Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-07-12
MY FIRST EDITOR.

at him scornfuIly, for felt could have with
cred him with glance; but he did not seem to
feel 1t much
You're most fmpetuous young lady" he
said. In a slow, low, musical voice. 81 have not
half finished my criticism of this very remarka-
Bile production" and he took the manuscript
quietly but resolutely from my trembling fingers
NOW, Miss
JONES'" said shortly
Not, not Jones; but the name viii serve;"
ana telt his keen grey eyes on my face and OBJ
served an amused smile lowering round the
corners Of his mouth which was half hidden by
a long, fair, dropping mustache. Now, Miss
Jones, pray sit dOwn"-he indicated high
leather-coyered chair just opposite to him
land let US talk this matter over II you had
been content like other aspiring young authors
TO send your contribution in the ordinary way,
through the medium of the postman and
newspaper wrapper, it would have been de-
cllned. doubtless, and returned with or without
the customary though not very consoling
thanks; but, since you have bearded the lion in
his den, you must listen to me tor a few
minutes"
bowed and sat down. He had got out his
scaipel and was going to scarify me mercilessly,
but as had brought 1t on myself felt must
heroically endure It, though | glanced surrepti-
tiously round the den in search of some
means of escape. He fixed me with his gilt
tering eye" and | waited, wondering why had
been so mad and misguided as to enter an edi-
torial office at ALL
Slowly, deliberately with sort of flendlsh
satisfaction, he smOOthed out the crumpled
manuscript. glancing at me with amused in
teTest.
why do you write poetry Miss Jones?"
II don't know; because like to, suppose"
"A woman's reason-theretore valid. But do
yon honestly and really think it necessary for
people. even in poetry. and suppOsng 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 thing?
is it really desirable in the interests of common
humanity for hearts to be melted and
smelted?' and he placed his finger under o
certain stanZa- This sentiment, for instance
Is simply ferOcious."
DON'T" l 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 it,"
My passion flowed forth as torrent
which of course rhymes with .abhorrent'
stop. please,"-and thrust my fingers into
my ears In the most uudi gnifed misery; but
could not shut out the sound of the clear quiet
hooking voice. / shut my eyes but still there
the horrid. gloating, good-looking editor
watching me steadily, his hand resting on my
beautifully written poem-I thought then and
think to this day that it was and is beautiful.
when looked at him again, he was laughing
at my distress; smiling to himself like
ghoul or harry. or something equally
horrid, but that he was exasperatingly good
looking.
Now. Miss Jones. what else have you writ
zen besides this very remarkable productions"
with another suppressed smile.
Some blank verse and bla mixer prose
And more of both than anybody knows"
reply, little bitterly. XVIII you please give
me my manuscript? Pm very sorry to have
troubled you; shall never do so againI''
''Oh, YES you will; and l shall be very glad to
consider some of the blank prose you speak so
III vi of
matter-0f-fact commonplace little story, or a
snort article on some useful domestic subject
such as The Average Servant or Occupation
Tor Giris'-anything of that sOrt-can YOU suo-
gest anything?"-and he looks at me gravely
and Notwithstanding novel and at
tractlye that might be treated briefly and
brightly-made a feature of. in short-T shall
be very pleased to consider anything of that
sort you may favor me With. Miss Jones"
He always paused most proyOkingly after the
Miss, and | hardly knew whether to be angry
or to laugh outright as | stammered a feeble
thank YOU"
And you really should cut Swlnburne." he
added, with meaning glance at the manu-
script.
Il don't know Mr. Swinburne-that is. 7 met
him only once and then he said something tn
me in Greek. - replied,
He might have said something much worse.
But L merely mean you shouldn't devote so
much OF your time to his pOetry-the Poems
Sunrise
''TIow do you know doF"
internal evidence" andhetOuchei nv MANN
script. This betrays a severe course. You
must alter your style. Miss Jones Time enough
Tor you to come to the cynicalsensual-meta-
neutrality-suspicious. In ten Years. saw.
You'll be educated up to the point of not be-
lieving word of it by that time. Kindly leave
me your address, and the manuscript shall be
returned in the usual way
No. II Brown street Bloomsbury w q II
replied, my face crimson, ''care of Mrs Kent"
He wrote it down. and then stood IN to in
dictate that the interview was over bowed for
mally. and then touched a little bell Suddenly
a small boy appeared who conducted me down
dark breakneck stairs, through several mouldy
dusty labyrinthine passages and out through
booksellers shop. / felt more Thoroughly
small, mean. miserable, and disguised than ]
mad ever felt in my whole life as | emerged
from the shady by-street containing the office
into the hight and hustle of Picadllly. and. as I
got into q bus. vowed never again to come to
a personal encounter with an editor Hitherto
had been content to drop nv little cOptribu
ton modestly into the letter-boxes of certain
weekly publications that delight in small
stories. or | would send them hy most and
await the result with what patience | could.
Sometimes my stories and verses were accented
sometimes not, and fancied that If an editor
only knew how exceedingly industrious was.
how very much in earnest, how deyotedv at
Muse Of Literature for better for worse-thpre
was TO choice between doing that and being a
goveTness-he wOndhave far better opinion of
me ard give me an important permanent position
on his paper Immediately Then Ihad Heard so
much about the editor of the AYIiuGtol all tho
girls at the reading room of the British Museum
We're continually talking of him: and in an evil
hour. armed with my most elaborate pOetical
production. | made my way to the Office and
requested. and, strange to saw was granted flor
Il nd for fpsa,,It
view The result was pain. shame confusion.
discontinue, and worst OF all. failure Heaven
and earth, how hated that man as sat in the
most remote corner of the bus on nv home
ward jOurney-hOw | vowed to be revepoed and
let him know some day whom he had sneered
and jeered at! j would put him in a novel, in a
comedy. in burlesgue. | would caricature him
with pen and pencil. / would become famous
merely to spite him, and refuse-oh, the joy of
that thought Il would refuse to write serial
for his hateful magazine. | believe became
almost eloquent in my internal denunciations of
hun; and, as an immediate practical, disdainful
defiance of him, got out at oxford street and
went into Mudie's for another volume of Swim
burne. "
Id one way Or another the editor of the Ayl-
angt0ra was good deal in my thoughts during
the next week, and the more considered his
cohuuct the more 1 detested him; my cheeks
burned and my ears tingled as recalled his low
mocking tones and quiet, annihilatinp plances
AS Tor submitting story, essay or articles to his
tender mercies-neveri " ~
fortnight passed. and my manuscript did not
come back. My name was not Jones. hnt +
really did. live with Mrs. Kent i'm Brown straat