Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-04-15
THE MSS STORY.

THE MSS STORY.
May tell my story? ANA MS of medi-
um weight and bulk, and in addition to the
tale which is told through me I have tale
to tell, story of adventure by land and
sea, of experiences in tragedy and comedy
with class of beings known as editors.
The author of my being was woman !
use the past tense, as l knew her long ago
so long, indeed, that fortune 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
unknown 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 decision-doing
everything she did well and completely,
and indeed winning for herself the title of
"the brightest girl in town"
She had 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 conf
dence in it of herself.
Her father was pensioned officer, dis
abled by wound from doing manual la
Dor, and the pension that he drew was
their main support, and while ambition
spurred on the daughter to make the most
of whatever talent she possessed, stern
necessity, that memorable driver, dashed
her tagging hopes from day to day with a
demand for dollars-dollars-do with
which to supply fast growing needs.
In a little back chamber, away from all
intruding eyes, and even the too garish
light of day, tale after tale was produced,
and each, with parcel of hope done up
within it, sent out to the mercies of an
editorial world.
In process of time 1, too, was born, and
to the mind of my author was her mas
terpiece.
A true story of remarkable chapter of
incidents. A love story? Why. yes, Of
course. "Men may come and men may CO."
but love goes on forever.
I too went out, and my author timidly
asked for me the pay which she had been
too modest to expect for my predecessors,
which, by the way, had been, the most of
them, graciously accepted and pigeon
holed.
well remember my first reception. It
was in the Office of leading religious
paper, and the editor was a mighty man
in flesh and titles and he looked me over
suspiciously.
"Hum-um. A young writer, evidently
Hum-crude; very crude um-um. A love
story and written by a woman who wants
pay. Such presumption had best be nipped
in the bud.'
He seized pen and scratched off note,
which I had ample time to read as we
jostled along together in the mail bag.
DEAR MADAM-While your story shows con-
siderable merit, we regret to say it is unavail-
able for our columns, and it is returned with
thanks for the privilege of examination. II
you are thinking of making living in htera-
ture, feel constrained to offer you a bit of adj
vice-saw wood or take in washing, and you
will find it more pleasant and lucrative field
of labor than this. Respectfully yours,
DR.. W..
Ny author laughed Historically when
she read this tender and sympathetic epistle.
'Take in washing, indeed" holding up
her tiny, slender hand. Perhaps might
earn my shoestrings at the washtub, and
shall have to learn to cut kindling before
l can venture out as "a woodcutter.
think we'll test the value Of your advice
first, DR.. W"
next went to the Office of one of the
leading magazines on the principle Of
Nothing venture, nothing have"
I felt that had come on fruitless quest
when saw the great number of compan-
ions which joined me upon the road.
When at last my turn came to be opened
found myself in the hands of tired,
jaded man, who plainly showed WEAKNESS
of mind and body-the reader for the
magazine through whose hands all matter
must go for it's first sitting.
His brow contracted as he took me up
and looked at my title, then at my author
name. 81 wish these unknown writers
would stop sending in their Improbable
wares" he said petulantly. He made a
pretense of reading few pages, but find
ing nothing which struck his weary fancy
as brilliant or original he thrust me hasti-
ly into another envelope with printed
slip and was again Rejected Ms"
lying upon the editorial page of the maya
zine wherein was printed this item:
sThe editors are ready at all times to
seize upon anything original or unique in
the line of literature without reference to
the name or fame of its author, and all
matter submitted is carefully and labori-
ously sifted in the hope of finding some
stray gem of literary excellence"
When I arrived home found my author
in maze of delight-a story had been &C
cepted by publisher of worldwide fame.
With word of hearty praise and better
still check worth very much more to her
than it's mere face value, for it was the
very first penny she had ever earned by her
sAh, you dear thing, you," she cried,
waltzing around the room with the bit of
blue paper in her hand, ''you represent at
least twenty-five washings, so think, DR..
W, we'll wait awhile before we follow
your clever advice"
She took me out with my printed letter
q wooden letter I remember she called it
and patted me tenderly.
IT fear you're going to grow old and gray
in my service, old friend, she said; 'but
never mind, when we get famous Well have
the laugh on some of these stony hearted
fellows who laugh at us now" and away J
went on another tour, this time to coun-
try newspaper of large circulation. "Ill
not soar too high this time" said my author
as she sealed me up.
The exhilaration of the check had not
worn off when returned again. and Miss
Mary could take me back without a tear
Or sigh of disappointment.
eff were selling Calico" she said philo-
sophically, 81 should not weep or moan be-
cause one objected to the color, another to
the quality and third to the price. Imy-
self should know that was selling good
calico at fair price, and am equally con-
6dent that I am offering good story for
sale at regular rates-which means the
buyers own price-so no tears, if you please,
Miss Mary. because your wares don't hap
pen to SELL"
I went now to a household journal OF
large circulation, and here I think spent
....l.esL and dreariest time of my whole
existence. Locked into desk with dozens
of others awaiting tardy examination, !
spent whole year of suspense and anxiety.
There is some satisfaction in flying about
-one sees the world at all events-but to
await ones fate in dreary, yoiceless silence
is most exasperating
"There! Another letter from that tire
some woman. inquiring about her precious
MS. ;" said the editor of the great "hOuse-