But the business man is not
convinced of their ability to help him. Nor does he expect very much
real help from the hundred thousand school teachers who teach "grammar
and composition" in the schools. The fact is, the rank and file of
teachers in the common schools have learned just enough to know that
they want help themselves. Probably there is not a more eager class
in existence than they.
The stock advice of successful authors is, Practise. But unluckily I
have practised, and it does not seem, to do any good. "I write one
hundred long letters (or rather dictate them to my stenographer) every
day," says the business man. "My newspaper reports would fill a hundred
splendid folios," says the newspaper man, "and yet---and yet---I can't
seem to hit it when I write a novel." No, practice without guidance will
not do very much, especially if we happen to be of the huge class of the
uninspired. Our lack of genius, however, does not seem to be a reason
why we should continue utterly ignorant of the art of making ourselves
felt as well as heard when we use words. Here again use of language
differs somewhat from painting or music, for unless we had some talent
there would be no reason for attempting those arts.
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