New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-07-09
Literary .Netes and Criticism

the average author. Probably he knew
that q success like his depended upon
genius like his. The recipient OF his ao-
vice had some classical apt;tudes, ana
| he was amiahly willing TO admit that
these might help. but he was strong
advocate of the authors having another
string TO his bow. In the first place
he writes. Il must say that the life OF
man of letters is of all others the most
precarious unless he is bred TO some
profession He must depend either on
patrons or booksellers. and the former
will be regulated by their own caprice,
the latter by their interest and the
! caprice of the public" He returns 10
this point more than once. He VIII 90
what he can for the RspiTant to q Hter-
arv career; he will aid him in coming
forward as candidate fo1 the post OF
I librarian in the Advocates Library at
I Edinburgh, but always he Will have MIN
remember that 1.-The difficulty Of provid-
/ ing for A mere man of letters having no
professional character is extremely
great. whereas when he is once invested
with such qualification his literary
character brings him into notice. and
soon Cunless there is misconduct or I'M
usual bad luck) procures him pro-
vision. probably q handsome one" The
old man even cites his own case, saying:
Il will add that l myself detested the
profession OF the bar to which 1 was
bred up Yet had I resigned ii, what
I,r-
get me some paltry sinecure- But re-
manning at the bar my situation gave
them the power of providing for me to
the extent Of my wishes"
He felt that If his protege were in or
tders his literary future would only be
the more secure. TO say nothing Of the
fact that the bear leaders Of young
noblemen in those days were generally
clerics. and, he says, Il should imagine
you would like TO travel for two or three
years with an intelligent young man"
adding that sit is an employment which
has often been the foundation Of indie
pendence to men of letters" Once more
| he sends a check, this time for 20
guineas, delicately offering the young
IIldu d CuS4lSc ~ repay Inc illOAicS DS
copying a manuscript for him. but in the
same letter he thus reiterates his plea
/ for the adoption Of some profession:
The number of iIlustrious names In the
/ Church the owners OF which have risen
/ from circumstances of Indulgence and diff
/ Guilty is one of her proudeSt hOnours- The
! patronage is in some degree vested in the
universities which is so favourable for a
young scholar Of your high attachments.
I therefore cannot but regret that you do
not turn Your thoughts that way for the
( clerical character far from impeding your
way literary man is peculiarly favour
. able TO IL A man Of business even q Ia w
! yer does not take any advantage from lit
eraTy requirements they are on the con-
/ trary sometimes supposed TO divert him
the reputation of possessing them is posi-
! tive disadvantage. But in q clergyman lit
erary talent is always graceful, becoming
and suited 10 his character. And in gen
eral by attracting attention and patronage
they secure advancement
! To live the life of mere author for
that can be encountered. Booksellers like
other men drive the best bargains they
can and with those who have no indepen-
dent means Of support they make them
very narrow indeed and sometimes contrive
/ 10 evade fulfilling them. Besides they be
/ come masters of your time ana your talent
| as well as dict1tors of the subjects on
which they are TO he employed and work
ing under their direction a man who has
! got a reputation is in all probability forced
/ upon some undertaking unfavourab bic TO his
l talents by which he loses it And those
/ who may be disposed to befriend him have
scarce the means of doing so since he does
not possess the ch6rac ter and sort of edu-
cation which enables a man to get for
/ ward 4 clergyman may be befriended-
/ he may get a living-a lawyer he may get
! an office-a soldier he may be promoted in
. the service. But the mere man OF letters
/ possesses no qualify whatsoever upon
which he can pretend 10 a certain. line Of
advancement-celG ne tire rien the
/ French say.
There is a pathetic touch in one of
the letters, written in May, 1917. 81
was very near bidding the world good
night in the month of March," he
says and when my physicians COM
manded me 10 get TO Abbotsford and
remain quiet they positively interdicted
! me the use of pen and ink. and. indeed,
my head was for 2 long time too giddy
to make il easy for me TO write letters. -
How like him il was to write them the
moment he was well enough, and for his
/ letters to be full OF strength and COM
/ fort for his correspondent. Gallant Sir