Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-11-23
DO Magazines Regard Names or Merit
IInr Tho nIlrnt.l-I


II isa constant complaint Of young or
unknown writers that they cannot Obtain
fair treatment from the different publlca-
tiOus 10 which they submit Their proquc-
lions. and the editors of the same puulica.
tiOns are no less persistent i'm their denial
of the charge. The poor scubtlcrs assert
that they stand no chance because they are
unknown, the quality OF the WORK tAcf
offer having nothing TO do with the Ques-
ton of acceptance. Some of them go
SO fer as 10 set traps for the cd
tOrs-stickiug their pages together.
or some other equally hmsy device. and
almost invariably catch them. Thor sue
cess in this is. TO me, not surprising, Tor
were / an editor / should certainly Toe
caught IN the same way. / could not have
the heart to dlsappOiut such willy en-
snarcrs To the charge that they regard
names more than merit the editors elWay7
return an indignant denial. OF course
they are influenced by names TO certain
extent. and allOwably so; but If yOu hint
10 an editor that he viii accept pay for
and publish rank nonsense bv % we'll
known author he Will lie MORALLY offend
ed. and your name with HIM thcre-
after viii most likely be Dennis. he
boasts that he IS forever on the
watch-tOwcr Of literature looking cut for
the longed-for appearance of genius, and
j, ready to welcome such no matter from
what quarter or under what gulse 81 may
come: and the fact that geniuscs are con-
stautly slipping by him and being dis
covered bv others less ObsCrvant, possibly,
does not daunt him IN the least. lie stu
maintains that Zee is on guard and earning
the large salary winch he now generally
receives.
For my part have always been disposed
90 defend the editors against this charge ]
have mentioned Notwithstanding the
fact that | have had some occasion to
think them rather unappreciauve. TO
one who has any idea OF the annual
product of that universal disease c1ot-
Ties Scy-f0di. and how much Of ID is
poured into the magazine and other offices,
10 n not strange that so few MSS. find ac-
cepialce. or a pcrusai even granting that
the CHARGE af0re aid is true. II rs certain
liz much easier and quicker to read the
names appended 10 each article than tO
wade through the latter, and the editorial
brain Is not so much taxed IN the effort.
And there IS q good deal IN name in lite
rature especially, Shakespeare 20 the con-
trary Notwithstanding. The lafd'Oi Avon
wrote things which were not true some
times, lust like the rest of Us less gifted
folk do. But / have never thought
That the editors would 90 the length
of accepting mere trash simply be
cause salable name was appended
10 IT, although | have read some
things bv famous scribblcrs IN the maya
zines which perllously approached that de-
scriptlon of writing. But 1t seems that
have been doing the eiltOrs-somo ci them
at least-more than ju tce, for here comes
one of tho favored few" who has pene-
trated the inner circle and the editors
check-book. who speaks out IN meeting
and gives the whole thing away.
Mr.. W Hamilton Gibson Is well-known
author and artist. who has contributed 10
most OF the magazines aud has also ap-
peared in the greater dignity Of book
form. He has of late been having good
deal Of trouble with a double-a sort OF
double trouble. az II were-a fellow
who is borrowing and using his name
without his knowledge or consent, and the
following extract from letter written by
him to the New York Critlc of November
10Th viii show one kind OF trouble which
that double has caused him: But II tins
were all. " meaning the financial operations
Of the double III his name, the matter
would hardly have warranted public notice.
II Is of much more import to me that the IN
dividualis given 10 writing verses. and, what
il more, gets them printed, several exam
MIS- Of ms questionable atiatus-ROndeauX,
Chansonettes, Villanelles, and other
eouallv-villainOus Understanding already
heen published over my name and reprinted
in sundry journals, the author evidently
having imposed upon editorial innocents,
who ought TO have known that verse has
never been one of my Accomplishment
and that even though it were my muse
would hardly have led me into precisely
such paths as those which delight this NOR
bid parasite"
Airotile dicha, Would any one have be-
lieyed It? Would any one have supposed
that these same conscientious editorial
ipnocents," who yearn so anN0usly and so
constantly for the appearance of genius,
and who cannot accept anything not mp 10
the high standard CD Of the publication
over which they have the good luckto pre-
side, could be imposed upon by " villain
Gus rubbish" even thought bOrethe night
stamp and came apparently from the right
factory9 1t is amazing. The only ex-
planation of the matter seems TO be, as
limited aboye-namely, that II Is much
easier 20 read names than articles. IL this
is not so how did the villainOus rubbish
pass the vigilant and intelligent limo
cents? Really, it does seem a. If the vail
of the rejected may have some foundation
in fact, and would respectfully suggest to
the editors who took in Cor were taken in
by) Mr. Gibson's doubles rubbish" that
IL would be at least more honest, instead
of soothing the pangs of rejection with the
usual stereotyped polite formula just TO say
at once that the article offered is not Of the
right brand and you be blest II you are
going TO bother with poor devil who has