Literary Dinners

Incredible as it may appear, it is sometimes stated very confidently,
that English authors and actors who give dinners, are treated with greater
indulgence by certain critics than those who do not. But, it has never
been said that any critical journal in England, with the slightest
pretensions to respectability, was in the habit of levying black mail in
this Rob Roy fashion, upon writers or articles of any kind. Yet it is
alleged, on high authority, that many of the French critical journals
are or were principally supported from such a source. For example, there
is a current anecdote to the effect that when the celebrated singer
Nourrit died, the editor of one of the musical reviews waited on his
successor, Duprez, and, with a profusion of compliments and apologies,
intimated to him that Nourrit had invariably allowed 2000 francs a year
to the review. Duprez, taken rather aback, expressed his readiness to
allow half that sum. "Bien, monsieur," said the editor, with a shrug,
"mais, parole d'honneur, j'y perds mille francs."

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