The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-17

Author of IAN Ambitious Woman Rutherford, "
"A Gentleman of Leisure etc.
lPxblishei BY Special arrangement ,eh Bachelor Co.
-CopUighted.]
Ihad always thought our paper mere venture
Mt best. True, Verify was populous town, and
there was no reason why weekly journal, if
once definitely started, should not succeed there.
But on the other hand an important considera
zion must be taken into account. Did Verify,
with its few paltry thousands of inhabitants,
really want weekly journal at ala Could it
support onel Had it faith enough in its own
intellectual claims to maintain the dignity OF
real literary ''organp
Pettigrew thought yes. If he had not thought
10 very decidedly, sure that he would net
have advanced the solid capital toward the en-
4erprise which he did advance, by this means
making it a matter Of positive realization and
achievement
Pettigrew was man of considerable property,
Of much education, and of strong ambition
TO shine in letters. He was a widower, with
Swo or three grown-up children; he had worked
hard for his money, and had made it only after
4he flower of his youth was faded. But he had
Sound time to read and think; / suppose he was
what is called self taught man. When he
selected myself, then aged twenty four, to be
bis acting editor felt thrilled by the preference.
He was the leading citizen of Verify, and l. Amos
langley, had just been graduated from West
ern college with the keen perception that l must
promptly set to work and do something as
the phrase goes, or starve
/ knew very well that should not like what
John Pettigrew put into the paper. And Iknew
very well that he meant to monopolize at least
page of it every week He had ideas. theories,
views on all subjects. He wrote ponderous,
Johnsonian style, whose syntax was not seldom
precarious, and whose adjectives were piled one
Dpon another in polysyllabic abundance The
tariff question, the civil-service question, the
woman's rights question, the Mormon question
these and hundred others were equally inviting
to him. His pen itched to treat them ALL The
paper might be financial failure for TWO or
three years without dying, for it would still give
Mr. Pettigrew a chance of exploiting himself.
Other men, after accommodating a certain pile of
wealth. buy pictures, keep fast horses, own a
yacht Pettigrew would stand as the power be-
hind an editorial throne.
''You can have full swing, Langley" he told
me- with the most conciliating twinkle in his
small hazel eyes and very amiable look on his
lean, close. shaver, impressive face Il shan't
pull you up in anything. l knew your dead
father well, my boy, and loved him like
brother I've watched you closely. and l see
you've got all his brains, with a good deal more
grit Grit is what he wanted. You deserve
start, and you shall have one. Only shall ask
you to print my stuff-always. Perhaps you
won't always like it. l dare say you'll think
some of it rubbish. But shall expect it to go
In all the same"
This was clear, and at the same time decisive.
had dark forebodings, but never once permit
ted them to transpire. They were verified in
the course of time, for when the Folio was once
launched into public notice began to feel that
it could never be a worthy exponent of my own
pronounced editorial creeds, while Pettigrew's
rolling periods and contentious, hazardous rhet-
eric must forever occupy its initial page. Still,
loquarrel with this feature of the journal was to
hy in the face of my own destiny Pettigrew
wrote with truly massive industry; he had his
hatterers who professed to read his illusions
with delight, and who declared to him unblush
lngly that they made the paper" Meanwhile,
with secret and inaudible groans l printed
lhem. But l was careful in every other
particular to follow my own wishes and beliefs.
1 have, through subsequent years, become avery
successful editor in city much larger than
Verify, and think there is no foolish vanity in
my stating that | was actuated from the begin
ming of my career by impulses born of distinct
talent for the work in which had engaged
never once permitted the man to supersede
She editor Before our paper was six months
old had made twice that number of mortal enc
mics. Miss Aurelia Sims the reigning poetess
of the town, never forgave me for declining with
thanks her Ode to the Evening Star. Mrs. Hath
away Wren, who had written gosslpy" letters
FOR years to several sheets of local if not general
note, and whose pseudonym of Carrie Careless"
was held in high esteem at many Verify fresides,
considered herself bitterly wronged because
resisted the signal honor of her service. Mr..
Lemuel Trotter, who sometimes dashes off a
lucid tale of crime and passion in the relaxation
from his duties as an apothecary, thought me an
arrogant and self sufficient young person because
would not print his "Hildegarde; or, The
Shadow of Fathers SIM And SO it went on
But was infiexible. Though | sowed a new
crop of dragons teeth every week. still would
maintain and cherish definite ideal l would
print only what l held to be worth printing
--ruat coelum. Every tea table in Verify might
be forbidden Newell and good; would drink
my tea alone, with clean editorial conscience
was very quick reader Of the manuscripts
sent me, and no doubt at times an unduly severe
one. But it is certain that l received reams of
trash A great deal of this | would merely glance
ut before reaching decision as to its wholly
worthiess quality. One day glanced at sheet
Of fool5cap which had arrived with about ten
others in a small packet that same day, and ut
tered sudden cry of establishment. 1t was so
refreshing to come unexpectedly upon work
which was not that of tyro The contribution
was the first four chapters of story, and it was
accompanied by modest note. The author
trusted that would kindly examine these open
ing chapters, which he had written some months
ago. Bad health had prevented him from CON
tinuing the story, but in of anything like
encouraging criticism he would be glad to resume
it. The letter was signed Hector La1ghton, y
and the writer's address given underneath it. /
found this address to indicate kind of forlorn
settlement about six miles from Verify / had
scarcely believed that D. contained person
who could read or write. And yet here was the
beginning of story so simple yet so exquisitely
fresh and pure in its style that the author of it
gave not only evidence of having read fine classic
models but of being able to write with tender
and genial originality quite his own.
had found list what wanted for the Folio
This tale of Hector Laughtons must at once be
secured serial. Here was enough for two
numbers. This would pay for Immediately,
provided the author would visit me and sign the
contract to supply me with other installments as
early as possible. That same day l wrote to him
in D., and on the following morning he ap-
nearad