Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-07-16
i'd something to me in Greek" ]

AOPAAOOs
"He might have said something much
worse. But I merely mean 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?"
internal evidences" and he touched
my manuscript. "This betrays severe
course. You must alter your style,
Miss Jones. Time enough for you to
come to the cynical-sensual-m
ical incomprehensible in ten years, say.
You'll be educated up to the point of
not believing word of it by that time.
Kindly leave me your address, and the
manuscript shall be returned in the
usual way" s $50 -
ssNo. II Brown Street, Bloomsbury,
W. Co.," I replied, my face crimson,
"care of Mrs. Kent" -
He wrote it down, and then stood up
to indicate that the interview was over,
bowed formally, and then touched a
little bell. Suddenly small boy APP
peared, who conducted me down dark
break-neck stairs, through several
mouldy, dusty labyrinthine passages
and out through booksellers shop.
I felt more thoroughly small, mean,
miserable, and disguised than L had
ever felt in my whole life as / emerged
from the shady by-street, containing
the Office into the light and hustle of
Piccadilly, and, as I got into bus, I
vowed never again to come to per-
sonal encounter with an editor.
Hitherto I had been content to drop
my little contributions modestly into
the letter-boxes of certain weekly
publications that delight in small stores,
or would send them by post and await
the result with what patience I could.
Sometimes my stories and verses were
accepted, sometimes not, and fancied
that, If an editor only knew how ex-
ceedingly industrious was, how very
much in earnest, how devotedly at
tached to my calling-for I had married
the Muse of Literature for better or
for worse-there was no choice between
doing that and being governess-h
would have far better opinion of me
and give me az important, permanent
position on his paper Immediately.
Then had heard SO much about the
editor of the Arlington, al the girls at
the reading-room of the British Muse
UNI were continually talking of him;
and in an evil hour, armed with most
elaborate poetical production, I made
ny way to the Office and requested, and,
strange to say, was granted (for London
editors are difficult of access) an inter
view. The result was pain, shame, con-
fusion, discontinue and, worst of all,
failure. Heavens aud earth, how I
hated that man as / sat in the most re-
mote corner of the bus on my home
ward journey-how / vowed to be re-
venged and let him know some day
whom he had sneered and jeered at!
would put him in a novel, liz comedy,
in a burlesque. would caricature him
with pen and pencil, I would become
famous merely to spite him, and refuse
-oh, the joy of that thought would
refuse to write a serial for his hateful
magazine. I believed became almost
eloquent in my internal denunciation
of him; and, as an immediate practical,
disdainful defiance of him, / got out at
Oxford Street and went into Maudie's
for another volume of Swinburne.
In one way or another the editor of
the Arlington was good deal in my
thoughts during the next week, and
the more considered his conduct the
more [ detested him; my cheeks
burned and my ears tingled as I re-
called lis low, hooking tones and
quiet, annihilating chances. As for
submitting story, essay or articles to
his tQn6 Or M
A fortnight passed, and my manu-
script did not come back. My name
was not Jones; but really did live
with Mrs. Kent, in Brown Street; and I
told her all about it +: SO should have
received it had it been sent. Of course
he had tossed it in a capacious waste
paper basket, that I had noticed under
his table, and that was the end of it. 81
One day, quite month after my en-
counter with the autocrat of the Ar
hngton, Mrs Kent announced a Wis
itor, a gentleman, to see me; and in a
moment there entered the editor, more
cool, calm, self-possessed and smiling
than ever.
The verses have not come back in
qu1Go InO usual way, ne SadQz SINKING
unasked into the only easy-ehair 7
was at my writing table, and meant TO
stay there. However, here they are, all
safe, with few marginal notes. You
do really leave beautifully broad clean
margins they're quite tempting! By
the way, why haven't you sent me that
story?"
"I haven't written it yet," I replied
I longed to add, "and I never mean
TO ;" but somehow could not.
"WeH, you must; prose pays best
What other editors have you been inter-
viewing lately?"
Monet I never went to see another
in my ife"
He leaned back in his chair and
laughed heartily; then, with mock
gravity nse
"I'm glad to hear that, for you're re-
ally quite-dangerous. By the way,
why did you say your name was Jones?
You might have known I should find
you out. Editors do find out every
thing in time. You are Miss Madeline
MT