2t>8 THE REV. J. G. WOOD. 



his office in the afternoon, that work is done. He has 

 his evening to himself, to employ as he sees fit. He 

 <;an enjoy a quiet pipe after dinner, or a friendly rubber, 

 without feeling that he is neglecting any duty. He 

 need not burn the midnight oil, unless it please him so 

 to do. And he can hear the postman's knock with 

 equanimity, for he has no dread of receiving a number 

 of communications requiring an instant answer, or an 

 urgent demand for MS. to be supplied without delay. 



But with a successful author matters are very 

 different. He may, perhaps, if he be methodical as 

 very few authors are so map out his day as to devote 

 certain specified hours to writing, in order that the rest 

 of his time may be free. But this system of arrange- 

 ment, if it be carried out at all, generally proves more 

 theoretical than practical. A heavy batch of proof- 

 sheets arrives unexpectedly, and must be revised without 

 delay. An index has to be made out ; an order arrives 

 for an immediate article ; or a number of books have to 

 be reviewed at a few hours' notice. Probably a printer's 

 emissary puts in an appearance, with orders not to take 

 his departure until supplied with further " copy." And 

 then the " system " has to be broken through, and the 

 programme cast to the winds. 



And in the case of an unmethodical writer, matters, 

 of course, are far worse. He is never his own master. 

 There is always work waiting to be done which should 

 have been done days before, and which must now 

 be done at high pressure if engagements are to be re- 

 spected and kept. He may, perhaps, work hard all day, 



