The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-02-22
Miscellany.
The Kasy CHAIR

~~-~"s
OF Harpers Magazine for March has the
following good hits:
REFRESHMENTS AT RAILROAD STATIONS.
This was the refreshment at Pawlss-larpe
Jumps OF wet dough with an occasional bone
In 1t, which they called chicken-pie and cakes
that beggar imagination. There were no
oysters; no cold meats; no hot meats not
even the dry, stale blocks, called sponge-cake,
that are usually kept, like rare exotics, under
q glass case, in most "Refreshment Saloons
"Oysters! good mercy forbidw exclaimed
the Najor-G General, to whom the Easy Chair
told the tale. "Never eat oysters out of
keg, to begin with; and remember what is
done at -" The Easy Chair forbears to
mention the name. 1t will rather address a
private note OF remonstrance, holding up pub
licity as the dread alternative of not reform
ing, if the direful report be true.
why, what is done at -?"
They bail out the oysters when the train
arrives. The bell rings before many of the
passengers have eaten they pay and run and
leave half plates of stew, and these-these-"
HThesc-?' demanded the Easy Chair.
Gaze poured back into the great recepta-
1t is SO asserted-most solemnly-upon the
word of peeping Tom who couldn't help
seeing, who was lett by the train, and saw
The Easy Chair calls attention to this fear
ful fact. 1t invites the incriminated purvey-
or Of refreshment to explain himself, and, if
the story be true, to promise instant and per-
petual amendment.
THE MAGAZINE EDITOR
"lmperator" wishes to know why in the
interest of sound literature the editor will
not state his reasons for declining contribu-
ton. Dear sir,i an editor is an autocrat.
The king wills it-that is his reason. When
sensitive teacher is instructing his pupil
upon the piano, he exclaims. GHi. hill
that's false notep But, good "Imperator.n
shall he undertake to show to her exactly
why 1t is false note? Now editing is by
no means SO exact science as music; but
an editor feels the false note as surely as the
teacher. He knows Observation-Disclosures he ia
not good editor-what is available; - that
Is Imaginable. 1t would take him 'ong
time to explain, and might not satisfy you
alter all in the particular case of your article
But his instinct is final for his purpose, and
you ought to understand that it is no kind of
reflection upon your article. If he should
stop to explain to every writer of contribu-
ton that he must return why he returned it,
the pusllcation OF the magazine would neces-
sariiy be suspended. You gentlemen who
sit at home at ease and write epic poems and
novels and essays, and mail them to editors,
little know how the stormy winds Of speed
do blow in the editorial sanctum, and that it
is-saving your authorship to read
without explaining why the reading is not
satisfactory.
All, but, says Artaxeyxss, 1t is so disagree
able, somortifying, to receive your manuscript
back again. And how long would you buy
magazine conducted upon the principle of
printing whatever was sent in order to spare
the feelings of the writer? No, good friends
and fellow-authors, use the same sagacity in
dealing with the magazine and your contri-
buttons that you do in all other relations of
business, and you will not regard an editor
as not only your natural enemy, but proud
and insolent tyrant likewise