River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-04-07
A MANUSCRIPTS STORY
It Relates Some Events in Its In
teresting Career.

May tell my story? am a Ms. of
medium weight and bulk, and in addi-
ton to the tale which is told through
me / have tale to tell. story of ad-
venture by land and sea, of experiences
in tragedy and comedy. with class of
beings known as editors.
The author of my being was a WON
an I use the past tense, as / knew
her long agO-sO long. indeed, that for
tune must have crushed her ere this
had she not been of a firm, strong
mold, which refuses TO be crushed,
even by the heavy weight of an IN
known name.
At the time of my conception she
lived with her father in a small cottage
In a sleepy old town in the heart of an
eastern state
Its chief attraction was an academy
OF learning, where my author pursued
her studies with character and de-
eision-doing everything she did well
and completely. and indeed winning
for herself the title of the brightest
girl in town"
She had a gift Of expression and
some talent, and her friends often
said: .'You ought to write" a phrase
so often repeated that she began to
have some little confidence in it of her
self
Her father was pensioned officer.
disabled by wound from doing man
ual labor, and the pension he drew
was their main support, and while am
bitiOn spurTed on the daughter to
make the most Of whatever talent she
possessed, stern necessity, that mex
Orable driver. dashed her tagging
hopes from day 20 day with a demand
for dollars - dollars - dollars with
which to supply fast growing needs.
In little back chamber, away from
all intruding eyes, and even the too
garish light of day, tale after tale was
produced. and each. with a parcel of
hope done up within it. sent out to the
msrcies of an editorial world
In process of time /, too, was born,
and 70 the mind of my author was
her masterpiece
A true story of remark able chapter
Of incidents A love story? Why yes,
OF course. Men may come and men
may GO" but love goes on forever.
i, too, went out, and nv author tim
idly asked for me the pay which she
had been too modest TO expect for INV
predecessors. which, BY she wav, had
been, the most of them. graciously &C
eepted and pigeon-holed-
well remember my first reception.
Ii was in the Office of a leading reli
gious paper. and the editor was a
mighty man. in flesh and titles, and ne
looked me over suspiciOusly
-Hum-um a young writer, evil
IDENTITY. Hum-crude; rsry crude-um
-um. A lore story, and written by a
srOmGH who wants pay. Such pre-
sumption had best be nipped in the
bud"
Tie then seized a pen and scratched
Of a note. which I had ample time to
read. as we jOstIed along together in
the mail bag.
DEAR MADAM. While your story shows
considerable merit, we regret 20 say il is IN
available for our columns. and il is returned
with thanks FOR the privilege OF examination.
II you are thinking o. making a living in litera-
ture, fee constrained 10 offer you biz o: adj
vice-saW wood or take in washing. and you
will Ind IL more pleasant and lucrative held
Of labor than tnis Respectfully yours.
DR. W"
My author laughed Historically
when she read this tender and sympa-
thetic epistlc.
Take in washing. indeed" holding
up her tiny. slender hand. Perhaps 1
might earn my shOestrings at the
washtub, and l shall have to learn to
cut kindling before l can venture out
as wOOd-cutter. l think we'll test
the value of your advice first, DIR.
W"
next went TO the Office of one ofthe
leading magazines on the principle of
Nothing venture, nothing have"
felt that had come on a fruitlcss
quest when l saw the great number of
companions which Joined me upon the
road
When at last my turn came to be
opened, found myself in the hands of
n tired. jaded man, who plainly showed
WEAKNESS OF mind and body-the read
or for the magazine through whose
hands all matter must go for its first
sitting
His brow contracted as he took me
up and looked at my title. then at my
authors name Il wish these unknown
writers would stop sending in their un-
profitable wares. " he said. petulantlv.
He made a pretense of reading a few
pages. but finding nothing which
struck his weary fancy as brilliant or
original, he thrust me hastily into an
other envelope with printed slip. and
] was again a rejected MS" lying
upon the editorial page of a magazine
whereOn was printed this item:
The editors are ready at all times
g.,
unique in the line Of literature. with
out reference TO the name or fame OF
its author. and all matter submitted is
carefully and laboriously sifted in the /.
hope OF finding some stray gem of lit /
erary excellence.
When I arrived home found my
author in maze OF delight story I
had been accepted by publisher of 4
worldwide fame. with a word of .
hearty praise, and, better still. a check /
worth very much more to her than its 4
mere face value. for il was TIE very l
FIRST penny she had eve- earned by her I
pen
''Ah. you dear thing, you. she cried. |
Waiting around the room with a bit of 1
blue paper in her hand, you represent /
az least twenty five washings. so l /
think. DR. W, well wait awhile before /
we follow your clever advice"
She took Tie out with my printed /
letters W ooden letter / remember she /
called it-and patted me tenderly.
Il fear you're going 70 grow old and /
gray in my service. old friend" she !
said; "but never mind. when we get 4
ff-mons well have the laugh on some 4
Of these stOny-hearted fellows who 4
laugh at us now" and away / went on /
another tour, this time to a country 1
newspaper Of large circulation III /
not soar too high this time, :" said my /
author. as abe sealed me up.
What does she take me for" t-rosvled 4
the editor when ! again saw the light
suppose I'm going TO bus stuff and
pay the expense of setting it up when