Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 108, May 11th, 1895

by Various

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PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
Volume 108, May 11th, 1895.
edited by Sir Francis Burnand

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"BRAINS FOR CASH."

["The unbridled greediness of some authors."—Mr. Gosse.]

Publisher (nervously). And what will your terms be for a short story, in your best style?

Author (loftily). I have only one style, and that is perfection. I couldn't think of charging less than fifty guineas a page.

Publisher (aghast). Fifty guineas a page! But are you aware that Lord Macaulay got only ten thousand for the whole of his history, and that Milton——

Author (rudely). Hang Macaulay and Milton! Surely you would not compare those second-rate writers with myself! If they were content to work for starvation wages, I am not.