The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-08-09
MAGAZINE MANUSCRIPTS.
Precious Few OF Those Hopefully Sent In
Ever Got Examined.

Precious Few or Those Hopefully Sent In
Ever Got Examined.
II have had something to do with the
business of story writing in my time,
both as producer and as judge Of
other peoples work." said n man of let
tors to u writer for the Washington
Star. 1.-THE latter occupation finally
abandoned, because the labor of inspect
ing manuscript contributions in bulk
was too wearing. don't think it is
found particularly so, as q rule, by
readers for magazines, because they
neglect it. Often it Is impossible that it
could be otherwise. One great month
~ In New York city receives 1900 man
uscripts every week in the year. If it's
reading stats were multiplied by six
proper examination could'n not be given
them all AS it is it is the exception
that Is so fortunate as to be looked at
Persons send contributions to tho
big magazines with the notion that they
will be read They are victims of u de-
fusion, usually. I, who have seen tho
inside works Of such concerns, say it.
The task Of getting through the vast
number Of manuscripts submitted LIS so
hopeless that little more is attempted
with the great majority than to return
them. ordinarily after many days. If
you are at nn known by reputation, your
Offering Is likely to be inspected, but
not otherwise
"Gnmes have often been tried upon
the great monthlies for the purpose of
seeing whether this was so or not.
George w. Cable, the famous author,
published the results Of few such cx-
perimcnts Of his own awhile ago. lie
sent two or three of his stories, under
an assumed name, the rounds of tho
New York magazines. They were re-
fused by every Onc-found not avail
able'-whereupon he dispatched them
over his own signature and they were
promptly accepted. Before he achieved
his reputation he was unable to secure
the printing of many of the tales which
have since come to be regarded rs elias
steal POISON Jonc' was hawlked about
the metropolis in vain; not an editor
would buy it. 1t was this early expert
ence which led Mr.. Cable 20 his subse-
quent experiments, the result of which
pointed to the conclusion that contri-
button offered to one Of these month
lies had scarcely the slightest show
upon its merits unless q known name
was attached it.
Several years ago, when I was alto
gethcr unknown, myself used to try
some little tricks upon the magazine
readers, such us putting the smallest
possible daub of glue between two Of
the pages of my manuscript or turning
one of the leaves upside down. Invari-
nbly upon the return of the contribu-
ton would find the two pages still
stuck and the turned leaf us before,
proving that 1t really had not been in
spcctcd 1t was discouraging, though
not so much so as to suppose that my
work had been fairly read by IN expert
and pronounced not worth publishing.
You may try the trick yourself and you
will find that 1t will go every time.
ION one occasion sent story to a
certain important monthly entitled
The Crystal Ball The editor returned
1t with the usual thanks, saying: we
arc sorry to find that your contribution
called "The Cheerful BULL" is not avail
able for our purposes 1t reminded me
OF the famous translation of 'Tristc
Lupus by a classmatc OF Tom Brown
at Rugby. as The Sorrowful Wolf"