The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-08-01

MY FIRST EDITOR.


of Swinburne
| snatched up my manuscript and was
leaving the room, flushed with shame,
trembling with rage and indignation, when
the Editors voice arrested my attention.
| turned round and looked at him scorn-
fully, for felt could have withered him
with glance but he did not seem to feel
it much.
You're most impetuous young lady,
he said in slow, low, musical voice. Il
have not half finished my criticisms of this
very remarkable production, and he took
the manuscript quietly but resolutely from
my trembling fingers. Now, Miss"
'Jones," | said shortly.
mo, 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 long, fair dropping NOUS
tache. 'Now, Miss Jones, pray sit down
| he indicated a high leather-covered chair
just opposite to him--'sand let us talk the
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 postman and newspa-
per wrapper, it would have been declined,
| 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 for
few minutes ---. d.
| bowed and sat down. He had got out
his scapel and was going to scarify me mer-
cilessly, but, as had brought it ON myself,
l felt l must heroically endure it, though
glanced surreptitiously round the dem in
search of some means of escape. He ''fixed
me with his glittering eye" and waited,
wondering why had been so mad and mis-
guided as to enter an editorial Office at all.
Slowly, deliberately, with sort of fiend-
ish satisfaction, he smoothed out the crum-
pied manuscript, glancing at me with
amused interest.
''Why do you write poetry, Miss Jones?'
Il don't know; because | like to, | sup
pose" l..-..
"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 now-a-days-
it is necessary for them to be bitten and
smtten,' and that sort of thing? Is it
really desirable in the interests of common
humanity for hearts to be melted and
'smelted'?"- he placed his finger un-
der certain 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 it y
MY passion flowed forth as torrent
which of course rhymes with 'abhor-
rent. ~
''Stop please r'-and l thrust my fin
gers into my ears in the most undgnified
misery but l could not shut out the sound
of the clear, quiet, hooking voice. shut
my eyes, but still there was the horrid,
gloating, good-looking editor watching me
steadily, his hand resting on my beauti-
fully written poem-I thought then and
think to this day that it was and is beauti-
full. When | looked at him again, he was
laughing at my distress, smiling to himself,
like ghoul or a harpy or something
equally horrid but that he was exaspera-
tingly good-looking.
Now, Miss Jones' what else have you
written besides this very remarkable pro-
duction?" with another suppressed smile
"'some blank verse and banker prose,
And more of both than anybody knows"
| reply, little bitterly. ''Will you please
give me my manuscript? I'm very sorry
to have troubled you; l shall never do so
again !"
''Oh, yes, you will and | shall be very
glad to consider some of the blank prose
you speak so despairingly of! If you will
let me see nice, matter-of-fact, common
place little story, or a short article on some
useful domestic subject such as The Aver
age Servant, or Occupation for Girls;
anything of that sort. Can you suggest
anything ?"-and he looks at me gravely
and questioningly-''so something novel and
attractive, that might be treated briefly
and brightly-made "a feature of, in short.
| 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
laugh outright as l stammered feeble
thank you" ..... -..I. .a.. l..
''And you really should cut Swinburne, +"
he added, with meaning glance at the
manuscript. .-=....
Il don't know Mr.. Swinburne--that is,
met him only once, and then he said some
thing to me in Greek" / replied
''He might have said something much
worse. But | merely mean that 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 ?" I5.. .-tui
'Internal evidence - and he touched my
manuscript. ",This betrays a severe course.
You must alter your style, Miss Jones.
Time enough for you to come to the cyni-