Originally published in Pearson's Weekly (C. Arthur Pearson Ltd.) vol.2 #29 (07 Feb 1891).
When an author becomes popular, he is taxed in various ways, probably as a reward of merit. He is supposed to be a millionaire, in virtue of the immense sales of his book, all the money from which, it is taken for granted, goes into his pocket. Consequently, all subscription papers are handed to him for his signature, and every needy stranger who has heard name comes to him for assistance.
He is expected to subscribe for all periodicals, and is goaded by receiving blank formulæ, which, with their promises to pay, he is expected to fill up. He receives two or three books daily, with requests to read and give his opinion about each of them, which opinion, if it-has a word which can be used as an advertisement, he will find quoted in all the newspapers.
He receives thick masses of manuscript, prose and verse, which he is called on to examine and pronounce on their merits, these manuscripts having almost invariably been rejected by the editors to whom they have been sent, and having as a rule no literary value whatever. He is called on to keep up correspondence with unknown admirers, who appropriate his time almost without apology. He is ex to sign petitions, to write for fairs, to attend celebrations, to make after-dinner speeches, to send money for objects he does not believe in, to places he has never heard of. In short, it is taken for granted that everyone has claims upon his attention, and he must submit without protest.