The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-06-21

New York, June Is. The short and rather
thick man wore hat that would have
fitted few others in the wide world, and
his siDgularity of Uranium lay IN the
diameter, being as great or greater, from
ear to eaI as from forehead to back. In all
other respects he was commonplace of
aspect, but he had that decision of man
ner and speech which indicates the
person who has become self-contident
through success Such was Robert
Bonner, dealer in sentimental literature,
as he came 10 the inner side of his
shop counter. Outside stood a dainty,
exquisite girl, as shadowy in physique as
he was solid, and as timid and low in
utterance as he was bold and loud She
had brought in some verses.
| | will leave them for you to read, if
you please she said. gently
BY the blush on heT checks, as be
| began TO open the sheet OF pages which
she nervously handed to him, it was plain
10 be seen that she had no desire to be
present when Judgment was passed upon
her effusion. But Bonner had no
sympathy for maitlenly weakness like
that
You needn't bother to come Twice
he said Il Il read them now
A delicate perfume, disturbed, by his
rude unfolding of the paper, spread il
the air He read the lines hastily. shook
his heal decisively, and passed them
back.
"Of no use to u.s., he remarked, in
an offhand way; mot poetry at all.
Mechanically all right but without any
j expression of a sentimental idea
The fragrant scent became more per-
ceptible Just as though the dear girl, S,
exotic heart was giving out sweet odor in
being crushed ike flower She went
out quickly | don t believe she kept the
tears back until she reached the street
In the doorway she met big man, from
whom, even in her confusion, she witt
held the meTest touch of her skirts by
drawing them Immediately aside. NOt
that he was repulsiye. but his physique
was heavy, his face red, and his Who'll,
personality grossly materiaistic She haC
poctice nature. as she was well aware
and. being ETHEREAL. it was intolerable t,
come into contact with so earthly mortal
Besides, there WAS unmistakably whiskl
on his breath aud tobacco in his clothes
1t was with evident revulsion that SIN
returned past him. To lean across thu
counter toward Bonner.
1t did net expect to get any pay TO
my poetry, she said.
That wouhln t make any difference
was rle reply.
As she departed the rude man threw
down yellow page that had been tor
frsn cheap pad. There were verses OIL
it, Bonner read them, took out his walle
9 and handed ten dollar note 10 the Gale
, who strobe out without word Bonnie
r allowed me TO see the poem. 1t was first
1 imaginative in character and melodiou
: in rhythm.
C And what was il that the girl offered
0 asked
f Trash mere trash, Bonner replied
b He told me that poems came into hi
!, Office at the rate of two to three hun
q dred week, though nearly all by mai
|. a1d ninety nine in hundred WORTHLESS
b also that he had several drawers cramme
with those which he had deeme
0 meritorious enough 10 buy. OF course
:. all publishers have more or less of sue
experience. The magazines are especial
3 made the recipients of rhymed matte
and il is not unusual for amateur author
9 with more money than genius to offer
: pay liberaHy for the insertion OF the
5 contributions | decline to believe tina
> these purchases of space in tn
p magazines are ever effected, althoug
; the imbecility of much of the pubiishe
J verse is almost convincing.