Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-07-16
MY FIRST EDITOR.

cts the natural result of a severe
course of Swinburne!" ktA d
I snatched up my manuscript and
was leaving the room, flushed with
shame, trembling with rage and indig-
nation. when the editors voice arrested
my attention. / turned round and
looked at him scornfully, for I felt 1
could have withered him with glance;
but he did not seem to feel it much.
you're a most impetuous young la
dy," he said, in slow, musical voice.
81 have not half finished my criticism
of this very remarkable production"
and he took the manuscript quietly but
resolutely from my trembling fingers.
Now, Miss 80 f..se va &Na IS
Jones'" said shortly. -.
mo, not Jones; but the name will
serve;" and I felt his keen gray eyes
on my face and observed an amused
smile lowering around the corners of
his mouth, which was half hidden by
long, fair, dropping mustache. 'Now,
Miss Jones, pray sit down,'-he indi-
Gated high leather-covered chair just
opposite to him-'tand let us talk this
matter over. If you had been content
like other aspiring young authors, to
send your contributions 10 the ordina-
ry way, through the medium of the
postman and newspaper wrapper, it
would have been declined, doubtless,
and returned with or without customary
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 do wn. He had got
out his scalpel and was going to scarify
me mercilessly, but as I had brought it
on myself felt I must heroically en-
dure it, though I glanced surreptitious-
~ around the "den" in search of some
means of escape. He "fxed me. with
his glittering eye," and I waited, won
dering why had been so mad and mis-
guided as to enter an editorial Office at
all.
Slowly, deliberately, with sort of
tiendlsh satisfaction, he smoothed out
the crumpled manuscript, glancing at
me with amused interest.
"Why do you write poetry, Miss
Jones?" &tEF
81 don't know; because I 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 in
terests of common humanity for hearts
TO be melted and 'smelted'?" and he
placed his finger under a certain stanza.
This sentiment, for instance, is simply
ferocious" f
"Don't!" I cried angrily, cts very
cruel and unkind OF you'll If you don't
want my poetry, you can say SO, and
have done with itl'
"'My passion flowed forth as tor
rent-which of course rhymes with
sabhorrent.'"
''Stop, please and I thrust nv
fingers into my ears In the most un-
dignifed misery; but could not shut
out the sound of the clear, hooking
voice. 1 shut my eyes; but still there
was the horrid, gleating, 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 T
looked at him again, he was laughing
at my distress, smiling to himself, like
a ghoul or a happy, or something
equally horrid, but that he was exas-
peratingly good-looking. ai. lat Is
"Now, Miss Jones, what else have
you written besides this remarkable
production" with another suppressed
smile.
Some blank verse and banker prose,
And more of both than anybody knows, ;"
I reply, a little bitterly. "Win you
please give me my manuscript? I'm
very sorry to have troubled you; I
shall never do so againp -
ooh, yes you will, and I shall be
very glad to consider some of the
blank prose you speak so despairingly
of. If you will let me see nice mat
ter-of-fact, commonplace little story, or
short article on some useful domestic
subject, such as 'The Average Servant
or Occupation for Girls'-anything of
that sort-can you suggest anything?"
and he looks at me gravely and ques-
tioningly-' something novel and at
tractive, that might be treated briefly
and brightly made "a feaure' of, in
short shall be very pleased TO con-
slider anything of that sort you may
favor me with, Miss JONES'"
He always paused most provokingly
after the Miss" and I 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 a meaning
glance at the manuscript.
II don't know Mr.. Swinburne-that
is, met him only once, and then he