Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 262, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 November 1910 — SUCCESS HAS ITS PENALTY [ARTICLE]

SUCCESS HAS ITS PENALTY

The Author, in Optimistic Mood, Talks of the Disadvantage of Doing Things Too Good. The author was in reminiscent mood—he had just broken his fast, at some one else’s expense—and he was inclined to talk. “Why am I depressed?” he repeated. “I’ll tell you. It may serve as a warning for you. “Three years ago I was unfortunate enough to write a great short story. It was called ‘The Curse of Luck.’ Now, thought I, begins my golden age —everything I write will go olf tne griddle like hot cakes. On the strength of my prospects I moved into a more expensive apartment. Then I began to send out my wares, but cautiously, with reserve, so as not to cheapen myself—ten cents a word was the mimimum I was prepared to accept. “A week passed and my first story, came back. ‘This is a good story, a very good story,’ wrote the editor, ‘but it hardly seems to us up to the standard of “The Curse of Luck.” From any one else we should accept it, but from you the public expects something unusual.’ “Indignantly I tore up the letter. Well, I thought, that’s the last thing of mine you’ll get a chance to refuse, and I sent the story to another magazine. « “Meanwhile I had sent out a second story, and a few days later this too came back. ‘This is a very good: story,’ the editor wrote, ‘but scarcely up to “The Curse of Luck.” The public, you know, expects great things from you.’ “I rubbed my eyes. Were the editors of the country In league against me? Putting the story into a fresh, envelope I sent It forth again, but my cocksureness had suffered a letdown. Would this manuscript come back & second time? It did; on the same day that the first was again returned. This Is a very good Btory,’ I read. "Spasmodically I crushed the letter In my hand. Was I never to sell another story? Could I iifcver liye down rJ. be Curs ® of Luck?’ It seemed not Time after time I sent out the two storicß which I had written since the accursed masterpiece, but inevitably they came\ back with the flattering opinion that they were very good stories, but—’’ ' I felt into a state of melancholy in which work was impossible. I was doomed, or rather I am doomed, for It Is impossible to sell what I have written; it is not up to the standard of The Curse of Luck.’ Truly the title was well chosen; at the time I little realized how well.” Have courage to be Ignorant dTaT great number of things In order that 5 you may avoid the calamity of being ignorant of everything.—Sidney Smith. That liquor improves with hgo seems tq be demonstrated by the the o,dep seme men get thtf bettor they like it