The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-09-11
MAGAZINE MANUSCRIPTS.
Here Is Man Who Has Little Faith in
the Judgment Of Readers.

Here Is q Man Who Has Little Faith in
the Judgment of Readers.
"I have had something to do with tho
business Of story writing in my time, both
as producer and judge of other peoples
work." said q man OF letters. "The latter
occupation / finally abandoned, because
the labor Of inspecting manuscript con-
tributions In bulk was too wearing. don't
think it is found particularly so, as rule,
by readers for magazines, because they ne
glect it. Often it Is impossible that it
should be otherwise. One great monthly
In New York city receives ], 200 manuscripts
every week in the year. If its reading staff
was multiplied by six proper examination
could not be given to them all. AS it is, it
is the exception that is 80 fortunate as to
be looked at.
Persons send contributions to the big
magazines with the notion that they will
be read. They are victims of a delusion,
usually. /, who have seen the inside works
of such concerns, say it. The task Of get
ting through the vast number Of manu-
scripts submitted is so hopeless that little
more is attempted with the great majority
than to return them, ordinarily after many
days. If you are at all known by reputa-
ton your Offering is likely to be inspected,
but not otherwise.
Games have often been tried upon the
great monthlies for the purpose of seeing
whether this was so or not. George w.
Gable, the famous author, published the
results of a few such experiments of his
own awhile ago. He sent two or three of
his stories, under an assumed name, the
rounds Of the New York magazines. They
were refused by every one-found mot
available'-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 man.
of the tales which have since come to be re-
garded as classical. Poison Jone' was
hawked about the metropolis In vain; not
an editor would buy 1t. It was this early
experience which led Mr.. Cable to his sub
sequent experiments, the result Of which
pointed to the conclusion that contribu-
tion offered to one of these monthlies
had scarcely the slightest show upon its
merits unless known name was attached
to it.
Several years ago when I was alto.
gether unknown'I 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. Invariably upon the return
Of the contribution would find the two
pages still stuck and the turned leaf as be.
fore, proving that 1t really had not been in.
N,ected 1t was discouraging, though not
so much so as to suppose that my work had
been fairly read by an expert and pro
nounced not worth publishing. You may
try the trick yourself, and you will find
that it will go every time.
"On one occasion / sent story to a Ger.
tain 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 available for our pur
poses 1t reminded me of the famous
translation Of Triste Lupus by class.
mate of Tom Brown at Rugby, as THE
Sorrowful Wolf
II wish l could remember all the funny
things came across in the manuscript
submitted to me for perusal when for g
time l served as reader for magazine
There was one story that reached its dra
matte climax when the hero and his family
were besieged in wooden cabin by Indians
The savages several hundred In number
had lighted fire all around the dwelling
and were breaking in though the roof with
axes At this critical juncture the hero re
marked thoughtfully 1t Is time that we es
capped. .'"-Washington Star.