New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-19
Rv EDWARD CHILDs CARPENTER.

MY experience has simply proved
wi the virtue Of the old adage, 70
the effect that the surest way OF
achieving success is to concentrate
upon one objective point with all the
force OF continuous effort. As Ebert
Hubbard expressed IT: MANY a man
has thrown up his hands at time
when a little more effort, Nttle
more patience, would have acnieFed
success. There Is no failure
except in no longer trying. mere IS
no defeat except from within, no really
insurmountable barrier save our own
inherent weakness OF purpose.
Nv faith has always been pinned 70
tho idea that IL stuck at the work long
enough and did the best J knew sooner
or later would turn out suecessIu'
play.
But success is not, as so many seem 20
believe, the realization OF few con
crete hopes or ambitions. u goes FAR
deeper. II Is IN the nature oil sell
discovery. You have always hoped, be-
Eeved. that il was in you. Now YOU
know. IL is reinsurance. lt gives you
a foothold-not only market wise, 9ut
more importantly--upon the ladder OF
YOUR craft, and a surer sense, OF the
course YOU must follow. For success
is only the beginning not the END.
OF course, am not writing Of the
so-cailed mushroom" success, when
occasionally occurs Overnight-one OF
those happy occasions when some FORT
unate youth who is possessed, per-
haps, Of genius finds himself tossed
from an evening Of oblivion into the
sunlight of instantaneous triumph
But even in these sporadic cases can
not but think that continued and non
est effort was after all piled up be-
hind that seemingly immediate ar
rival. that attainment Of halo Of cleo
trio lights. am not a believer III
accidental achievement
But | am DEPRESSING. Ny subject
lies with the Woodworking vigilsnt
playwright. whose long fidelity 70 his
craft has finally won him his. spurs.
But that once accomplished, nc
hsrdcst-not the easiest-work lies be-
fore him, If he is possessed OF a
craftsman's conscience. a sense OF re
sponsibility 20 himself. In this light,
the phrase winning his spurs" takes
on a new significance. Those spurs
are meant 70 be used by the playwright
upon himself. They arc TO goad HIM
on TO doing his best.
However unpretentious his SUGGEST
ful play may be. the playwright ha 2
established for himself standard.
In the future, II he has any conscience
whatever, be must write up 10 that
standard, II he cannot better II
This is no easy tssk--n0t because
Of any lack Of ability-indeed. tho
stimulation Of success should make
the work easier than ever before
but your own human weakness stands
in the way. With success comes the
demand for your plays. IA demand suf-
fcient 20 keep you busy for years.
Naturally, then. the great temptation
il first 70 turn 10 the "barrcl," % take
from Il your earlier plays, and market
them Immediately. And at that happy
hour. when your work il in such lively
demand, you will no doubt be able
20 place plays which were never con
sideied worth producing, and are, OF
course, no vorthier Of production now.
II 10 hundred 20 one that not a
single play drawn from the barrel is
up 20 the standard Of success you
have just "put over" II Is possible
that one or more may be worth some
thing either In plot or treatment. bu,
since you wrote them you have ad.
yanetd In experience and knowledge
Therefore, they should be rewritten
from your new point Of view before
putting them before the public.
Another temptation Il 20 accept con
tracts for new plays 20 be written
within such short periods as 20 give
you no time 20 do your work well
70 rush ~ the work IL the surest way
OF falling below your standard. Thoro
- where your responsibility comes in