2. If you will not compose your best, compose nothing. The world is
heavily overstocked with inferior compositions.
3. Write nothing that will cause regret on your death-bed.
4. Do not follow in the rut. Go by some path untraveled before, over
land or sea, and tell the world of your new discoveries.
5. To be acceptable, in the highest sense, you must teach differently
than others, even though it be at the expense of what is commonly
called "truth." Novelty is the winning feature.
6. In any one composition strive first to arouse the curiosity of your
intended readers; then keep the curiosity suspended and finally give
it satisfaction in accordance with the aim in view.
7. You may be influenced by religion, but not by religious nonsense.
If your writings win, you are a teacher of millions. So, in order to
reach the public ear, you may cater to the tastes and wishes of the
majority.
8. If you see some vile conditions of humanity, send out, in your
writings, vials of vileness. "Like cures like." If any part of the
church cries, "poison, poison!" you may justify yourself by the fact
that the so-called "poison" in your productions will only neutralize
the poison so prevalent in society, on the same principle that poison
is administered to a sickly body in order to effect a cure.
9. You are always safest when you are true to nature, even though some
sentimental people may charge you with being vulgar.
10. Words of profanity are not allowable if they are the mere expression
of the author, but any foul or profane expression may be quoted. An
author should not be charged with the impropriety of his characters
who are merely taken from actual life.
The above ten commandments, if properly interpreted and obeyed, will
surely lead to literary success.
Then Mr. World escorted his confiding friend from hall to hall of this
second grand division, and at many intervals they could be seen spending
a quiet season on the lawns which surrounded the entire structure.
Their tastes were now more in harmony than ever, and their friendship
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