St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-10-10
MISS CLEvELAND,s VENTURE.


While it is an essential qualification, the
mere possession of literary ability alone
does not qualify person for the work of
an editor. 1t was therefore with some de-
gree of anxious interest that the American
public looked forward to the result of Miss
CLEvELAND's experiment in connection
with the editorial management Of Literary
Life. Old journalists. who knew the value
of executive ability and certain amount of
training and experience in editorial work,
shook their heads in doubtful expression of
the success of the venture when they heard
that the late mistress of the White house
was to be exalted to the position of editor.
Now that her editorial boat is fairly
launched on the sea of journalism, the
pages of Literary Life are eagerly scanned
by the critics, with view of sizing up the
ladys editorial ability. The patrons of
Literary Life readily detect change i'll the
style and tone of the journal. 1t is obSerV-
able that there is new hand on the helm,
but whether the boat is to be guided into
smoother waters or is to be turned in the
direction of rougher seas is yet matter
of conjecture. Miss CLEVELAND has not
been in control long enough to give evidence
of her capabilities, and it would be wrong
to pass judgment in advance of an oppOr-
tunity to display her editorial talent. At
the same time, there can be no harm in
speaking of what appears on the surface.
Taking the October number of Literary
Life, for illustration, there are all the
traces of a wOmanly hand. and all the i'm
press of a womans mind, something after
the order of woman's letter, very readable
in the main text, but with the res gestae all
in the postscript. This is in the natural
order of things, and to be expected in the
beginning of this new editors career. Miss
CLEVELAND is a wOmanly woman, and her
mind is without masculine bent or training.
She comes into her new position in pos
session of all her womanly instincts, with
out any practical knowledge of what con-
stitutes editorial work. She finds that the
work at the editorial desk is entirely differ
ent from the kind of editing that is done by
the literati in the drawing room or the
library of their comfortably furnished
homes. She discovers that editorial life as
seen from the parlors of the executive man
sion is an entirely different thing
as it is viewed from the top of
the tripod in the sanctum of a
well-regulated publishing house. 1t is
new field for Miss CLEVELAND. and she
has found in it things of which she had no
previous dreaming. There is an apparent
nervousness in her first work IN this new
field which betrayS a lack of familiarity
with the conditions surrounding her. There
are some evidences of the desultory meth
DDS of femininity. But these things do not
argue that Miss CLEVELAND is not going
to succeed as an editor. Mrs. FRANK
LESLIE has succeeded in editorial work.
Miss CLEVELAND is possessed of as much
native ability and more culture than she.
But Mrs. LESLIE had sat by her husbands
side at the editorial desk day after day, and
year after year, until she had acquired the
discipline and experience which are essen
tial, in addition to literary ability, to make
good editor. No one not acquainted
with the fact would suspect that the
FRANK LESLIE publications were edited
by a woman. And so it will be later on,
when Miss CLEVELAND has had time to
acquaint herself with the practical details
of her new work, and to acquire practical
knowledge of the requirements of editorial
life, her success will be permanently estab-
lished. There is an encouraging prospect
before her. Having put her hand to the
editorial plow, there should be no turning
hack