New-York tribune., 1909-09-26
Jg3e GTeAD}9otk griblQ9Qss
SUNDAY. SEPTEMBER 2d. 1879.

- NiA1. Sci EMHl-H ~, i5'Ei
T,.o af the lady novcIiSt>" Of ngland have
l...ntly announced their retirement from the
tanks OF active authors They both give the
same explanation of their action. Literature. +
or. at any rate, the writing of novels, does not /
hrus llr-c enough returns in fame or cash. II
j. Ia" bad but the London saturday Re
Vi.'W" tarty observes, that is the worst OF
"tlaking literature profession, instead OF
simply writing People who simply write have
never need 10 retire, even for an advertise
"m.ent" The point is one on which much has
been said i'll this place In season and out OF !
season we have protested against the practice
Of literature as Il money making trade. But,
the Industrious novelist may retOrt. Il never
'Wrntc line with mcrcenary purpose. am
nothing if not an artist And yet, though my
first book Il success. l have never made
'cnnugh ont of the half dozen l have written
since to pay my butchers bill" To this paint
there I, an answer which may seem severe but
is n Y quite reasonable. What makes the
novel. in question think that he has had it in
him L. write more than one pasSable book?
Having done that. ne is often in duty bound 10
turn tn some humdrum occupation, whereby he
may earn his bread and butter with sef-re-
Spect Instead. he fancieS that the production
al a single readable story authorizes him to
devote himself to creative work" This is one
of the drolleSt and most pitiable Of fallacies.
For tx years Mr. +. T. Cook has been Occu-
pied in collaboration With Mr.. Alexander We'd
trrlurn. in making detinitive edition of the
writings Of John RuSkin. They have practically
completed their gigantic task and in paper
contributed to The Pail Mall Magazine" Mr..
Cock tells OF his experiences in putting the
twoScorc stout volumes together incidentally
he exhibits some of the traits of his author.
auuns them his tirelcsS pursuit of the right
word or sentence \ good illustration is drawn
from the stones Of Venice Read first one
of the rejected versions of the opening passage
Ul hat work
Sine, the first dominion of men was asserted
over the sea, well the EARTH Three
Thrones have been founded upon its sands, the
thrones of Tyre Venice, and England. Two 0f
these great powers have departed; of one only
;h' memory remains; of the second the ruins
AMI the third will in vain have inherited their
greatness if it cannot take warning from their
example.
Many writer would be content if he could
turn lines as effective these. But Ruskin
tried again, and yet again, and finally decided
upon the following:
Since first the dominion of men was asserted
over the ocean, three thrones of mark beyond
al others. have been set upon its sands: the
thrones of Tyre Venice, and England OF the
First Of these great powers only the memory
remains: of the Second. the ruin; the Third.
Nhich inherits their greatness if it forget their
example may be led through prOuder eminence
t. less piticG destruction.
Precious is this glimpse into the workshop
of a great artist. The beginner in letters and,
fnr that matter the mature writer, might we'll
'roft by long pondering on this example of
zeal in the perfccting OF style.