Petty Pursuers

NZ Truth, Issue 882, 21 October 1922, Page 1

Petty Pursuers

Readers of the output of Australian •writers during \ the past two or three decades* will remember one of the outstanding contributions was the late Henry Lawson's lucubration "Pursuing Literature In Australia," In that article he- did a grave injustice to some New Zealanders who were his Very good friends and helpers what time fie was stranded m Wellington during his first trip to New Zealand. ,When he was hard up he was glad to sell his verse and prose at any price-r---and m some cases papers which could not really afford to pay for work done outside their own staff bought MSS from him Just through sheer goodfellowship. One editor paid for Xawspnia out of his own pocket. Yet when Henry returned to Sydney and wanted enough cash to buy a new pair of pants he wrote s the above-mentioned article, and was particularly rough on his best friends. Nor did the '.'Bulletin," then the hall- marker of Australasian scribes the Bible of its Pharisees, pay such rates that H. L. could afford to sneer at other • less plutocratic papers. It is a pity that some types of writers and paintecs ■continue to slang-whang their helpers. ,Take the latest case. ' Ah Australian artist of more than mere repute was stranded not so very long ago m Wellington. All along o' the beery way. He took a gem. of his. into a small shop m one of the suburbs. The shopkeeper did not know anything, of it but how to spell Art. ' He said so. The artist (and he is all of that) begged the Samaritan (or the Philistine) to name a price— and the picture was his. "I don't want the thing" —but as you seem to be on the rocks, here's half a sovereign." Having no use for the gem— even v his wife said she would not give Up an olep's place on the wall m her parlour for the bit of canvas— the shopkeeper put, it m his window. Came along a young: couple of discernment who were furnishing. "How came you by that? • asked- the newly-wed. The shopkeeper told the ,stpry-"And if you care for it. the picture is yours at cost price, and I'm glad to get rid of it." It was bo Now that artist animadverts against Pursuing Painting m the Pacific. Was :the- shopkeeper anything other than a Good Sam?