The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1884-09-19
MY FIRST EDITOR.

It's the natural result of u severe
course OF Swinburne
L snatched up my manuscript and
was leaving the room, flushed with
shame, trembling with rage aud in
dignation, when the editors voice
arrested my attention. | turned
aud looked at him sc0rDiully, for
felt that | could have withered him
With Il glance; but he did not seem
To ieel il much.
"YOu're most impetuOns young
lady, he said, III u slow, low, muSi
cal voice. III have not half finished
my criticism Of tins very remarka
BILE productions" and be took the
manuscript quietly but resolutely
from my trembling fingers. "Now,
Miss
"Jones," said shortly.
"Nor, not Jones; but the name
will serve;| and l felt bis keen grey
eyes on my face and observed an
amused smile lowering around the
corners of his mouth, which was
halt hidden by "a long, fair, droop
lug mustache. "Now, Miss Jones,
pray sit down'-he indicated u high
leather coved chair just opposite TO
him-'and let Us talk this matter
over. Ii yon had been content,
like other aspiring young authors,
to send your contribution in the or.
dinary way, through the medium
OF the poslman and a newspaper
wrapper, 1t 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 loT
few minutes"
bowed and sat ,lowu. lie had
got oui his scalpcl and was going
to scariiy me mercilessly, but as |
had brought it on myself | felt ]
must heroically endure it, though |
glanced snrreptiiiousIy round the
"dcn" in search of some means of
escape. she fixed me with his
glitiering eye,' aud l waited, Won
dering why | had been no mad aud
misguided as to enter an editorial
Office ut all.
Slowly, deliberately, with a sort
Of fiendish satisfaction, he smoothed
out the crumpled manuscript, glanc-
ing at me with amused interest.
"Why do you write poetry, Miss
Jonesg
81 don't know, because ike to,
| suppose"
"a woman's rcason-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-wbich no one is nowadays
is it necessary for them to be 'bitten'
and 'smitteD,' and that sort OF
thingf Is it really desirable in the
interests of common humanity for
hearts to be melted or 'smelted'r
aud he placed bis finger under Il
certain stanza. "This sentiment,
for instance, is simply ierocious."
"Don'tp l cried angrily. "It's
very cruel aud unkind of you If
you don't want my poetry, you can
say so, and have done with itw
"My passion flowed forth as a
t0rrent'--which OF course rhymes
with abhorreut.'"
"Stop, please y and / thrust my
fingers into my ears in the most un.
dignifed misery; but l could not
shut out the sound of the clear,
quiet, mocking voice. l shut my
eyes; but still there was the horrid,
gloatiug, good-lookiug editor
watching me steadily, his hand
resting on my beautifully written
poem--I thought then aud think SO
to this day that 1t was and is beau
tiful. When looked at him again,
he was laughing at my distress,
smiling to himself, like a ghoul or a
harpy, or something equally horrid,
but that he was exasperatingly
good.looking.
"Now, Miss Jones, what have you
written beside this very remarkable
production 7" with another sup
pressed smile.
"'Some blank verse and blanker prose,
And more of both than anybody knows"
] reply, a little bitterly. "WiIl you
please give me my mannscripti I'm
very sorry to have troubled you. /
shall never do SO again n
"Oh, yes, you will; and shall be
very glad to consider some OF the
blank prose you speak SO despair.
ingly of! If you will let me see q
nice matter-of-fact commonplace
little story, or q short article on
some domestic subipct. such M