WOMEN IN LITERATURE.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2628, 11 June 1877, Page 2

WOMEN IN LITERATURE.

First of ali, it will be' well to disabuse women in geaeial of their erroneous ideas- concerning a literary 'career/ :A woman must not expect to find any pi'ay when she adopts literature for a pro* feosion. A practical writer leads a life of bona fide drudgery. She may, now and then, find:her pet poems or finely written stories or e-says, accepted and paid for; but if she would make an actual living at the business, she must devote herself to it, just* as she would to dreis-makfo£ or dish-washing. 'Amateur writers only possess the inestimable privilege of waiting till they are inspired 4>efore v they write. The professional writer must compel the inspiration, or write without it. A .woman who,.writes,for^a Jiving- must hold herself in readiness to write upob any subject, and in any style. . She must send a poem by return mail if required; or write up a whole geographical division, without previous knowledge of it, and #ith nothing but a guide-book and a dictionary of dates for reference ; and yet have her article interesting, and read as 7 unlimited information was withheld solely for want , of space. If she be a reporter, she murt? tie able to write upon the wing, and in-the midst, of crowds and confusion, which would bewilder the: intelligence of either ttie ordinary mau or woman. If she be a correspondent, she must be at her pen, headache or no headache, when her more favoured companions are resting from the fatigues of journeying or sight^seeutf. She cannot afford to be either wearied or ill until after the-inevitable letter Has been:written- aud posted. . <> --.'/iThe woman-writer must hare more knowledge than usual concerning her 4ellow men and women. She must be more or less informed on all subjects of the day. She must remember that this is a wise world, and that it is ready- to pitilessly, Tidiojale any ignorance which she may unwittingly display. A woman who knows^nothiog of science, art, theology, political economy, history,: social. reform, politics, and a" I the rest of the important subjects which are monopolising the thoughts of intelligent minds of the Jage, * has no business to put her pen' tty'paper 5 since these subjects are brought down to auch a degree of practicality that we can express no opinion on apparently: tfief most indifferent topic that is not nearly related to some one of these.—Victoria Magazine;'; - :