The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-07-31
MY FIRST EDITOR.

"It's the natural result of a severe
course of Swinburne!"
| snatched up my manuscript and
was leaving the room, flushed with
shame, trembling with rage and indig-
nation, when the EDITORS voice arrest
| ed my attention. l turned round and
| looked at him scornfully, for / felt
could have withered him with a glance;
/ but he did not seem to feel it much.
You're a most impetuous young
lady, he said, in slow, low, musical
| voice Il have not half finished my.
| criticism of this very remarkable pro-
| duction," and he took the manuscript
quietly but resolutoly from my tremb-'
| ling fingers. "Now, Miss
JONES'" said shortly.
"Not, not Jones; but the name will
| serVe;' and felt his keen gray eyes
on my face, and observed an amused
smile lowering round the corners of
his mouth, which was half hidden by q
long, fair, dropping mustache. ''Now,
Miss Jones, pray sit down"-he indi-
Gated high leather-covered chair just
! opposite to him-''and let US talk this
matter over. If you had been content,
| like other aspiring young authors, to,
! send your contribution in the ordinary
way. through the medium of the post
| man and a newspaper wrapper, it
| would have been declined, doubtless,
| and returned with or without the GUS
tomary, though not very consoling;
| thanks; but, since you have bearded,
| the lion in his den, you must listen to-
| me for few minutes"
| | bowed and sat down. He had got
| out his scaipel and was going to scarify
me mercilessly, but as | had brought it
| on myself l felt l must heroically en-
dure it, though glanced surreptitiously
| round the ''den" in search of some
| means of escape. He "fixed me with
| his glittering eye," and | wilted,
wondering why had been SO mad and
| misguided as to enter an editorial of
| flee at all.
Slowly, deliberately, with sort of
tiendish satisfaction, he smoothed out
the crumpled manuscript, glancing at
me with amused interest
"Why do you write poetry, Miss
JonesP'
Il don't know, because l like to, I
suppose"
"a woman s reason--therefore valid.
But do you honestly and really think it
necessary for people, even in poetry,
| and supposing they are very much in
| love with each other-which no one is
nowadays-is it necessary for them to
| be bitten and .smitten,' and that sort
| Of thingP Is it really desirable IN the
interests of common humanity for
| hearts TO be melted and .smeltedP' "
and he placed his finger under GER
tain stanza. This sentiment, for
instance, is simply ferocious."
'Don't!' cried angrily. 'It's very
cruel and unkind of you! If you don't
want my poetry. you can say SO, and
have done with itr'
My passion flowed forth as tor
rent'-which Of course rhymes with
'abhorrent.'
Stop, please!'-and l thrust my
fingers into my ears in the most undig-
nified misery; but l could not shut out
| the sound of the clear, quiet, mocking
voice. shut my eyes; but still there
was the horrid. gloating. good-looking
editor watching mo steadily, his hand
resting on my beautifully written
poem-I thought then and think to this
| day that it was and is beautiful. When
l looked at him again, he was laugh:
ing in my distress, smiling to himself.
| like ghoul or n harry, or something
equally horrid, but that he was exasp-
eratingly goodlooking.
Now, Miss Jones, what else have
| you written besides this very remark
able production2" with another sup
! pressed smile.
''Some blank verse and banker prose.
| And more of both than any ybody knows"
| please give me my manuscript I'm
very sorry to have troubled you; l
| shall never do so againr'
"Oh. yes, you will; and l shall be
very glad to consider some of the blank
! prose you speak SO despairingly Of! II
| you will let me see nice matter-of-
fact-common-place little story, or
| short article on some useful domestic
subject, such as The Avenge Servant
or Occupation for Girls anything of
that sort-can you suggest anything2"
| and he looks at me gravely and
questioningly- y-''somcthiug novel and
| attractive, that might be treated
briefly and brightly-made % featare'
OF, in short-I shall be very pleased to
consider anything of that sort you may
favor me with, Miss Jones'"
He always paused most provokingly
after the Miss" and | hardly Knew
whether to be angry or to laugh out
right as l stammered feeble Thank
you"
"And you really should cut Swim
burne," he added, with q meaning
glance at the manuscript
II don't know Mr.. Swinburne-that
is, met him only once, and then he
said something to me in Greek" re-
piled.
He might have said something
much worse. But merely mean you
| shouldn't devote so much of your time
| to his poetry-the Poems and Ballads
for instance, and the Songs Before
| Sunrise.
How do you know do?"
Internal eyidence;" and he touched
my manuscript This betrays q Sc
we're course. You must alter YOUR
style, Miss Jones. Time enough for
you to come to the cynical-sensual-
metaphysical-incomprehensible in ten
years, say. You'll be educated I'D to
the point of not believing word Of it
by that time. Kindly leave me your
address, and the manuscript shall be
returned in the usual way"
mo. IL Brown street, Bloomsbury,
W. c." replied, my face crimson,
.'care of Mrs Kent"
He wrote it down, and then stood up
10 indicate that the interview was