SHAW, George Bernard (1856-1950). Typed letter signed ("G. Bernard Shaw.") with three autograph corrections, to Pharall Smith of Liverpool, no place [London], November 12, 1912. 2 pages, quarto, some minor discoloration, pin hole at upper left otherwise fine. Shaw writes a long and engaging word on the price per each. "There is nothing to prevent an editor from mutilating a contribution except for fear of offending and losing his contributor. If he orders a certain number of words, I should say he is bound to pay for them whether he uses them or not; and in the case of a signed article, he could alter it or cut it about only at the risk of the author alleging damage to his reputation and suing him. But these of course are negligible risks, as most journalists are too poor to complain. Five shillings for 250 words, that is ... poorish pay; but I am sorry to say it is by no means the lowest market price. When I had established myself as a journalist I was considered exhorbitant." He continues with a discussion of the various rates paid by the various publications and then volunteers that "The real difficulty in an article is to find the subject and to write the beginning. I remember that when I was an art critic to 'The World' in eighties, and had to deal with a great many exhibitions in short paragraphs, I found that three or four of these paragraphs were much more troublesome and took me a longer time than a continuous article containing double as many words. The payment was 5d a line. It was for that reason that I afterwards insisted on a minimum and declared that I would not dip my pen in the ink for less than 5 [pounds]."MENCKEN, Henry Louis (1880-1956). Typed letter signed ("H.L. Mencken") to Ben Abramson, Baltimore, April 13, 1927, with transmittal envelope. 1 page, oblong octavo, minor toning otherwise fine. The noted ribalder writes the proprietor of Chicago's Argus Bookshop. "Unluckily, it will be impossible for me to get to Chicago for the Darrow dinner and so I must also miss the revival services afterward. My best thanks! Don't ask me to read books! I am trying to cure myself of that vice." It seems likely the dinner would be for Clarence Darrow of Scopes 'Monkey' Trial fame. Mencken had covered the carnival that put Darwin on trial with characteristic flare. (2)

SHAW, George Bernard (1856-1950). Typed letter signed ("G. Bernard Shaw.") with three autograph corrections, to Pharall Smith of Liverpool, no place [London], November 12, 1912. 2 pages, quarto, some minor discoloration, pin hole at upper left otherwise fine. Shaw writes a long and engaging word on the price per each. "There is nothing to prevent an editor from mutilating a contribution except for fear of offending and losing his contributor. If he orders a certain number of words, I should say he is bound to pay for them whether he uses them or not; and in the case of a signed article, he could alter it or cut it about only at the risk of the author alleging damage to his reputation and suing him. But these of course are negligible risks, as most journalists are too poor to complain. Five shillings for 250 words, that is ... poorish pay; but I am sorry to say it is by no means the lowest market price. When I had established myself as a journalist I was considered exhorbitant." He continues with a discussion of the various rates paid by the various publications and then volunteers that "The real difficulty in an article is to find the subject and to write the beginning. I remember that when I was an art critic to 'The World' in eighties, and had to deal with a great many exhibitions in short paragraphs, I found that three or four of these paragraphs were much more troublesome and took me a longer time than a continuous article containing double as many words. The payment was 5d a line. It was for that reason that I afterwards insisted on a minimum and declared that I would not dip my pen in the ink for less than 5 [pounds]." MENCKEN, Henry Louis (1880-1956). Typed letter signed ("H.L. Mencken") to Ben Abramson, Baltimore, April 13, 1927, with transmittal envelope. 1 page, oblong octavo, minor toning otherwise fine. The noted ribalder writes the proprietor of Chicago's Argus Bookshop. "Unluckily, it will be impossible for me to get to Chicago for the Darrow dinner and so I must also miss the revival services afterward. My best thanks! Don't ask me to read books! I am trying to cure myself of that vice." It seems likely the dinner would be for Clarence Darrow of Scopes 'Monkey' Trial fame. Mencken had covered the carnival that put Darwin on trial with characteristic flare. (2)

Details

SHAW, George Bernard (1856-1950). Typed letter signed ("G. Bernard Shaw.") with three autograph corrections, to Pharall Smith of Liverpool, no place [London], November 12, 1912. 2 pages, quarto, some minor discoloration, pin hole at upper left otherwise fine. Shaw writes a long and engaging word on the price per each. "There is nothing to prevent an editor from mutilating a contribution except for fear of offending and losing his contributor. If he orders a certain number of words, I should say he is bound to pay for them whether he uses them or not; and in the case of a signed article, he could alter it or cut it about only at the risk of the author alleging damage to his reputation and suing him. But these of course are negligible risks, as most journalists are too poor to complain. Five shillings for 250 words, that is ... poorish pay; but I am sorry to say it is by no means the lowest market price. When I had established myself as a journalist I was considered exhorbitant." He continues with a discussion of the various rates paid by the various publications and then volunteers that "The real difficulty in an article is to find the subject and to write the beginning. I remember that when I was an art critic to 'The World' in eighties, and had to deal with a great many exhibitions in short paragraphs, I found that three or four of these paragraphs were much more troublesome and took me a longer time than a continuous article containing double as many words. The payment was 5d a line. It was for that reason that I afterwards insisted on a minimum and declared that I would not dip my pen in the ink for less than 5 [pounds]."

MENCKEN, Henry Louis (1880-1956). Typed letter signed ("H.L. Mencken") to Ben Abramson, Baltimore, April 13, 1927, with transmittal envelope. 1 page, oblong octavo, minor toning otherwise fine. The noted ribalder writes the proprietor of Chicago's Argus Bookshop. "Unluckily, it will be impossible for me to get to Chicago for the Darrow dinner and so I must also miss the revival services afterward. My best thanks! Don't ask me to read books! I am trying to cure myself of that vice." It seems likely the dinner would be for Clarence Darrow of Scopes 'Monkey' Trial fame. Mencken had covered the carnival that put Darwin on trial with characteristic flare.
(2)