The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-07-19
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 indig
nation, when the Editors voice arrested
my attention. l turned round and
look ed at him scornfully, for l felt
could have withered him with a glance
but he did not seem to feel it much.
YOU'RE a most impetuous young
lady," he said, in a slow, low, musical
voice, II have not half finished my
criticisms of this very remarkable pro-
duction," and he took the manuscript
quietly but resolutely from my tremb-
ling fingers. Now, Miss"
"JoLes," l said shortly.
"No, 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 moustache. "Now, Miss
Jones, pray sit down" indicated a
high leather covered chair just opposite
to him-"and 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 a newspaper wrapper, it would
have been declined, doubtless, 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"
bowed and sat down. He had got
out his scalpel and was going to scarify
me mercilessly, but, as | had brough,
it on myself, felt l must heroically
endure it, though l glanced surrepti-
tiously round the '.den" in search OF
some means of escape. He "fxed me
with his glittering eye" and l waited
wondering why | had been so mad and
misguided as to enter an editorial office
at all.
Slowly, deliberately, with a sort Of
iendish satisfaction, he smoothed out
the crumpled manuscript, glancing al
me with amused interest.
"Why do you write poetry, Miss
Jones?"
81 don't know; because l like to,
suppose"
"a woman's reason-therefore valid
But do you really and honestly think il
necessary for people, even in poetry
and supposing they are very much il
love with each other-which no one i.
now-a-days-is it necessary for them te
be bitten and 'smitten,' and that sor
of thing? Is it really desirable in the
interests of common humanity for heart
to be 'melte 7 and 'smelted' ?"-and h.
placed his finger under certain stanza
This sentiment, for instance, is smpl,
ferocious."
"Don't !' cried angrily. "It's yer,
cruel and unkind of you If you don
want my poetry, you can say so, ant
have done with it ~
"'My passion flowed forth as tor
rent'-which of course rhymes wit
'abhorrent "
stop, please !''-and I thrust m
fingers into my ears in the most undig
nifed misery but l could not shut GU
the sound of the clear, quiet, mockin
voice. | shut my eyes, but still Their
was the horrid, gloating, good-lookin
editor watching me steadily, his han'
resting on my beautifully written poer
i thought then and think to this da
that it was and is beautiful. When
looked at him again, he was laughin
at my distress, smiling to himself, like
ghoul or harpy, or something equal
horrid, but that he was exasperatingl
goodlooking.
"Now, Miss Jones, what else hav
you written besides this very remarka
BILE production ?" with another sup
pressed smile.
"'Some blank verse and banker prose,
And more of both than any body knows
| reply, little bitterly. "Will you pleas
give me my manuscript I'm very SORT
to have troubled you; l shall never d
SO again ~
"Oh, yes, you will; and l shall b
very glad to consider some of the blan
prose you speak SO despairingly of!
you will let me see a nice, matter-of
fact, commonplace little story, or shor
article on some useful domestic subject
such as The Average Servant or 'Oc
cupation for Girls ; anything of the sort
Can you suggest anything ?"-and h
looks at me gravely and questioningl
-"something novel and attractive, tina
might be treated briefly and brightly
made "a feature of, in short. | sha
be very pleased to consider anythn
of that sort you may favor me witt
Miss Jones'"
He always paused most provoking
after the "Miss," and | hardly kne
whether to be angry or to laugh ou