Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-07-24
MY FIRST EDITOR.

cts the natural result Of severe
course 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 at
tention. 1 turned round and looked at
him scornfully, for felt 1 could have
Withered him with glance; but he did
not seem to feelit much.
you're most impetuous young lady,"
he said, in slow, low musical voice. 81
have not half finished my criticism of
this very remarkable production" and
he took the manuscript-quietly but res
olutely from my trembling fingers. "Now,
Miss
"Jones," I 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 around the corners of his
mouth, which was half hidden by long,
fair dropping mustache. "Now, Miss
Jones, pray sit down"-he indicated a
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 postman and
a newspaper 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 a few minutes"
I bowed and sat down. He had got
out his scalpel and was going to scarify
me mercilessly, but as l had brought it
on myself felt I must heroically endure
1t, though l glanced surreptitious round
the "den" in search of some means of es-
cape. He fixed me with his glitteling
eye" and 1 waited wondering why had
been so mad and misguided as to enter
an editorial office at all.
Slowly, deliberately, and with a sort
OF tiendish satisfaction, he smoothed out
the crumpled manuscript, glancing at me
with amused interest.
Jones?''
81 don't know; because I like to, sup
pose"
"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
adays-is it necessary for them to be
bitten and 'smitten' and that sort of
thing? 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."
"Don't!' I cried angrily. "Its 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 'abhor-
rent"
''Stop, please!"-and I thrust my fin
gers into my ears in the most undigni-
fed misery; but could not shut out the
sound of the clear, quiet, hooking voice.
l closed my eyes; but still there was 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 I looked
at him again he was laughing at my dis
tress, smiling to himself like ghoul or
a harpy, or something equally horrid,
but that he was exasperatingly good
looking.
''Now, Miss Jonet, what else have you
written besides this very remarkable
production?" with another suppressed
smile.
"'Some blank verse and blsnker prose,
And more of both than anybody knows"
I reply, little bitterly. evil you please
give me my manuscript? am very sorry
to have troubled you; I shall never do so
againl"
"Oh, yes, you will; and shall be very
glad to consider some of the blank verse
you speak so despairingly of If you
will let me see nice, matter-of fact, COM
mon place 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?" he looks at me
gravely and questioningly-" something
novel and attractive, that might be treat
ed briefly and brlghtly-made "a feature
of. in short-I shall be very much 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 outright