The sun., 1919-07-06

- Perhaps some review of his career
will serve as guide 20 lo-day's writer's
particularly 10 to-day's young writers-or
may have value as a contemporary study
for future critics of Ketrhs work; and it
will give, in any case. some account of a
pleasant personality and an earnest, hard
worker
Ketch was graduated at twenty-five
from one of our universities. He had
made his first appearance in print in the
pages of his colleges magazine, where a
poem, To AmdrylIis, was published This
beginning led 20 further contributions
Terse, ESSAYS and short stories - to the
Same sheet. In his senior year Ketch ed
tied the paper, presided over the colleges
literary society, and was voted the best
read man in his class.
Naturally enough, after graduation
John Ketch determined on the profession
OF letters. He was bound TO write, yet a
means of livelihood must be had. Thanks
TO letters from several of his professors,
whose books had been published under IFS
imprint, he obtained an introduction to
and eventually "A position as reader with
one Of our leading publishing houses.
II.
4 young man with aspirations to a lit
erary career must naturally he somewhat
appalled, when his first editorial work is
the correction for acccntuation and divi-
si"r into syllables of every word in a
series of spelling books designed for use in
grade schools. Such was ketch's first Job
ManfUliy he struggled through it, vowing
AS he completed the manuscript of each
book that he would quit his job and be
come Il bond salesman.
Ii was a proof of John ketch's sense of
humor and of another quite nameless ster-
ling virtue he possessed that set of those
spoilers always adorned his bookshelves.
This job was the hardest of his whole
career. Verifying the answer 10 every
problem in set of Arithmetics came
after the virus of publishing had entered
too deeply into his veins for him ever to
do anything that did not concern books.
Had this task Immediately followed work
on the spoilers the world had lost an
author.
Reading manuscripts he found less diff
ticult and far mere ENJOYABLE. One rather
striking thing in this connection he con-
fided TO me in connection with his salary
of SO week. 1T wasn't that the manu-
scripts were any good said Ketch, land
/ imagine that the powers that were knew
1t ard paid readers accordingly; but sup
pose had really been Il Sl5 a week man
and good thing had come in and |
hadn't known it and declined it
III.
Manuscript reading continued for about
a year, at the end of which time Ketch
obtained some reviewing TO do for one of
the city's greatest newspapers. There was
small pay for this too. but such as it was
il made a useful addition to his now
slightly increased salary. Given his first
book for review, Ketch had visions of
Inv Dbb htlhN llat Noulu ldN
the foundation of reputation.
Here enters the first SION in his work
that poir'' toward his Ultimate success
and his Z, yer financial realization of that
success. He had written 200 splcndidlv
impresslonistic words on this fist novel
for review. Then he read carefully the
page of the newspaper on which his re-
vlCw was to appear. He promptly threw
his manuscript into the scrap basket, re-
wrote the review precisely in his news
papers manner, copied it on his employ
er's typewriter, mailed it, saw it in print.
and received his check in payment. More
books for review were sent him. He han
dleG them in like manner. Then he was
appointed one Of the newspapers staff
reviewers.
Meanwhile Ketch's position in the pub
fishing house had improved. A magazine
Of b;,,, Il, -, -. -