Four Different Standpoints

"Literature," said the sad eyed, stoop Bhouldered pilgrim with his baggy trousers, "is an attractive and eunobling thing, but considered as a business it doesn't pay." "You have had some experience in that line perhaps," observed the conifortable looking party in the new spring overcoat. "Yes," sighed the other. "As a publisher or as a dealer in books?" "Neither. As a writer. I have tasted the, joys of authorship. I am the father of a successful novel. It went tbrough eight or teneditions, and papers allspoke well of it. And what do you suppose I made out of it? Seven hundred and fifty dollars. Three months' work, nine months' waitins: and $750! It rnay have netted the publishermore than that, but that's all I got out of it." The sad eyed pilgrim was silent, and the other ventured to ask: "Are you still writing novéis?" "Oh, yes. I've got one or two on hand, but I am in no hurry to publish them. What's the use? There's more money in running a good grease tank, only I don't know how to run a grease tank." "You are engaged in literary work of some kind, I presume?" "Yes, I write an occasional newspaper 'special,' have had aiticles accepted by the magazines which I hope to see in print if I live long enough, and I assist in keeping the books duriDg the busy season at one of the big book stores. Altogether I manage to make a living lor myself and family of six children, but that's about all." "My experience," said the man in the spring overcoat, "is somewhat different from yours, and I am in the sume line of business too. I make about $5,000 a year with my pen." "Writing book?" "Writing books? Creat Scott, no! I do these nice little ne wspa per storiehat turn out to be puffs for patent medicines after you've begun to get interested in them." -