The Moon and Sixpence

The Moon and SixpenceBut others thought this frivolous, and they wore more highly valued than the crackling of thorns“art fabrics” and barbaric jewelry. The men were under a pot; and the epigram, not yet a mechanicalappliance by which the dull may achieve aseldom eccentric in appearance. They tried tolook as little like authors as possible. They wished semblance of wit, gave sprightliness to the smallto be taken for men of the world, and could have talk of the urbane. It is sad that I can rememberpassed anywhere for the managing clerks of a nothing of all this scintillation. But I think thecity firm. They always seemed a little tired. I had conversation never settled down so comfortablynever known writers before, and I found them as when it turned to the details of the trade whichvery strange, but I do not think they ever seemed was the other side of the art we practised. Whento me quite real.we had done discussing the merits of the latestI remember that I thought their conversation book, it was natural to wonder how many copiesbrilliant, and I used to listen with astonishment had been sold, what advance the author had received,and how much he was likely to make outto the stinging humour with which they wouldtear a brother-author to pieces the moment that of it. Then we would speak of this publisher andhis back was turned. The artist has this advantageover the rest of the world, that his friends the meanness of another; we would argueof that, comparing the generosity of one withoffer not only their appearance and their characterto his satire, but also their work. I despaired handsome royalties or to another who “pushed”whether it was better to go to one who gaveof ever expressing myself with such aptness or a book for all it was worth. Some advertised badlywith such fluency. In those days conversation was and some well. Some were modern and somestill cultivated as an art; a neat repartee was were old-fashioned. Then we would talk of agents14