Gelett Burgess

“ Listen—a moment listen!—Of the same
Wood-pulp on which is printed Hewlett's Name,
The "Duchess" Books are made—in fifty years
They both will rot asunder—who's to Blame?"
[Pg 15]
XXXIX
And not a Book that from our Shelves we throw
To the Salvation Army, but shall go
To vitiate the Taste of some poor Soul
Who can get nothing else to read—go Slow! ”

“ Indeed, Rare Books that they have yearn'd for long
Have done their Literary Taste much wrong:
Reprints of Burton will not sell to-day
(I mean the stupid Burton) for a Song! XCIV
Indeed, such First Editions oft before
I envied, but they proved to be a Bore.
Why, are not Tenth Editions still more rare?
Mine are! Why are they not worth even more? XCV
And much as Art has play'd the Infidel
And robb'd me of my Royalties—Ah, well,
I often wonder what the Women read
One half as clever as the Stuff I sell! XCVI
Yet Ah, that Spring should come to bring our Woes! ”

“ Come, fill the Purse, to Publishers, this Spring,
Your Manuscripts of paltry Passion bring:
The New York Times has oft a little Way
Of praising—let The Times your praises sing. VIII
Whether by Century or Doubleday,
Whether Macmillan or the Harpers pay,
The Publisher prints new books every Year;
The Critics will keep Busy, anyway! IX
Each Morn a thousand Volumes brings, you say ”

“ The same old Plots, the same old Ways and Means. LII
The Theme once guess'd, the Tale's as good as told,
Though Dialect and Local Color mould;
This Style will last throughout Eternity,
While Women buy our Books—if Books are sold. ”

“ You know, my Friends, I've done with Purple Cows,
And long to sober Fiction paid my Vows;
Spontaneous Glee is mighty hard to Sell—
'Twas Carolyn Wells that shot across my Bows. LVI
For Stuff and Nonsense being in my Line,
As Nonsense modern Fiction I define ”