.
1t was accepted, and the book made
q 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 nc.
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. Thes commenced scramble
among publishers for the works OF
Camilla Demlng. Success Is crafty
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 1t an opening for her own creations,
She had long had on hand 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 dozen publishers who were now
bounding her for her work. she placed
II In his hands. and II was published
About this time she received note
from DR.. Forster congratulating her
on her progress. She replied In
vein Of exhilaration, giving with
charming naiyete the remark OF ber
last publisher, You will soon be at
the top Of the ladder II you don't mar.
ry," Forster replied, Marry and turn
the ladder upside down"
The novel was success. Though
not as successful as the two previous
books, still II sold well. Camilla wait.
ed before entering upon any new work
I'LL this fact had been established
taen went to her publisher for a con,
ference. He told her that there was
4 demand for q work like her previous
o1es and suggested that she take up
Thackeray and extract scenes as she
had done with Irving.
Somehow the advice fell on Camilla
Ike wet blanket. She was at turn
ng point In her career, What should !
she dol She felt the need of some one
Ia whom she had confidence to assist !
her In seeing the problem In Its true
light. Packing her belongings she took
. train for home. Arriving there, she (
'ent for DR.. Forster, stated her case
Ind asked his advice. lie took copy I
" each Of her three books and prom.
sed to see her when he had carefully
'ead them In few days he called
Ipon her with his report, which she
veil knew would be the plain, unvar.
iished truth:
"The sale OF your first two books
vas based on the genius Of another
In order to secure that
which they were sure Of selling, so
iattered you that they partly con-
Iinced you that your success was
nrgely due to your own effort. Your
.ovel is pleasing, but not work of
;enius."
Camilla drew long sigh-the sigh
4 one bitterly disappointed.
Camilla" the doctor went on,
what Is this you lament--that you
re not pre-eminent In creating imagi-
Iary beings who are intended to move
'efore us like real people, enact their
riumps and weep at their failures?
I Is a noble field, ] admit a field In
which there have been but few real
masters, but there is nober one. In
t the characters are real and come
rom the great Creator. II Is a field
lto which | would myself gladly en-
Nr IL you would consent to enter 1t
With me. IL you will abandon the