"Books are a luxury
writer who has a real story-telling gift, can
The Writer and His Daily Bread
even in these difficult times, by publishing
his books first in a newspaper or magazine
and then in book form, earn as much as
By ROY TEMPLE HOUSE
their livelihood in some other fashion, at
will suffice for modest needs. Since the in¬
that moment they will stop writing, except
Editor of the international book review
flation left him without means, and since
when they have something to say. Litera¬
quarterly "Books Abroad
his older works at present bring him little
ture will thus gain in quality.
or nothing, because very few persons buy
Sincerely,
LEON LEMONNIER."
N MY editorial capacity I receive a
books nowadays, he dare not get sick, and
great deal of European mail. Every
The disappearance of literature as a pro¬
must, like the undersigned, work on into
few days of late I have been learning
fession, then, and the relegation of the
his old age.
by letter or from the foreign press that
literary man to the amateur class. The
another Continental publishing company
Much worse than the situation of the
enterprising author of "Quarantième Etage
has gone to the wall. An old German pub¬
novelist is that of the dramatist. It is very
and various other books which sell widel,
lishing house writes: "Have you any sug¬
possible, even likely, that a Heinrich von
in a dozen countries no doubt experiences
gestions as to how the American sale of
Kleist would go to his destruction if he
little direct inconvenience from the situa¬
our books can be stimulated? Germans
were living today, especially since the the¬
tion, but he has given thought to it. He
have almost completely stopped buying
aters have gone to the devil again (wieder
says:
books." The head of some of the solidest
einmal nicht Gottes, sondern des Teufels
"The deplorable conditions under which
German firms remarks in a burst of confi¬
sind). It is just as serious with the poets.
certain writers are forced to live certainly
dence that for the first time since his child¬
react unfortunately on their literary pro¬
"This is how things are today. Since
hood he could not afford a summer vaca¬
duction.
Very few writers of reputa¬
they are steadily growing more desperate, it
tion this season. A mild deprivation com¬
tion are suffering serious distress. But
may be worse next month. Before the war
pared to the case of the French novelist
many authors of merit have no reputation.
probably 60 per cent of our population
who died of starvation a year or two ago
A distinction must be made among
were able to buy books and go to the the¬
and that of the once famous Czech drama¬
the different European countries. A very
ater. Now not 5 per cent can do so. Who
tist who is subsisting on charity. Books are
important consideration is always the num¬
knows how it will be by another month?
a luxury, and everybody in central Europe
ber of individuals who speak or read the
who has lived from the making or the
"How can conditions be improved? The
language of the author. The situation is
selling of books is living narrowly at
only thing I can suggest is to kill off every¬
relatively very favorable for writers in
present.
body who favors our dragging our burden
English, where success means fortune.
In the course of considerable correspon¬
of political debt any longer.
When Germany was in a less miserable
ence on the subject I have received from
Your friend,
situation than she is today the life of the
Europe some very interesting comment,
GUSTAV FRENSSEN.
German artist was fairly comfortable, too,
signed now and then with a name which
when he had crossed the threshold of
The wisest and kindest of living Austrian
carries weight. The problem is less serious
fame. French writers, who are so fortunate
writers has concrete suggestions. Dr. Ar¬
in France than in some other countries,
as to be read not only by the 50,000,000
thur Schnitzler writes:
but even there the authors couch is no
Europeans whose language is French but
The shortest and simples means
bed of roses. The thoughtful author of
in foreign countries, are also relatively
of helping the situation is by direct aid to
La vie d'Oscar Wilde" and of several books
favored. But the situation is deplorable for
the needy writers. More important and in
which deal with the perplexities of the
the languages which are not widely used.
a higher sense would, of course, be a reform
literary profession, wrote me a little while
like Dutch, Czech, Finnish, etc.
of the copyright law, or at least a care¬
ago:
With best regards,
ful observance of the existing law, which
LUGDURTAIN.
In France there are probably not twenty
as you know, is not now the case. It is
authors who live from the sale of their
unfortunately true that spiritual property
But it is from Germany and Austria that
books. The majority of them pull through
has never been put on the same plane
the most touching letters come. Old Gustav
with the help of journalism.
I do
Fressen, known to two generations of
before the law as material property, and
not see any remedy for the situation. There
Americans for his "Jörn Uhl" and
so it is constantly happening that direct
is no way of forcing the public to buy books
infractions of existing law are not ade¬
Hilligenlei, writes bravely, if a little
which do not interest them. If the state
quately punished or not at all, so that the
caustically, from his Holstein village:
grants a subvention to certain writers, their
most disgraceful offenders against the regu¬
There are in Germany a considerable
art will inevitably suffer, for they will be¬
lations concerning spiritual property are
number of writers of reputation but with¬
come the creatures of the government and
allowed to go free, not merely unpunished,
out merit. They have gained their reputa¬
their work will trend toward low propa¬
but even as highly respected citizens. But
tion through the kindness of friends, critics
ganda. The only solution is for imagina¬
these things cannot be changed overnight
and periodical, not through their works.
tive literature, as is already the case with
and even if they were changed there will
Some of these writers are having a very
poetry, to cease to be a profession and
always remain a certain number of writers
hard time in these trying days, but I am
become an avocation. The reason why so
who would have difficulty in earning a
inclined to think that it is just as well
many mediocre works are published is pre¬
living, if they were paid respectably.
that they should.
cisely that their authors expect material
Cordially,
gain from them. The moment they earn
"The story writer of real merit, the
"ARTHUR SCHNITZLER."


.
Drawing by Alan
The alert and brillant you
Mit fremden Federn and
Lianora" is full of sympathy
He says:
Economic crises always he
particularly hard. He belongs
gory of luxuries, with cham¬
facturers, light ladies and bote
one has any money now for
categories. There is the add
culty that since the war we
tirely new literature, and some
distinguished personalities of pi
ture have been unable or uni¬
themselves to the new conditi
as a result living in the direst
of them are literally starvin
way to help them is with mo-
money. Very truly,
ROBERT
W. E. Süskind, whose
masterpieces “Tordis" and
made him famous, regards th
very serious:
"The economic situation
Germany is extremly disquie¬
future is full of perplexity. I a
ing simply of the general der
as that is, another circunstar
responsible for the fact the
writers are in want today and
tion of a really first-class lite
coming more and more difficu¬
at which the writer makes
steadily changing. In the ma
it is no longer the book, but
and there the vicious law obt
by the publishers, that the
keep in mind that puzzling
popular taste. It follows inevit
artistic and spiritual standar¬
duction is lowered, and I
there is today no first class
many who is economically
entirely unhampered, just a
prompts him. The economic
of the writer is no longer a p
feared. It is a fact.
With best wishes,
W. E.
Readers who may be inci¬
financial assistance to Germa¬
writers who are in financial
make contacts with the S
Deutscher Schriftsteller, Be¬
Nürnbergerstrasse 8, or with
verband Deutscher Schriftstell
reich, Wien, Annagasse 5.