Disquisition by Scripps, E.W., My enemy, July 16, 1890

              Ohio University Libraries, E. W. Scripps Papers, MSS 117, Series 4, http:// media. library. ohiou. edu/ scripps
MY ENEMY July 16, .1890
There was a ttne once when I read stories - love stories. I liked them.
I believed in those days that there was romance in real life. I believe the
same today. But in those days I believed in supreme happiness. I used. to
write romances myself - not great works. I never went so far as evan attempt­ing
a continued story for a magazine. No. not by any means. I knew too much
to waste my time on such efforts. But as I was when still young entrusted
with the editorship of a country weekly. I had a sure thing on getting any­thing
printed I chose, providing only that I made it short enough for the one
scab printer and boy to set up, and. at the same time not neglect the local
news of the town and the correspondence from the neighboring crossroads.
That was all long ago. Now I can not only support myself and family in
comfort, but in real luxury. Now I no longer desire to be famous as an author.
Now my tme is too valuable in a business way to squander for the monied con­sideration
that ev~ the wealthiest magazine could offer to the most popular
author. I know this because as a large stookholder in one of the wealthiest
of these concerns, I know the difference between what is really paid and the
price that is advertised for the mutual benefit of author and publisher.
What a fool an author would be to deny the magazine's lying statEment that it
had paid him a thousand dollars for a short story whioh had involved no greater
transfer of cash than one tenth of that amount!
Now that I am forty, rich. and the father of a large fwnily, I resume my
pen as a writer of romanoes - not to gain fame, not to gain dollars, not even
because there is a struggling genius long suppressed within me seeking for
expression. No. for none of these reasons do I take my pen in hand. The simple
fact is that I have an enemy - a lifelong and inveterate enemy. lie has been
my rival all these years of my long and prosperous life. Why is he my enemy?
I am rich. I am. very rioh - but he is richer! Oh, yes, I have been more than
successful. I have been more successful than any man has a right to be. I
know that I have more money than I can spend for all my possible daily wants.
I even feel that I am doing a daily wrong to my ohildren by laying up a for­tune
of such si~ e as will almost certainly tampt! my loved ones who are to be my
heirs. to such a life of vicious idleness and ignorance as will destroy their
future happiness in this world and perhaps ruin all their ohances for the next.
Still I am jealous of mine enemy. He is richer than I am but he can't write
a sentence gramatically. while I can write a whole story. I em. only writing
this story to get even with him for having made two millions while I have made
only one.
My father and my enany's father lived on adjoining farms in northern
Ohio. My enemy and I were of the same age. We were babies together. we were
in school together. Wewent out in the world together warm. friends to fight
for a living together. We prospered. Sometimes I lead him a little and
sometimes he lead me a little. We used to meet and oompare notes, i. e.,
bank acoounts - frequently. At first we rejoiced in eadh others good for­'&'.
me. We emulated. each other in the noblest style. I have no doubt that
this SIlulation was the first and rea. l cause of either of us and both of us
exercising that great energy and thrift which soon lifted us above the c~ on
leval of our young fellows. But if loving follows liking. rivalry follows em­ulation.