The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1913-09-05
An
Author Publisher
B. ANDREW G. EWING

Leslie Robinson was the ZOE Of Q
~publisher. His father said to him one
day when the boy was much elated at
being made editor Of the high school
Banner: my boy, don't get the Liter.
ary fever. A great many catch It, and
only those recover in whom the liter
airy parasites find nothing to feed on.
I fear you have just enough talent for
writing to make you uncomfortable all
your life"
Alas, the young are not so constitut-
ed as to take the advice Of the old
Perhaps this is best as it ID. 1t is not
success that brings happiness; 1t d
striving for success. But in literary
work for all but one In a million there
are constant disappointments.
Young Robinson was 30 unfortunate.
according to bis fathers idea. when he
went to college 40 to be made editor
Of the university magazine. His es-
says received the highest marks. He
was unconscious Of the fact that the
reason they took high rank was. be-
cause those with which they competed
were Of no value 40 literary produc-
lions.
Nj. Robinson, sr., died while his
son was In college. The publishing
business, BY the late owners in5unc-
ton, wa to be carried on. TIN Leslie
was graduated. BY the Junior partner.
after which the son was to manage the
interests he had inherited He proved
30 have business capacity and soon b.
came the brains Of the establishment
| Perhaps if Leslie Robinson had apr
preciated bis business talents he might
have lost his desire for literary emil
nenca. He considered himself rather
born TO literature than to business.
Finding time to manage . publishing
house and scribble, at the same time
he did both. He sent articles to the
m~agaxines, and they we're always ac-
cepted. They were good articles. %
that It was not necessary for Mr.. Rob
inson to ask how much their accept
ance was due to their merit and how
much to their having been offered BY
the head Of the publishing house Of
Robinson 4 Co.
After awhile Mr.. Robinson brought
ont a novel. It was accepted BY the
frst publisher to whom it was Offer
ed. Robinson scorned to publish It
himself. He said that the test Of a
good book IL that a business man
will risk his money on It 1t cost sew
eral thousand dollars to get out an
edition Of a book, and unless the article
was Of sufficient merit to insure a re-
turn It would not find q publisher.
He ri sttll young in the business or
he would have known that the higher
the type the less the profit. The poet
Browning would have starved had he
been forced to live on the income he
derived from his poems.
Robinson published several books,
one after another. He did not succeed
In becoming well known az an author.
but had nc dificulty In securing pub
fishers for what he wrote. By and
BY the publishers began to ask him
to give them his hooks for publication
This was q long step to the front
Leslie was very proud Of himself.
Those associated with him In business
asked him why IL his books were val.
liable to other publishers they were
not valuable to him He replied that
to publish his own works would make
It appear that he could not get any
other house to take the risk Of do
ing 10.
Robinson married a girl with a good
deal Of horse nj It did not re-
quire a long time for her to see that
her husband was an excellent business
man. She knew that persons are apt
not to value what they are born to and
are easily pulled up with a little sue.
cess at what they do tndinerently
we'll. One day she had the, temertty
to tell her husband that he was nat.
urally fitted for business-indeed. It
was his natural vocation.
IA dispute arose between them
which ended in an agreement that the
next novel offered by him should be
under an assumed name. Robinson
WINGED ut thts suggestion made BY his
wife. for he knew the value OF q name.
but be admitted that Il his novel had
not sufficient merit TO 6nd Q pubtisher
without hi, name Il could not Re q
literary gem. At any rata. b VA
willing to abide BY the test
His work was sent drst 20 the put.
Usher who had thus Tar put ont all
6ia books. Within week II was
returned With Q printed suna vailable"
$500 k1 80 Sec AZ