The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-06-04
THE MSS STORY.

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tale which is told through me have tai
to tell, a story of adventure by land ant
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 knew her long ag
so long, indeed, that fortune must hav,
crushed her ere this had she not been of ,
firm, strong mold, which refuses to b,
crushed, even by the heavy weight of a,
unknown name.
At the time of my conception she live;
with her father in small cottage in {
sleepy old town in the heart of an eastern
state.
Its chief attraction was an academy o.
learning, where my author pursued hel
studies with character and decision-doina
everything she did well and completely
and indeed winning for herself the title Of
1.-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 conf
dence in it of herself
Her father was a 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, thai memorable driver. dashed
| her Tagging hopes from day to day with a
! demand for doilars-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 parcel of hope done up
within it, sent out to the mercies of an
editorial world.
In process Of time I, too, was born. and
to the mind of my author I 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 90,
but love goes on forever
L 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. 1t
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 woman who wants
pay. Such presumption had best be nipped
in the bud"
He seized pen and scratched off a note.
which l had ample time to read as we
Jostlle along together in the mail bag.
DEAR MADAM-While your story shows con-
siderable merit, we regret to say it is unavaiI-
able for our columns, and it is returned with
thanks for the privilege of examination. f
you are thinking of making living in litera-
ture, feel constrained to offer you bit of adj
vice--saw wood or take in washing, and you
will find it a more pleasant and lucrative field
OF labor than this. Respectfully yours
DR.. W.
My 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 |
IN othing venture, nothing have"
felt that had come on a frutless quest
when | saw the great number of compan-
ions which joined me upon the road.
When at last my turn came to be opened !
I found myself in the hands of tired, !
jaded man, who plainly showed weariness !
of mind and body-the reader for the |
through whose hands all matter !
must go for its first sitting.
His brow contracted as he took me M
and Looked "a NV if1a thor, or
name. Il wish these unknown writers
would stop sending in their Improbable
wares" he said petulantly. He made
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 a printed
slip and l was again a Rejected MS, :"
lying upon the editorial page of the maya
zine whereon was printed this item:
The editors are ready at all times TO
seize upon anything original or unique in
he line of literature without reference to
he name or fame of its author, and all
matter submitted is carefully and labori-
1usly sifted in the hope of finding some
stray gem of literary excellence"
When arrived home found my author
n 4 maze of delight-a story had been ac-
J
With a word of hearty praise and better
till a check worth very much more TO her
han its mere face value, for it was the
-ery first penny she had ever earned bv her
ben.
"Ah, you dear thing, you" she cried
Taltzing around the room with the bit of
'lue paper in her hand, you represent at
east twenty-five washings, so think, DR..
V, we'll wait awhile before we follow
our clever advice.
She took me out with my printed letter.
wooden letter remember she called it
and patted me tenderly
Il fear you re going to grow old and gray {
4 my service. old friend. " she said: but ,
ever mind. when we get famous we'll have I
be laugh on some Of these stony hearted (
CLOVIS who laugh at US now and away l !
-ent on another tour. this time 70 a eouu- 7
~ newspaper Of large circulation "Tll r
OF soar TOO high this time, - said my author I
: she sealed me Mp. {
The exhilaration Of the check had net
ORR oil when 7 returned again. and Hiss
.ary could take ne back without a tear
sigh of disappointment.
If were selling calico" she said philo-
officially, Il should not weep or moan be {
lUse one objected to the color. another 10
le quality and third to the price. my /
III should know that was selling good
shco III fair price, and am equally CON
dent chat / am offering good story for
lie at regular rates-which means the
myers avn price-so no tears, if y0u please,
lSS Mary. because your wares don't hap
N to sell"
/ went now TO a household Journal Of
rye circulation, aud here think spent
re weariest and drsariest TING OF my whole