The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-02-13

Magazine Editing.
WAS at Lotus Club dinner recent
ly, and pretty well-known journalist,
being called on for ga speech!
speech!' after the uproarious habit of
that intellectual circus, rose and told
story: cit might be called" said he,
with sly look at the head of the table,
where sat, in presidential majesty, a
rather corpulcnt, slightly bald, middle
aged man, 1T might be called How
got into a magazine Then he
changed to the other foot, blushed
slightly, leaned on his fork, and said:
- had an article once which /
thought would make six pages in a
magazine-if it got a chance. con-
cluded to give the atlantic Montlsiv the
beneft OF 1t, because that was superb
creation of the human intellect and
ought to be encouraged. [Smiles and
raps on the table. l sent it to that
periodical, saying that it was my maiden
effort, and asking the editor to send
me the one hundred dollars by draft or
money-order. In three weeks it came
back, to my utter amazement, with the
printed notice that it was excellent but
not exactly adapted. etc. l saw
that the editor of the atlantic
was fool. [Cheers around the table,
and cries of satirical approval l sent
it to another well-knOwn magazine,
offering it for fifty dollars. 1t came
back in two months, just when was
looking for it to appear. That maya
zine, too, was evidently a failure! l
then sent it (price, fifteen dollars,)
to a first-class weekly, that printed
just such things as my Sketch,
Mary Wanley's Guide but not half
as we'll written. TCheers and encourage
ing remarks. Again it was sent back.
Laughter. l could not understand
it. l could not believe that our periodi-
cal literature was decaying so fast. 1
offered it to another journalist for moth
ing, telling him that was a beginner,
that this was the first effort of the'sort
l had ever offered to anybody, and l
watched his face as he examined it sus-
piciously, and finally returned it to me,
saying that the style was faulty; the
idea was good, though it might have
been used heretofore; but with study
and careful practice l would make,
perhaps, in time, etc. [Laughter.]
81 was mad, gentlemen!' said the
| speaker, amid the roars of the compa-
ny, and, leaning on the chair with his
other hand, he went on: Something
heroic must be done! Two years had
passed. 1t was now 1871. l resolved
to sto1 IN the citadel. l borrowed my
brothers sealskin overcoat, so as to
look as imposing as possible, and
struck for an illustrated magazine
had not tried; one of the finest works
of art in the world. The doorkeeper
stood briskly aside as I went in and
asked for the editor, whose name did
not then know. l was speedily ush-
cred into the presence of a young man,
who asked me to be seated, and in
quired my business. To see the ed
itor.' He would examine my manu-
script. very WE'LL said, standing,
l must have an answer in fifteen min
utes, as l leave on the next train for
Boston, He parleyed, but was Sc
we're and ia citurn, and reached for the
manuscript which he had taken. Il
will see Mr.. - said he. naming the
editor himself. The latter appeared.
I'VE will send this to you by MAIL
said he, if it is not used Il
can leave it with you only fifteen
minutes 1 replied. He looked sur
prised, and glanced at the title.
| 1xy
he expostulated. No. L rejoined,
resolutely, Il have other uses for it. )
In that suppose he scented the oppo-
sition house, for he took off his over
coat Che was just going home), and
said: Il will look it over now TCheers
around the table.
| "He was fine-looking man as he
sat there in the dying twilight-[cr
of 'Ohr 'Ah!] "a rather corpulent,
slightly-bald, middle-aged man at this
the company turned toward the pre-
siding officer, who was as red as a
boiled lobster, and then they roared
with glee], and he looked up, in-about
ten minutes, and said: L will take
this -; Mr.. Oliver, please make out
a check for fifty dollars 'What?' I
asked, fifty dollars? My price is one
hundred and twenty-five dollars 'Ah!
said he, passing the manuscript to me,
it is more than we ever pay anybody,
except famous writer's delivered a
stately bow, took the roll Of paper and
turned out of the door. 'Well,' said
he, calling to me, 'We'll take it at one
hundred and twenty-five dollars;' and
Mr.. Oliver made out my check.
TCheers and roars of laughter. The
man at the head of the table had turned
a sort of indigo blue.
1.-THE worst of it is, or the best of
it," said the narrator, "that l have
not seen or heard of that sketch during
all these seven years."
The Lotus Club hall rang with cheers
and laughter, for his manner of telling
the story was indescribably droll, and
then all parties turned toward the pre-
siding officer, who was recognized as
the hero of the narrative.
He rose slowly to his feet, the blue
went out of his face, and even the scar
let turned to the rosy flush which is
habitual to it, and he smiled cheerfully
by the time the cheers and outlaws
which greeted him had died away.
"The fact isl he began deprecating-
ly, and then there was another great
roar of laughter; "yes; well remem-
Der the circumstance. accepted the
sketch to keep its writer from intlicting
it on some weaker magazine. Loud
laughter.] Our house is rich. 1t can
afford to stand in the breach. If it
were not for the work we do in buying
articles capable of injury, the mortal
ity among magazines would be meal
culable. Laughter and cheers. Yes,
gentleman, when person with a
Tightly temperament comes in laugh
ter]-we exert every nerve to get pos
session of his manuscript to prevent
the desolation that might otherwise en-
sue. [Cheers and jingling of glasses
Such an article might fall into the hands
of men who would inadvertently print
it. Cheers and cries of Hear! heart
We lock it up in a strong safe"
Tho oor,ononv 1o6 NV tho iOnrn a1ist