No garretteers； these novelists and journalists awaiting their promotion。 They eat……and entertain their critics……at fashionable restaurants； they are seen in expensive seats at the theatre； they inhabit handsome flats……photographed for an illustrated paper on the first excuse。 At the worst； they belong to a reputable club； and have garments which permit them to attend a garden party or an evening 〃at home〃 without attracting unpleasant notice。 Many biographical sketches have I read； during the last decade； making personal introduction of young Mr。 This or young Miss That； whose book was……as the sweet language of the day will have it… …〃booming〃； but never one in which there was a hint of stern struggle； of the pinched stomach and frozen fingers。 I surmise that the path of 〃literature〃 is being made too easy。 Doubtless it is a rare thing nowadays for a lad whose education ranks him with the upper middle class to find himself utterly without resources； should he wish to devote himself to the profession of letters。 And there is the root of the matter； writing has e to be recognized as a profession； almost as cut…and…dried as church or law； a lad may go into it with full parental approval； with ready avuncular support。 I heard not long ago of an eminent lawyer； who had paid a couple of hundred per annum for his son's instruction in the art of fiction…… yea； the art of fiction……by a not very brilliant professor of that art。 Really； when one es to think of it； an astonishing fact； a fact vastly significant。 Starvation； it is true； does not necessarily produce fine literature； but one feels uneasy about these carpet…authors。 To the two or three who have a measure of conscience and vision； I could wish； as the best thing； some calamity which would leave them friendless in the