New-York tribune., 1899-06-11
A WOMAN AND AN EDITOR.
in. in Black and White.


came in"
The lady in waiting had written on her card:
"AbOu; a story. Urgent"
she hasn't got the copy with herr"
"Not unless it's in her pocket
We'll" said the editor. with air of sanity
resignation. tell her that I'm very busy. but
II she can say what she wants in five minutes
III see her"
Wearily he removed his feet from the table
put on his coat threw the remainder of his
cigarette into the fireplace. opened the window
Secreted the copy OF "Notre Champagne" that he
had been reading. and set TO work on a pile of
proofs. BY that time Tomln had returned an
nOUncing Miss Sands.
She was thirty-five. and she was plain. More
over. she was as nervous a cat in a
home
She said Good morning." in a choked whs-
per
Pray be seated" said the editor He pushed
over basket piled high with manuscripts TO
TOmln Send all those back" Then he
turned to Miss Sands again. and asked what he
could DO for her.
i wanted to ask what you would think Of
story OF Japanese life"
Pm afraid that sort of thing is a good deal
overdone nowadays. They've got a Jap series
running N Busters Magazine and Of course
we've had Sir Edwin and a whole lot more. No
the pubiic's sick OF il. ! don't think we should
care 10 see l. Sorry you've had the trouble'-
"Oh, nOt AT ali, I'm glad"
81 don't quite understand"
you see. i want the story to be refused It's
by my sister Caroline. Thanks much for
promising 10 send X back"
But wait a minute gave no such pom
ise. Ii is a part Of an EDITORS duty to consider
carefully everything that is submitted
thing Besides. why should YOU De So anxious
that your sister should De disappointed"
You see. You don't know her Her besetting
sin is conceit She's youncer than am, and
Wei. shes rather good looking. She's been
spoiled by having too much fuss made about
her. II YOU could hear hcr Dragging sometimes.
I'm sure you'd agree with me. Really. its often
difficult enough for me 10 live with her as it is.
and If she had a story accepted by The Latest
Light she would become quite intolerable."
But really said the editor with superiority.
these family disputes have nothing to Do with
me. I'm simply here to-
"Oh. yes Of course, l only mention il to ex-
bish"
How do you know it's silly rubbish"
I've read it. and it wouldn't do for you at
all"
Really. Miss Sands" said the editor with
growing severity. you must leave me 10 be the
judge Of that cannot permit ans body to die
tate TO me what am TO accept or what l am
10 refuse. Have you any special training which
entities you to CritCiSe your sisters work at
ali? It's remarkable-that belief which almost
e' cry woman seems TO have. that she is quail
fed 10 judge literary work. Are YOU quite
hat you know the difference between silly rub
bish and a work Of genius?'
Anyhow II shows that she has no i.nagina-
uon-her having made it a japanese story"
II don't follow that argument"
"NO. l hadn't told you. My sister Caroline
lived in Japan. with a Japanese family for
some years. She's only using up what she saw
and heard there, and that's not Imagination"
that the story will be interesting"
Il can't see that. She got to know things
about the japanese women-well. really"
'As bad that"
Miss Sands wriggled uneasily I'D rather not
talk about it. All l want is just your promise
that you won't accept the story You know
the public don't care about japanese things"
Once for all" said the editor. will you give
up trying 10 teach me- my business? What is
the sense Of telling me that the public don't
care for japanese topics when Busters Maga-
zine is going in for them hot Do you think
they don't know the public taste through and
through at Busters place? What about the
success Of the 'Geisha? What about-but
really / lose all patience. The attempt TO make
an editor refuse a story to satisfy some per-
sOnal grudge OF your own is. OF course utterly
useless; it is also dishonest. and as the author
than dishonest. It's no good pleading l have
nothing more 10 say 10 you
Good morning then" said Miss Sands look
ing doleful. Il didn't know you'd take it like
that"
When she got into the street the dolefulness
passed off. She turned into the next A Il. G. f.
shop for bun and glass OF milk. and looked
pleased as If she had accomplished some
thing
'Tomlin." said the editor when manuscript
comes from Miss Caroline SandS-it will be a
story on a japanese sUbject-don't send il up
with the rest for Mr Garner to read but let
me have it at once. ! will read that one my
self"
And in due course the story was brought and .
the editor noted with pleasure that il was just
about the right length.
The story neither too good TO leave out .
nor too bad to put in. 1t was mediocre. and as .
a rule that editor did not love mediocrity How .
ever he accepted it at once and wrote to Miss
Caroline Sands TO say tina: he had done 81. If
he had been told that he had practically made
UP his mind 10 accept the story even before he
read IL he would have been angry.
And all this was a great joy to that Miss
sands who had called at the office For she
md I4- ,rtv grr11 wa "a