Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1881-12-15
Mrs. Bell. A. present do not venture TO
give you any title. "Very truly yours,
| r. II. SCREyFN.5

give you any title. VERY truly yours,
+. II. ScREvEN."
This letter at once amused and piqued
me. 1t was pleasant and rather encour-
aging, but it was plain the writer set me
down as an impecunious young woman,
whereas the truth was l had q very fair
income of my own, and was six-foot,
moustached specimen of masculinity.
The idea of playing the role of Miss
Jane Bell tickled nv fancy. and there
fore, giving my Imagination free rein.
upon the spur of the moment satdown
and wrote as follows:
'F. Il. SCREvEN-At present | also an
in quandary. for l do not know whether |
ought TO address YOU As Madame, Monsieur
or Mademoiselle. The last title is mine just
now, although OF course l feel at liberty
TO change it when l choose. or rather
when the proper opportunity offers
itself. Perhaps matrimony would be
a more profitable speculation than litera-
ture. Do not, however, suppose that
am dependent on my pen for my bread
and butter. In that ease, fear. the butter
would be very thin, indeed. No: the fafes
have given me most Of the Injuries OF life:
but these. OF course. do not satisfy me. The
reason why wrote As l did about payment
for the articles was simply because /
thought If they were good enough to print
they were good enough 20 be paid for. Ii
seems | was mistaken; but 10 show You
that take your advice, 1 send you another
essay. l will at least try to secure L foot
hold. and pray that greater success may
follow.
81 am, dear Madame, Monsieur or Mad
emoiselle Screyen.
sincerely yours,
JANE BELL"
Laughing in my sleeve, sent this
communication of, and planned that,
if the assistant editor sent me friend
ly reply, would open correspondence
in my role of Miss Jane Bell and fool
+. b. Screven rs never man had been
fooled before. Judge, then, of nv dis
may when | received letter in what
knew was Screven's writing. but not
written on office paper, and signed Fran
ces Bertram Screven. "A woman. by
Jove!' l exclaimed there and then in
the post-ollice, whereby small boy,
who was standing nigh, nearly swal-
lowed in establishment the postage
stamp he was carefully licking. l
thrust the letter in my pocket and did
not read il until l was safely at home.
Thus the missive ran: I.at
"DEAE Miss BELL: Your piquant letter
prompts me to write you reply, not rs an
assistant editor, but as woman like your
self, who is tOiling up the steep path that
leads to Parnsssus. l might have known
you were woman, and young one at that.
because, although there is touch Of mas
culine strength In your essays and poems.
still there is. too, 4 sweetness that is only
feminine. think that women more often
have this flavor Of masculinity than men
have anything of that tenderness which is
essentially and purely feminine. Were l
in position of authority, l should
very soon dismiss the cut-and-drie hack
writers whose contributions. although
smooth and polished, lack the freshness, the
spontaneity, which Is characteristic OF the
contributions we sometimes receive from
unknown writers, and notably from you.
But, You see, l am merely an assistant ed
itor, and person Of no consequence at all,
except As am useful TO do the work, all
the glory OF which goes TO the distinguished
individuals whose names are emblazoned at
the head OF the paper. There. that sounds
bitter, am afraid; but my dear Miss Bell,
the fates have not been so kind to me As to
YOU, and it is not for fame write, but for
the wherewithal to keep me fed and clothed.
What makes 1t perhaps harder Is that / have
known what it is 10 have my bread and but
ter fresh and sweet-ay, and honey with 1t,
too-and, therefore, the thin slices that are
doled out to me now taste the drier by COM
parison.
Forgive me for boring you with so much
about myself. Pray write to me again.
Your luxurious stationery. with the faint,
delicate perfume pervading it, is in itself
delight.
''Sincerely yours.
"MIss FRANCES BEErRaM SCREvEN."
As read this letter felt myself a
scoundrel. My first impulse was to
wIitc a letter of confession 10 Miss
Screven; but the desire to keep up the
and try my hand at
letters that should be sweet
ly feminine overcame my scruples, and
sent off the following reply:
''DEAR Miss SCREyEN-Instead Of boring |
me, the glimpse You gave me Of your life in
terested me more than / csn tell. But, mt !
the same time, the contrast between your 1