Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Literary Experiences Of A Young Man With A Future.
THE LITERARY EXPERIENCES OF A YOUNG MAN WITH A FUTURE .
A SKETCH , BV GARTER . T AM an author . Nothing very extraordinary in that , as from the time I began to - * - walk ancl talk literature was my forte . Nothing was lost on me . Whatever pearls came iu my way I icked up . Mguardians werehoweverdivided as to
p y , , my future career . One side held that authors , artists , and poets were beings of a divinely ethereal order , far removed above the trivialities of dinners and taxes . The other side held that authors , artists , and poets were low people and decidedly objectionable . I myself liked good dinners , hunter ' s yatches , ancl coaches , and all the decencies , refinements , and amenities of life , ancl after several lectures on common sense ( my sense was uncommonthat was what made it so valuable ) I allowed myself to be put
, , to " a place of business . " Being an author , and being clever , it is needless to say I " made the place , " until the Managers , Secretaries , and Deputies began to quarrel at finding they were " nowhere , " ancl that I was " everywhere , " continually cropping up in all the departments , like an Admirable Crichton . Then came a crisis . Either they or I must be Manager , or else I had better go . I had never , candidly and frankly , been particularly in love with the " place" or its associates , and so—I went—deeply
regretted , I was about to say , by all who knew me ; but two poor miserable old clerks actually did wipe away a tear and say I had always had a kind word for them , though , bless my soul and goodness knows , I didn't know it . Then began my literary career . One day I thought I should have all The Worla smiling at me , for " my tale , it was so flattering ; " but on the next day , when my MS . came back with compliments and thanks , I thought , " Ah well , I shall evidently be in Time
appreciated . Society was , however , getting so much like Becky Sharp , that I thought Vanity Fair woidd possibly be the better for my reflections . Vanity Fair was complimentary , but was of opinion that there was a wider field for my moralisations , ancl suggested I shoidd try The Globe . The Globe was full of aspirants , so in the interim , whilst I was waiting , I thought I would console myself with Punch . Punch had grown serious and political , and said if I was going to be flippant , why not try Fun ? Fan said whilst The Times was so bad they shoidd not like to avafl themselves of my valuable services . The Times said I must have patience , but if I was so very quick , why , I might as well be in The Daily Telegraph . The Daily Telegraph thought I was too
aristocratic , and arrogated to myself a Standard of excellence . The Standard said I was evidently very gentlemanly , why not try The Gentleman's Magazine ? The Gentleman ' s Magazine said if I wanted money , why , go and try your luck in Belgravia . Belgravia thought I shoidd no doubt some time or other be sure to be welcome in The Nineteenth Century . But oh , what tedious weary waiting it was , how often ancl how often have I had to go the round of editors and publishers , ancl how often have I not been " declined with thanks" until I became quite an intellectual flirtdistributing
, , my favours amongst Liberals and Conservatives with smiling impartiality ! How disappointed , though , I used to be at finding many of the editorial and publishing offices full of pale , long-suffering humanity , that made my heart sicken within me ! How on earth were they capable of forming an opinion ancl passing judgment on my cogitations , that had taken me study , toil , and genius to work out ? 11 it had not have been for an infinite fund of humour ancl a keen sense of the ridiculousI must literallhave turned
, y sour with disappointment ancl vexation . I lived on air to a great extent , whilst -waiting for the editors to send me guineas . What model letters did I not write to them ? Sometimes , when I felt myself at the top of the tree , in this way , " Herewith is an article I shall be happy to let you have for so many guineas , " —knowing my value , and to the point .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Literary Experiences Of A Young Man With A Future.
THE LITERARY EXPERIENCES OF A YOUNG MAN WITH A FUTURE .
A SKETCH , BV GARTER . T AM an author . Nothing very extraordinary in that , as from the time I began to - * - walk ancl talk literature was my forte . Nothing was lost on me . Whatever pearls came iu my way I icked up . Mguardians werehoweverdivided as to
p y , , my future career . One side held that authors , artists , and poets were beings of a divinely ethereal order , far removed above the trivialities of dinners and taxes . The other side held that authors , artists , and poets were low people and decidedly objectionable . I myself liked good dinners , hunter ' s yatches , ancl coaches , and all the decencies , refinements , and amenities of life , ancl after several lectures on common sense ( my sense was uncommonthat was what made it so valuable ) I allowed myself to be put
, , to " a place of business . " Being an author , and being clever , it is needless to say I " made the place , " until the Managers , Secretaries , and Deputies began to quarrel at finding they were " nowhere , " ancl that I was " everywhere , " continually cropping up in all the departments , like an Admirable Crichton . Then came a crisis . Either they or I must be Manager , or else I had better go . I had never , candidly and frankly , been particularly in love with the " place" or its associates , and so—I went—deeply
regretted , I was about to say , by all who knew me ; but two poor miserable old clerks actually did wipe away a tear and say I had always had a kind word for them , though , bless my soul and goodness knows , I didn't know it . Then began my literary career . One day I thought I should have all The Worla smiling at me , for " my tale , it was so flattering ; " but on the next day , when my MS . came back with compliments and thanks , I thought , " Ah well , I shall evidently be in Time
appreciated . Society was , however , getting so much like Becky Sharp , that I thought Vanity Fair woidd possibly be the better for my reflections . Vanity Fair was complimentary , but was of opinion that there was a wider field for my moralisations , ancl suggested I shoidd try The Globe . The Globe was full of aspirants , so in the interim , whilst I was waiting , I thought I would console myself with Punch . Punch had grown serious and political , and said if I was going to be flippant , why not try Fun ? Fan said whilst The Times was so bad they shoidd not like to avafl themselves of my valuable services . The Times said I must have patience , but if I was so very quick , why , I might as well be in The Daily Telegraph . The Daily Telegraph thought I was too
aristocratic , and arrogated to myself a Standard of excellence . The Standard said I was evidently very gentlemanly , why not try The Gentleman's Magazine ? The Gentleman ' s Magazine said if I wanted money , why , go and try your luck in Belgravia . Belgravia thought I shoidd no doubt some time or other be sure to be welcome in The Nineteenth Century . But oh , what tedious weary waiting it was , how often ancl how often have I had to go the round of editors and publishers , ancl how often have I not been " declined with thanks" until I became quite an intellectual flirtdistributing
, , my favours amongst Liberals and Conservatives with smiling impartiality ! How disappointed , though , I used to be at finding many of the editorial and publishing offices full of pale , long-suffering humanity , that made my heart sicken within me ! How on earth were they capable of forming an opinion ancl passing judgment on my cogitations , that had taken me study , toil , and genius to work out ? 11 it had not have been for an infinite fund of humour ancl a keen sense of the ridiculousI must literallhave turned
, y sour with disappointment ancl vexation . I lived on air to a great extent , whilst -waiting for the editors to send me guineas . What model letters did I not write to them ? Sometimes , when I felt myself at the top of the tree , in this way , " Herewith is an article I shall be happy to let you have for so many guineas , " —knowing my value , and to the point .