As Teheuti says, apart from the period between 1899 to 1909, Waite's income was mainly derived from his writings & editing with occasional excursions into publishing and copy-writing (it was through his Freelance copywriting for Horlicks c.1898 that he came to the attention of John Horlicks and was appointed London manager (c.1899) , and later, private secretary (in all but name) to John Horlicks himself for the last couple of years he worked for him (1907-1909), according to R.A. Gilbert (A.E.Waite - Magician of Many Parts.
As Alchemists go, he weren't too bad - for John Horlick's at least, he turned Malted Milk into gold, a bateleur's snake oil or panacea:
Crown'd Heads of Europe, we wish you peace,
And trust that shortly all wars will cease,
But when a battle is bound to be fought,
let MALTED MILK to the Front be brought,
And when the struggle is over and' done,
'Tis still the best thing under the sun.
On Malted Milk the babies thrive,
By Malted Milk the sick survive,
The weak folk take it to make them strong,
The old because they will then live long;
The strong ones take it to keep them well,
And many more people than l can tell--
Soldiers, Sailors, and doctors too--
And when you have tried it so will you!
Send for a sample, don't delay;
There's much to gain and nothing to pay.
Drop us a line to our abode,
Simply; HORLICK, Farringdon Road,
But if you'd like to add anymore,
Note that the Number is 34.
Gilbert also gives an exerpt for one of his adverts for Sewell's Rival Corsets (1916) :
And were anything wanting to prove to the hilt
The consummate perfection with which they are built,
We have only to pause in the midst of our lays
And consult C.A. SEWELL concerning their stays.
The VENUS DE MILO they take for their mark,
And why they won't leave you to grope in the dark;
'Tis by right of the verdict of feminine praise
Which so long C.A. SEWELL have earn'd for their stays.
The name of these Corsets, so easy and fair,
Is rightly the RIVAL, since none can compare,
And ladies all stand in delighted amaze
And confess C.A. SEWELL unrivall'd in stays.
