The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-08-22

10 Jesse Arnold, edlior oil the lront0n Ihidh0
Heekly, with fve-line noie asking him tc
read 1t carefully, and even if he could not
use it 10 let her know what lie thought OF If
OF all the editors in the land she seemed
to have chosen him as her most favored tar
get; why, she could not have told, for she
had no personal acquaintance with him and
his letters accompanying returned manu-
script had been even more cunt and forbid
ding than those OF his brother publishers
But for all that each unhappily ending ven,
lure only added fresh fuel TO her zeal To
secure fcothold among the ranks of the
Inland IIoekiy's contributors and compel its
chief by sheer force of her importantly to ac-
knowlcdged her developed or potential
ability.
lier "Story of the Steamer Kendrick D
was not a work of genius but there were
phases of the plot that were strong and
passages that were unusually well con
ceived and executed, and after reading il
three times Jesse Arnold, who was a con-
scieniious editor, decided TO keep it. He
accepted it with that feeling of uncertainty
with which an insurance man issues policy
on an extra hazardous risk, and ccngratu-
lated himself on his shrewdness with equal
delight when it turned out TO be preferred.
L
who condescendcd 20 review the Inland
BoclIy praised it. Perhaps Editor Arnold
himself was more fully aware of the glaring
absurdities in the piece he had brought out
than were any OF its readers, and each favor
able comment that came 10 his notice only
made them all the more apparent. At last
he concluded TO write to his unknown liter
ary protege and warn her againt certain
I, i.I ,,,iul4 h. narjnppI in, ynun.y
authors fast story, but which, if often re-
peated, would be a serious drawback to her
advancement in her art. Before he did SO,
however she sent him another hastily
written story and a letter which was a
strange jrmbIe of gratitude to him for bring
ing her before the public, thankfuluess that
she had been so we'll received, and unstinted
expressions of steadfast belief that she
was fairly lanched OH a sea of success where
wrecks and disasters were an impossibility
In conclusion she hinted that he ought to
be eternally grateful TO her for allowing him
TO print a story which would, in all proba-
biiity, shed luster around his own reputa-
tion as well as her own.
That evening he wrote the contemplated
letter.
You are in danger of being spoiled" he
said. in part. "You need advice and I feel
that i have the right TO address you in the
capacity of censor. Remember you are in
an up-to-daie world, and the literature that
will live will be the very essence, ther en-
bodiment of that world. Visionary, ideal
ist.c sketches, such as yours, make verygood
reading, but they are not the true stuff
You have unquestioned ability, but if you
wish To succeed you must turn ii TO the p0r-
trayal of living men and women, not the
imaginary puppets that you hrve manipu-
lated for the most part in your Story of the
Steamer Kendrick.' Take yopr hero, for
instance. 1t may be quite comforting for a
time TO come in contact, through the medium
OF printers ink and paper, with an Apollo,
mental Hercules, a spiritual god and q
financial CTesus, all combined in one
American man, aud a New Yorker at that,
but L doubt if any of US would relish a
closer acquaintance with him; he would be
apt to prove unpalatable. Besides, he
would be an excrescence on the human race,
and after your second or third story the
public wonld have none of him. So take
warning. Make your hero real man
full of impeffectiOns, if need be-and let the
gods take care of themselves"
Esther Lindsay read and reread the edi-
tors letter. lie had not intended 10 make
it unnecessarily pointed or citical, but of all
the characters she had ever conjured up her
last hero had been the object of her snost
sincere admiration and the admonti0n to
shun him and his ilk touched her in the
most vulnerable spot.
Il want that man to understand me-" she
said to her mother, after having dreamed
over the contents of the letter for a couple
of nights, and in order to bring that about
am going down to Ironton and see him,
for it would be utterly useless for me TO
attempt TO explain i'll writing just what
| stand i have taken on this subject
| Her family knew her too well to remon-