The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-05-07
The Ideal and
The Practical
By EDITH v. ROSS

OSlllZe as something that appeals to
him strongly. but he would not stop
to ask why. Even such Il gift may be
Il long While in securing recognition,
and the chances seem to be largely III
favor Of its never attaining it. The
public is the final judge in such mat
ters. ald the public is often slow III
making Il decision.
When Wickersham first began to
write he was told that he must write
something original. This was exactly
what he was fitted to do. and he did it.
He was disappointed in the result.
Those who had advised him to produce
original matter forgot to remind him
that he must educate Il clientele to ap-
preciatc the novelty. Meanwhile the
literary space in the periodicals and
other mediums was occupied by the
commonplace.
Then Wickersham was told that
what publishers wanted was ONE
thing on a subject which the people
were discussing. 1t was explained to
him that advertisement was essential,
and a work On such Il subject was
largely self advertised. So Wicker
sham chose Il theme that was upper
most in the minds of the public and
treated it in an original fashion.
Again he was disappointed. He could
not find a publisher. Why? My dear
fellow explained an editor, you lean
to one side of the question. Your work
will offend every one on the other
side" Another said. You are constant
ly firing over the heads Of the people"
Wickersham was in despair. All his
instructions had come to naught.'
Then when his failure was complete
he lad no more sense than to get mar
ried. His wife was as pretty as a
peach. very practical and had the fac
ulty of making herself liked. When
she married Wickersham he had had
for months a book on the stands the
publication for which he had paid.
There was no sale for 1.-The Wander
err" and the copies which were begin
ming to get soiled were being returned
to the publisher.
II think will try to do something
with that book to get 1t introduced"
said Mrs. Wickersham to her husband.
Have you read it?"
Read it? No. 1t wouldn't do any
good for me to read it. What is want
ed is to sell it,"
Mrs. Wickersham had an intimate
friend, Mrs. Singleton, who was Mt the
head of the literary department of a
women's club. She took the book to
this lady, asked her as q favor to read
1t and recommend it to her friends.
| Mrs. Singleton happened to he n cal
culated to appreciate Wickersham's
genius. She did more than recommend
the book to her friends; she delivered
a lecture ON 1t one afternoon In the
clubhouse. Anything Mrs Singleton
said about n book was not d%isputable
among the members of the club.
Presently there srrang up a demand
for 1.-The Wandcrcr." This dcm'nd oc'
Cured in the cts where Mrs. Single
ton reigned Is literary queen. \ few
of the women who read 1t appreciated
It, but it mattered not to those who
failed to do so, for since Mrs. Singleton
had put her stamp on 1t none Of the
others would dare condemn it, for they
would thereby condemn themselves for
lack of appreciation. The calls for
THE Wanderer'' at the stands in
creased. and presently a new edition
was necessary to supply the demand.
One morning Wickersham woke UP
to find himself famous. Mrs. Wicker
sham was famous. too. not only for
being the wife Of a famous man, but
because she was the first to discover
bis genius, Mrs. Singleton being the
second person. Mrs. Wickersham bore
her honors modestly. She did not take
the trouble to read her husbands book.
for she would no more understand 1t
after the public had put Its stamp of
approval on it than before. There was
no necessity for her to read 1t. When
persons congratulated her on her. hus-
bands success and her w discern
ment Of his genius she looked modest
and said nothing. What Is there for a
person to say when complimented:
Anything said is calculated to do harm
rather than good. Mrs. Wickersham
stood pat Among the many persons
who congratulated her there was not
one who knew that she had never read
a word Of her husbands book.
Mrs. Wickersham got out all her nus
bands unpublished manuscripts and
offered them to publishers. They were
snapped up greedily. A taste for Wick
ersham's work was gradually growing
upon the public. and the sale of his
books increased proportionately. Mean
while he wrote q new n and II day
Informed his wife that he had given 1t,
to u publisher for publication.
"At what royalty?" asked the lady.
royalty? don't know. suppose
the usual royalty"
albert" his wife exclaimed. "you
are the stupidest man In America"
Then she visited the publisher In
question and returned with a cont,nct
to pay her husband double the usual
royalty.
Wickersham remained famous for a
time. Then his fame began to wane.
- 49, - ---A