London at the End of the Century:A Book of Gossip
a Beckett, Arthur William
1900
THE LITERARY LION.
Turning from the past to the present, a man may make himself a lion by attracting attention by some startling eccentricity. It matters very little what the eccentricity is so that it be plain and distinct, and consequently understandable by the people. For instance, say that a candidate for lionship is a . He has to invent a . If people have a general impression that virtue is a matter that should be encouraged rather than not, he should take up vice. This is managed more easily nowadays than it was in the comparatively Twenty years since plays that dealt with the seventh commandment found little favour in the eyes of the Reader for the Lord Chamberlain, and novels that sailed dangerously near the wind, lacked subscriptions at the circulating libraries. This last practically meant ruin to the luckless publisher who took | |
204 | the risk of a book. However, we are more liberal-minded in the hours of the expiring century, and (once held up to horror as the quintessence of the improper), is accepted as quite in its humdrum respectability, and (years ago a novel to be found in the reserved part of Paterfamilias' bookshelves), is suggestive of nothing more formidable than The patronage of Vice either on the stage or in the circulating library is already becoming old-fashioned, but there is still enough life in the mode to help a candidate for lionship to the desired notability. All he has to do is to than the latest eccentricity. If Smith has advocated manslaughter, Brown should strongly recommend murder. But not common-place murder, but fratricide or matricide. If Brown can be pointed out as his fortune is made. The theory will attract the proper amount of attention. Hitherto it has been accepted that the rejuvenated of Mephistopheles behaved rather badly to Gretchen. Prove that both of them acted in the best possible manner and all will be well. Critics will cry the book up to the skies on the score that it is On my word, I would write the book myself if I were not sure that either the subject has |
205 | been done, or that someone at this moment is doing it. Years ago it would have been sufficient to prove that Mephistopheles was not so black as he was painted. But that kind of thing is rather out of date -it ceased to be the fashion after the whitewashing of Henry VIII., Judas, Judge Jeffries, and Pontius Pilate. |
It may be safely laid down, as a rule, that if a man can write something that is enough for the reading of women, it will be good enough for the reading of men. | |
