New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-02-26
BRETHJRTS FIRST .STORY.

From he aao, s preface to The neW edHo" Ofh poems
When the frs number of The Orertand Noahty
appeared the author, then its editor, called the
publishers attention TO the lack OF any distinctive
Californian romance in Its pages, and ayerred that,
shouh no other contribution come IN, he hmselt
would supply the omission In the next number No
other contribution was offered, and tie author
having the plot and geueT al idea already IN ms mind
in few days sent the manuscript of he Luck OF
Roaring Camp" to the printer. lie had not yet re-
cevcd the prOof-sheets when he was suddenly sum,
moned to tie office OF the publisher whom he found
standing the picture OF dlsmay ana anxiety WIN
fine proof before HIM. The Indignation and stupe-
faction of the author can he well understood when
he was told that the printer, instead OI returning
the proofs to him. submitted them 10 the publisher,
with the emphatic declaration that the matter
thereof was so indecent, Irreligi0us aud Improper
that his proof reader-a young ladyhad with diff
Guilty been induced To continue ITS perusa ana that
be- as friend of the publisher and well wiSher
OF the magazine, was impelled 10 present To nun
personally this shameless evidence OF the manner IN
which the editor WAS imperlng tho future OF that
enterprise 1t should be promised that the critic was
q man OF character ana standing, me ntad 0I
large printing establishment, church member,
and the author thinks, II deacon. la winch clIcum-
stances the publisher frankly admitted TO the
author tnat while he could not agree with all Oi
the printers criticisms. he thought the story open
to grave objection, and It's publication oil dOuDiIuI
Relieving only that he was the victim of some
extraordinary typographical hlunder. the author at
once sat down and read the proof In ltS new dress
with the mctanOrphO,is OF type-that neIimotpno-
sis which every writer so well knows changes ms
relations to it and makes it no longer seem part
of muselfhe was able TO read 1t with sonnet thing OF
thc freshness of an untold tale As he read on he
found himself affected even as he had been aIecteu
in the conception and writing OF lt-a feeling so IN
compatible with the charges against IT, that he
conld only lay it down AMI declare emphatlc9lly
al eit hopelcS5ly, that be could really see nothing
Objectionable in it. Other opinions were SOUGHT i
and gwen. To the authors surprise, he found nm
self IN the minority. Finally, the story was sub
mttcd to three gentlemen OF culture and EXPERT
ence. friends of publisher and uthOr,-who were
Ia IN
was how ever, suggested to the author that aSSun-
ing the natural hypothesis that ms editorai reason
Ing might be warped by his literary productions
i'm a consideration of one OF his own productions
ppysOnal sacrifice wOnd AT TINS luncture DE III Tue
last degree heroic. This last suggestion had the
effect of ending all further discussion; for ne &c
once informed the pr I'll sher that the question oil the
propriety OF the story was no longer at issue: the
ONLY question was of his capacity TO exercise the
nro1rr editorial Judgment; and that unless he was
permitted to test that capacity DV puollcatlon Oh
the story and abide sqnarey by the result he uusI
resign his editorial POSITION Inc puouSher, pos1ii-
Nv struck with the authors confidence possibly
fr9m kindness of disposition to n younger man,
welded and "The Luck of Roaring camp was
published in the current number Of the magazine
Tor which il was written, as 1t was written WITHOUT
emcndation omission, alteration or apology "A no
inconsiderabr part OF the grotesquehesS OF tne
situation was tho feeling, which the author re
famed throughout the whole affair, OF the perfect
sIucerty cool faith and sefi0usness oil MS lrehd ~
the DIinter's-ObcctIOn, and Tor many days
thereafter he was haunted by consideration oil tnc
snifcrings of this conscientious man, Obliged To
materially III DISSEMINATING Jhb ubuEtiuho
and subyersive doctrines contained Ia TINS Daeiui
Icton What solemn protests must have been lana
with he ink on the rollers and impressed upon those
wicked sheets what pOus warnings must nave
been secretly folded and Stitched IN tat uhoeI vi
Tic OreriGnd M0DthW Across the cnasm 9t years
and distance the author tretcbes forth the hand OF
sympathy and forgiveness, not forgetting Jne gchto
nroof reader that chlste and unknown nynph.
whose mantling cheeks ana dOwhcdst eyes gave the
first indications OF warning. ..
Rnt the troubles of the Luck were far from
endeI II had secured an entrance into the world,
Int like its own hero. it was born with an eVll
reputation and to community titt hau ye. ~ i',s,h
In love IT, The secular press, with one or two ex-
ccptions, received II coolly ana relelteu 10 Tvs
siugularity"; the religious press frdDtlcaily eX-
communicated il, and anatncmatned IL a. the Oh,
sprIng of evil; the high promise OF inc otDhnd
UonEIy was said to have been ruined by It's birth;
Christians were cautioned against pollution ny ltS
contact. practical business men were graNely urged
TO conden and frOwu upon this picture oil Cailior-
nlau society that was not conducive 70 EaStoIh IL
migration; its hapless author was held up to Ohio,
any as a man who had abused sacred trhsI III
rs life and reputation had depended on lts reception
i'm California this edition and explanation wouIu
alike have been needless But, fortunately tho
vonng OrerLdad Monthly had in its first number
secured hearing and position Jhroughoul tno
American Union, and the author waiteu tue Iaiscl
verdict The publisher, albeit his worst leius WcIo
confirmed. was not o man To weakly regret poeI-
zion he mad once taken and waited also. me return
mail from the East brought letter addresSed 10 inc
Editor of The Overland MoHhty lnGioslns q
letter from Fields OSgoOd Co, the puoIlsheiso VI
nnInawn . Author of Tho Luck OF Roaring
CemptV This the author opened. ana tOuhd 10 DO
n renuest upon the most iattering Terms ior
story for Inc Atlantic similar to the Luck Inc
same mail brought newspapers ana reyle"s welcoih
no Tho litte foundling OF Californian literature
Viii an enthusiasm that half frightened its authori
nt With the placing OF that letter In the hands OF
the publisher. who CHANGED to DO standing by his