Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-13
LITERARY POINTS.
ASHORT TALK WITH A PROFESSION
Al MANuScRlpT-READE
The Odd Freak of q Great Authorized
of Magazines and Weekiics--sertat
Stories not Popular.
rcenespondones o, the Richmond DIspatcA.i

some Skcnticlsm may DC phuVno"
gardlng the truth Of the sensational s'orS
which has been flashed under the oceans
and is now surprising the literary world, 10
the effect that Robert Louis Stevenson mas
picked out Samoan mountain slopea ~
permanent home aud will at once begin TO
build house. To whatever extent the
gifted author of "Jekyll and HYDE" may
indulge his passion for studying Wild ana
unfamiliar life IN the remote hooks OF
the globe 10 which his yacht carries
him. il seems improbable that ms
numerous literary engagements can admit
OF his choosing as n home place Jar re-
moved from the centres OF thought anu
study hundreds Of leagues. indeed, from
the nearest literary cOnyeniences and Sc
cluded from the worlds activity and pro-
greSs. The writing, serials, sketches, etc,
for which he Is under contract are sum
cicnt 20 occupy at least a twelyemOnth,
and the total remuneration for the WORK ~
estimated at $500 of which sum a New
York literary weekly is to pay SlO'OOO TOT
serial story.
Curiosity is allowable concerning the
autograph of q writer whose .Pen-narks
hing him snch remuneration. Mr. steven
sons signature IS disappointment 10
those who believe that an authors per-
sonaiitv shows itself IN his handwriting.
II is small. fluent delicate, and almost
graceful. indicating none OF ms weird
originality in writing and none OF the
forceful disregard for conyentionahty
which tho author shows in his speech and
his dress.
Is HANDWRITING CHARACTERISTIC
Observers who believe that man mir
rors himself 20 some extent IN ms hand
writing could find many instances TO
- " which
come before the eye of the professional
"reader." and not few instances which
would puzzle their faith. la any event
they vould learn much Of what the
curious public IS ever eager to learn
Harold Frederick has a bold. simple,
and easy handwriting which Is JOY To-
the heart OF the professional reader"
and the writing Of James Parton IL like
unto it. Elizabeth Stuart Phelps has a
Quick and nervous hand and her manu-
script IL filed with ensures and inter-
lnoatious. Julian Hawthornes copy
averages eighteen words % line (hls copy
paper being seven inches wide and Is writ
ten with peculiar violet ink which flashes
into old cold or deadens 10 purple in GER
tam lights. Edgar Fawcett's handwrltingl is
plain and full. Frank Dempster Sherman
prints his poems with n fine pen, form
ing beautifully delicate letters, his manu-
script being almost as delicate and lucid
% his verses. The same could be said of
Clinton Scollards pen products. Mrs.
Amelia T.. Bars writing IL large ana brm
and angular. yet delicate. Judge Tour
gee uses ink which is like Julian Haw-
fhorne's. only more so. Mrs. Madeline
Vinton Dahlgren's chirography Is massive
aud Gothic with lofty arches and SKY
aspiring l's. Anna Katharine Green's hand
writing is delicate graceful, imaginative,
and scmi-fashionable.
ONE AT A TIME.
writers who send in several MSS. in the
came enclosure make big mistake, was
the information recently vOuchsated TO me
by a reader for one of the weekhes. 1t Is
much better for a writer to take little
additional trouble and mail the articles at
intervals of "A dav or two. Few readers
care 10 recommend more than one out OF
four or five short stories sent at one
time by the same author, and it IS fire.
auentlv the case that two or three OF
those same stories might be recon-
mended if "A week elapsed between the re-
ceipt Of each story. When an assortment
of short stories, poems, sketches, ana
comics u received the impression given is
distinctly uniavorable. The idea of the
sender Is too boldly evident. " Perhaps
III make strike out of the lot " il easily
read between the lines. Many publishers
require their readers" 10 keep an elabo-
rate record and index Of all articles sub
United and the work of such readers" is
increased dispToportionately when a Job
lot of stories. poems, etc.. IL received.
DECLINING DEMAND.
As for serials. it is in most cases com
paratively simple 10 Judge of tLem. just
now the magazines and the higher grade
weeklies have fewer serials than was the
case fifteen or twenty years ago, at which
time some OF the weekLes used to print as
many as six serials in each issue. To-day,
however, most of the superior perlOdl-
Gals use only two serials, some
Of them only one serial. Consequently
only a serial of special brilliance has any
show Of being accepted. Accordingly the
niche being 80 small most serials rrOttered
are rejected of hand. As novel published
serially must be in q serial form THAT ~, be
divided into instalments nearly equal IN
length. and have a rafting old-schOOl sus-
penseful climax and rs many new
writers do not write in pursuance Of this
requisite, many novels which would I've
salable and bright in bOok-form are thrown
out bv READERS for magazines and
weeklies. Above all, serial must have
hair-liiting first instalment: 1t mus; lose
no time in description and analysis, but
must get down at once TO action: the de
Hcription and analysis may come along about
the third or fourth instalment. But
the fact Is that q serial by an I'M
known author has not one chance In
thirty of acceptance. Most publishers
have stored IN their safes anywhere from
ten TO twenty five or thirty serials hv stand
ard and popular authors, and these may
have been awaiting insertion anywhere
from SIX months to three or four years or
more. With such wealth of serial fiction
on hand and with a lcssening demand Tor
fiction on the part of readers, 1t "a not
strange that magazine publishers should
be reluctant TO accept serial, no matter
how excellent. from an unknown genius.
WHAT Is LOOKED FOR.
inst now magazines and weeklies are on
che lookout for short sketches Of trave,,
adventure, exploration. etc, which are
capsble of bizarre and artistic illustration.
Strange life and scenery in remote hooks
Of the earth. picturesque features of me-
tropoltau life. higher phases OF sports,
religion, practices, etc, etc, etc,
in fact anything of interest, which
can be illustrated from photographs or 10y
the fancy Of "A creative and poetical artist,
have a better show for acceptance to-day
than fiction. Nv the way. amateur pho
Biography is destined TO play a dictatOnal
part in the weeklies. 4 series of good pho
tographs VIII float an inferior article, the
editors touching up the manuscript, and
If necessary giving 1t TO literary hack 70
1eNrlit.
Regarding poetry: As might be ex-
pected. most Of the verses winch come in
are evolved from feminine cerebral cells.
There ia craze for metrical connections
such as rondeauX. roundels, Nlllavelles,
triolets. ouatrains, huitrains, and other
fanciful products of the line of vers de
eociete. Such things generally begin the
round by being mailed to Lire and the
weekly society papers. and on being re
turned with thanks, are sent 90 any and
every periodical with which they are sup
posed 10 have a show. They refer learnedly
10 Already. Eros, HelOise, Juliet, Arma-
ryills, and otherwise show erudition re-
spectlng matters erotlc.
The most matter Is submitted in the
winter months, the winter crop being about
double that OF the summer. Ordinarily an
article which is intended FOR publication
in certain issue Of weekly should, If 1t
is to be illustrated. bein six or seven weeks
before that issue: If it does not need illus
tration it should be in o month beforehand.