Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-05-19
MAGAZINE MANUSCRIPTS.
Precious Few or Those Hopefully Sent In
Ever Get Examined. "

Ever Get Examined. -,
II have had Something to do with the
business of story writing III my time,
both as producer and IS a Judge of
other peoples work, said Z nan of let
tiers to writer for the Washington
Star. THE latter occupation l finally
abandoned, because the labor Of inspect
ing manuscripts contributions in bulk
was too wearing. 1 don't think it is
found particularly so, as 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 Il
reading staffs were multiplied by 81:
prOpc~ examination could not be give,
them all. AS it is it is the exception!
that is 50 fortunate'as to be looked at.
persons send contributions to tn,
big magazines with the notion that they
will be read. They are victims of a de-
fusion, usually. ], who have seen the
inside works OF such concerns, say it.
The task Of getting through the vast
number OF manuscripts submitted is SO
hopeless thnt little moro is .attcm
with the great ma jority than to return
them, ordinarily after many days. Ii
you are at all known by reputation, your
offering is likely to be inspected, but
not otherwise.
Games have often been tried unon
the great lnonthlics for the purpose of
seeing whether this was SO or not.
George w. Cable, the famous author,
published the results of few such ex-
perimcnts of his own awhile ago. He
~ CT,
an assumed name, the rounds of the
New York magazines. They were re-
fused by every one--found not avail
able'-whcrcupon 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 as claS-
steal. POISON JOne' was hawlied about
the metropolis in vain: not an editor
, would buy it. 1t was this early expert
cncc which led Mr.. Gable 20 his subSe-
qucnt experiments. the result of which
pointed to the conclusion that a contri-
button offered to one of these month
lies had scarcely the slightest show
upon its merits unless known name
was attached it.
Several years ago, when I was alto
gcthcr unknown, / myself used to try
some little tricks upon the magazine
readers, such as putting the smallest
possible daub of glue between two of
the pages of my manuscript or turning
one Of the leaves upside down. Invari-
ably upon the return of the contribu-
ton l would find the two pages still
stuck and the turned leaf as before,
proving that it really had not been in
spectcd. 1t was discouraging, though
not SO much SO as, TO suppose that my
work had been fairly read by an expert
and pronounced not worth publishing.
You may try the trick yourself and you
will find that it will go every time.
'On one occasion l sent story to a
certain important monthly entitled
The Crystal Ball The editor returned
it with the usual thanks, saying: 'We
are sorry TO find that your contribution
called The Cheerful Bull' is not avail
able tor our purposes 1t reminded nc
of the famous translation of "Tristc
Lupus by Il classmatc of Tom Brown
ut Rugby, as The Sorrowful Wolf"
Processes Mobbed.
When the Princess of Wales staid for