The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-16
MARTYRS To THE Publishers,
\ Few COnfessOrs Of Pure Liter sture..
stu on View

To THE Editor or THE SuN-Sir.
nave never yet seen SO cold b!ooded
statement of the sordld aspect Of litera-
ture IN America as that very clearly
and with splendid logic set forth In the
letter signed co T." II his statements
represent the attitude OF editors in gen
eral toward authors. those among us who
etili want 10 obey the true instinct that
mas man do his best in anything he
undertakes had better break up our tyne
writers ana become barkeepers. There
~ less knavery about an honest disdain
Tor morality than a hideous pretcuce of
oelng literary craftsman and turning
out stun written 10 pander 10 the preju-
dices OF "stratums" OF readers
Rut II Is impossible that so narrow a
view should stand Ne consensus Of cdi-
torial opinion II Is merely the majority
standpoint. There II n noble minority
made I'M 81 enlightened. progressive and
independent publishers. who are sworn to
bear their shields unstaiucd through this
bitter struggle that H. now on between
brazen greed for money and the eternal
truths and beauties of art with them
rests The hope OF the survival In America
or upright talent devoted to the preser-
walton Of its ideals. They cncourag. good
literature. even to their own comne REAL
loss. and spend on publishing what they
gain from other sources
II looks as Il II was n difficult problem
business and not help demorali7e the pub
lie. Most or the hooks and magazine arti-
cles that are heing read now had far bet
ter blush unseen" than litter the hool;
stores, and the deterioration of the men
who make science of editing stun that
may always filter downward I'm the scale
Of society and he eagerly read nv the UNI
lettered. 10 their encouragement IN int
eracy, IS something To be sorry about
Perhaps there are few such mon in the
editorial chairs Of magazines as Stedmau
Wills, Adrich and the noble little army
Of our literary pioneers but there are "A
few. While llowells lives At least a little
spot OF their ancient territory IL safe for
the authors who live to write. not write
To live. VI II has come To this. that A man
must either he subserVient about his ideas
NO l. editors and ask humbly lust what
Is good for money and what is not ire
spcctiNo OF the literary worth Of his croa-
tons then had not an honest writer brs'
do what Emerson suggested, write his
best, to please himself. and teach. farm.
mine and speculate in oil and steel II need
he To get spending money for his family
There is an old fashioned word spelled
! duty that moves certain men and women
In action, What they feel and believe.
that will they say to the world II they
are driven To put II forth ut their own
expense. stu will they utter it If all
the vehicles Of literary expression are sold
to Cesar, then they will continually begin
the publication OF good LITTLE magazines
that will contain "A few fine things before
they fade away and perish of hunger. So
long as just few magazines are left that
want pure literature writer's who try
10 do their best will earn IN IN ir employ
the little money necessary to their modest
maintenance and live to write
NEW foRk, April ~. f. II, w.