“It has never been on the decrease,” he continued. “So many have visited these halls that it has been a veritable meeting-place of almost all authors of all lands and all ages at some stage in their careers. Some who came tarried long; others, not satisfied, foolishly drifted to the schools of the King’s Highway which ever carry on their work in opposition to the University of the World.” Here also, in this second grand division, the subtlest kind of teaching was prevalent. In one sub-division Mr. World and Miss Church-Member read these general laws written in bold letters where all who desired could read: RULES FOR THE WINNING AUTHOR. 1. Give quality rather than quantity. 2. If you will not compose your best, compose nothing. The world is heavily overstocked with inferior compositions. 3. Write nothing that will cause regret on your death-bed. 4. Do not follow in the rut. Go by some path untraveled before, over land or sea, and tell the world of your new discoveries. 5. To be acceptable, in the highest sense, you must teach differently than others, even though it be at the expense of what is commonly called “truth.” Novelty is the winning feature. 6. In any one composition strive first to arouse the curiosity of your intended readers; then keep the curiosity suspended and finally give it satisfaction in accordance with the aim in view. 7. You may be influenced by religion, but not by religious nonsense. If your writings win, you are a teacher of millions. So, in order to reach the public ear, you may cater to the tastes and wishes of the majority. 8. If you see some vile conditions of humanity, send out, in your writings, vials of vileness. “Like cures like.” If any part of the church cries, “poison, poison!” you may justify yourself by the fact that the so-called “poison” in your productions will only neutralize the poison so prevalent in society, on the same principle that poison is administered to a sickly body in order to effect a cure. 9. You are always safest when you are true to nature, even though some sentimental people may charge you with being vulgar. 10. Words of profanity are not allowable if they are the mere expression of the author, but any foul or profane expression may be quoted. An author should not be charged with the impropriety of his characters who are merely taken from actual life. The above ten commandments, if properly interpreted and obeyed, will surely lead to literary success. Then Mr. World escorted his confiding friend from hall to hall of this second grand division, and at many intervals they could be seen spending a quiet season on the lawns which surrounded the entire structure. Their tastes were now more in harmony than ever, and their friendship was fast reaching that intimacy where each one was searching for pearls in the deep ocean of the other’s love. CHAPTER XII. THE THEATRE. 1. Mr. World and his friend tarry at Satan’s Theatres which lay in seven grades, one below the other.