The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1917-12-28

this feeling, but soon learned that, so
far as the publishers were concerned,
literary merit had little to do with the
matter, and l sought for sellers"
From the editorial chair l sank into
the position of furnisher of that lit
erary fodder on which the public feeds
as a horse eats corn or hay. In this
way managed to keep body and soul
together for ten years. One morning
when / had become somewhat inde-
pendent from having received prompt
pay for grinding out copy the mail
brought me a letter from a publisher
asking me II had anything on hand
In which he would be interested. Sup
posing that the letter was a catch for
printing that | would be expected to
pay for, I returned his letter to him
with the Endorsement that | never
paid the expenses for publication OF
my works. He replied that he would
publish anything OF mine. II at ell, on
a royalty.
Now, if had achieved literary fame
this would not have been surprising.
i
down with feather. Unfortunately
the opportunity. II such it would prove
to be. came too late. had fallen heir
to small property, and the income.
together with what made at produc-
ing literary fodder, supplied my wants.
| was not disposed to write anything
more, taking the risk of its being de-
clined by the publisher, and was sat
isfied that nothing had on hand would
meet the public demand.
My grandmother on my fathers side
had become a chronic invalid and was
confined to her room with nothing to
occupy her. She had never shown any
literary taste, though she had been
voluminous reader of cheap novels.
Some one suggested to the old lady
quite likely to relieve those about her
of the task of keeping up her spirits
that she try her hand at scribbling.
She listened to the suggestion, and
the result was novel in manuscript.
One day when visited the old lady
she suggested that l, being a man Of
belles-lettres-I objected to the term
and suggested literary hack instead
might find a publisher for her novel.
1t happened that this request came a
day or two after | had been asked by
Dowley & Co., publishers, for some of
my work. l told my grandmother that
would submit her novel for her and
took 1t away with me. and without
reading it sent 1t to the Dowleys as
my own work. OF course l expected
that it would be returned with thanks
and an explanation why 1t was not
exactly what the firm was looking for.
Within week | received notice that
my novel. "Arabella's Wooing." was ac-
cepted, and | was offered 10 per
cent royalty. Like fool, ran off to
my grandmother with the news. That
fixed me as the author of "Arabella's
Wooing." The old lady would have
disowned me-and | was down in her
will for $10,00O-had | spoiled the OPP
portunity by confessing my imposition
on the publisher.
/ felt obliged to consent to the pub
LEGATION of my grandmother's work un-
der my own name without havingread
1t. 1t was issued in due time, and I
opened copy Of it. confess, with
dread. But | was not prepared for
what | found in it. Great heavens!
Was this maudlin effort of woman
In her dotage. this hideous effort at
sentiment. to go forth as my work?
Rather would | offend my grandmoth-
err. rather wculd | foregO the legacy.
telephoned Bowling & Co. to know
II the book had been issued, intending.
II 1t had not been. to urge its suppress.
sion. Too late! A first edition of TO-.
300 copies was on the stands.
BY few friends | had been regard
ed as real literary man, and they had
great respect for my opinion OH books.
When these met me after the publica-
bon of "Arabella's Wooing" they tried
% dodge me. What surprised me was
hat some who supposed had good
literary taste congratulated me on nv
very interesting story"
But this was not all. "Arabella's
Wooing" turned out to be best sell
II, aud the royalty paid on it was a
small fortune. My grandmother got |
he fortune, and the modification of
icing responsible for the most ridicu-
GUS piece OF story telling that was
yer published
My grandmother has recently deter
mined to leave all her property m
hality.