man, or the man wrapped up in creative work, 
in taking legal action against a wealthy and power-
ful corporation.  To him a libel suit, even if 
not actually impossible, means, at the very least, 
financial chaos and the indefinite paralysis of 
his work.  More than this, the libel, however 
false in point of fact, may be so damaging in 
purport, and make so unscrupulous an appeal 
to violent popular passions, that it robs its 
victim, in advance, of any of the normal means 
of redress. 
The man of letters is peculiarly ill-protected 
against sensational newspaper calumny.  Every 
editor and publisher must reckon, nowadays 
almost exclusively, not with the real truth about 
an author, nor with the balanced judgment of 
the educated reader or man of the world, but 
with the prejudices and passions of the masses.  
Unless therefore a man of letters is wealthy 
enough to call his traducer to instant account in 
court of law, the absolute falsity of a newspaper 
calumny will not prevent it from working, right 
from the start, almost as much mischief as if it 
were proven truth.  It may reduce its victim, 
at a stroke, from affluence to poverty, or from 
poverty to absolute destitution.  It may destroy 
his credit, in every kind, for a critical initial 
period ; and in the time that elapses before he 
can compel a hearing, the lie may have done its 
work, and wrought vital damage—both personally 
— 5 —