at the rate
of allowance for the support of citizens shall suffice to support him. If his
book be moderately successful, he has thus a furlough for several months, a
year, two or three years, and if he in the mean time produces other successful
work, the remission of service is extended so far as the sale of that may
justify. An author of much acceptance succeeds in supporting himself by his pen
during the entire period of service, and the degree of any writer's literary
ability, as determined by the popular voice, is thus the measure of the
opportunity given him to devote his time to literature. In this respect the
outcome of our system is not very dissimilar to that of yours, but there are two
notable differences. In the first place, the universally high level of education
nowadays gives the popular verdict a conclusiveness on the real merit of
literary work which in your day it was as far as possible from having. In the
second place, there is no such thing now as favoritism of any sort to interfere
with the recognition of true merit. Every author has precisely the same
facilities for bringing his work before the popular tribunal. To judge from the
complaints of the writers of your day, this absolute equality of opportunity
would have been greately prized.«
    »In the recognition of merit in other fields of original genius, such as
music, art, invention, design,« I said, »I suppose you follow a similar
principle.«
    »Yes,« he replied, »although the details differ. In art, for example, as in
literature, the people are the sole judges. They vote upon the acceptance of
statues and paintings for the public buildings, and their favorable verdict
carries with it in the artist's remission from other tasks to devote himself to
his vocation. On copies of his work disposed of, he also derives the same
advantages as the author on sales of his books. In all these lines of original
genius the plan pursued is the same, - to offer a free field to aspirants, and
as soon as exceptional talent is recognized to release it from all trammels and
let it have free course. The remission of other service in these cases is not
intended as a gift or reward, but as the means of obtaining more and higher
service. Of course there are various literary, art, and scientific institutes to
which membership comes to the famous and is greatly prized. The highest of all
honors in the nation, higher than the presidency, which calls merely for good
sense and devotion to duty, is the red ribbon