The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-09-05

.
"Whatg" said Gifted, with his eye
stretched very round.
| "TO the paper factory, where they
have a horrid machine they call th'
| devil, that tears everything to bits-ai
/ the critics treat our authors, sometime:
sometimes, Mr.. Hopkins"
Cited devoted a moment to silen
reelection.
After this intrusive sight they return
! ed together to the publishers private
room. The wine had now warmed tht
! youthful poets pIsecordia so that h'
began 10 feel renewed confidence in hi:
genius and fortunes.
II should like to know what tina
critic of yours would say to my manu-
script" he said boldly.
'You can try it, If you want TO" tht
publisher replied with an ominous dry
ness OF manner which the sanguine
youth did not perceive, or, perceiYiDg
did not heed.
"How can we manage 10 get an i'm
partial Judgment"
80, I'll arrange that. He always
goes to his luncheon about this time
raw meat and Vitriol punch-thats
what the authors say. Wait till we
hear him go, and then L will lay your
manuscript so that he will come to il
among the first after he gets back. You
treatment it gets. l hope 1t may please
him, but you shall see."
They went back to the publishers
private room and talked awhile. Then
the small boy came up with some
vague message about u gentleman
business-wants to see you, sir, etc.,
according to the estA Ablished pro-
gramme; all in vacant, mechanical
sort ofway, as II he were "A talking ma
chine lust running down.
The publisher told the small boy that
he was engaged, and the gentleman
must walt. Very soon they heard The
Butchers heavy footstep as he went
out to get his raw meat and vitriol
punch. ...... ..7.s.
"Now, them" said the publisher, and
led forth the coDfding literary lamb
once more, to enter the fatal door of the
critical shambles.
"Hand me your manuscript, if you
please, Mr.. Hopkins. / will lay it so
that it shall be the third of these that
are JIning to hand. Our friend here is
u pretty good judge OF fverse, and knows
II InerchaI.table article about as quick
as any man in his line of business. If
he forms II favorable opinion of your
poems we viii talk over your PROPOSE
TONS"
Gifted was conscious of very slight
tremor as he saw his precious manu-
utIOSlNth Nuo A"O
others, and over "A pile OF similar pro-
ductions. Still he could not help feel
ing that the critic would be struck by
his title. The quotation from Gray
must touch his feelings. The very first
piece in the collection could not iuil 10
arrest him. lie looked little excited,
but he was in good spirits.
eve will be looking about here when
our friend comes back" the publisher
said. HE is a very methodical person,
and will sit down and go right to work
Just as II we were not here. We can
watch him, and il he should express
any particular interest in your poems,
l will, il you say SO, carry you up to
him and reveal the fact that you are
the author OF the works that please
him."
They waited patiently until The
Butcher returned, apparently refreshed
by his ferOcious reflection, and sat
down at his side. He looked comfort
ed, aud not in i'll humOr. The publish
er and the poet talked in low tones, as
II on business of their Own, and watch
ed him as he returned to his labor.
The Butcher took the first manuscript
that came to hand, read stanZa here
and there, turned over the leaves, Turn
ed back and tried again-shOok his
head-held it for an instant over the
basket, ns if fdoubtful-and let 1t softly
drop. He took up the second manu-
script, opened il in several places.
seemed rather pleased with what he
read, and laid it aside for further ex-
animation.
He took up the third. Blossoms of
the Soul" etc. He glured at 1t in u
dreadfully ogreish wny. Both the look
ers on held their breath. Gifted Hop
kins felt as If half glass more of that
warm sherry would not hurt him.
IL Ia
stomach, as If he was in IA swing, as
high as he could go, close up to the
swallows nest and spiders webs. The
Butcher opened the manuscript at ran
dom, read ten seconds, and gave a short,
low grunt. He opened again, read ten
seconds, and gave another grunt, this
time n little longer and louder. He
opened once more, read five seconds,
and with something that sounded like
the snort of IA dangerous animal, cast it
impaiiently into the basket, and took
up the manuscript that came next in
order.
Gifted Hopkins stood as If paralyed
for a moment. --...
"Safe, perfectly saie," the publisher
said to him in a whisper. "Ill get it
for you presently. Come in and take
another glass of wine." he said, lead
ing him ack to his own office.
mo, thank you," lie said family,
"I can bear it. But this is dreadful,
sir. Is this the way the genius is well
coined TO the world of letters" -.
The publisher explained to hlm in
the kindest manner, that there WAS an
enormous over-production of verse,
and it took u great part OF one mans
time simply to overhaul the cart-loads
of 1t that were trying to get themselves
into print with the imprimatur of his
famous house. ''Yon're young, Mr..
Hopkins. / advise you not 10 try to
force your article of poetry on the mar
is, knows thing that will sell as soon
as he sees it. You are in independent
circumstances, perhaps7 IL so, you
can print-at your own expense-what-
ever you choose. May lake the lib
erty to ask your-proiession2 ?"
Gifted explained that he was a
"cIerk" in ''store." where they sold
dry goods, and West India goods, and
goods promiscuouS.
40. well, them" the publisher said,
"you will understand me. Do you
know a good article of brown sugar
when you see it3"
Gifted Hopkins rather thought he
did. He knew at sight whether 1t WAS
Il fair, saleRble article or not.
Just so. Now, our friend, there,
knows verses that are saleable and un-
saleable, as you DO brown sugar. Keep
quiet now, and 1 will 60 and get your
manuscript for you.-There, Mr..
Hopkins, take your poems; they will
give you a reputation in your village,
/ don't doubt, which Is pleasant, but it
will cost you good deal of money TO
print them in a volume. You are very
young; you can afford TO wait. Your
genius is not ripe yet, am confident,
Mr.. Hopkins. These verses are very
well for beginning, but a man OF
promise like you, MIR. Hopkins, mustn't