Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-07-23
A WOMAN AND
AN EDITOR.

~ Az ~ % - -"
"she said" observed Tomlip. as he
handed the card, "that II you had Moth
ing much to do to-day she would wait
until you came in
The lady in waiting had written on her
card: About story. Urgent"
"She hasn't got the copy with herY
"Not unless its I'm her pocket"
well" said the editor. with an air OF
sanity resignation, tell her that / am
very busy, but If she can say what she
wants in five minutes I'll see her
YEARLY he removed his feet from the
table. put on his coat, threw the re-
mainder Of his cigarette into the ire
place opened the window secreted the
COPY of "Notre Champagne" that he had
been reading. and set 10 work on pile
Of proofs. BY this time Tomlin had re-
turned. announcing Miss Sands.
She was 81 and she was plain More
over she was as nervous as cat IN
new home She said good morning In
choked whisper.
pray be- seated" said the editor. lie
pushed over basket piled high with
manuscripts TO TOmlin. send all these
back" Then he turned TO Miss sands
again. and asked what he could DO Tor
her.
II wanted to ask you what you would
think of a story of japanese life"
I'm afraid that sort OF a thing is
good deal oycrdone nowadays. They're
cor q Jap series running I'm busters
Magazine and, Of course we've had S-r
Edwin and whole lot more. No; the
publlc's sick of IT, l don't think we
should care TO see IT, Sorry you've hdd
tho trouble
"Oh. not at ALI I'm glad"
81 don't quite understand you
You see. 1 want the story TO be re-
fused. It's my sister, Caroline Ihdnh5
so much for promising TO send II back
"But. wait a minute gave no sucn
promise II IS a part Of an editors duiF
to consider carefully everything that il
misunderstanding Besides, why
should you be so anxious that your sister
should be disapponted2'
you see. you don't know her Her
besettng sin is conceit She's younger
than / am and-woll, she's rather good
looking Sbs's been spoiled by having
too much fuss made about her IT You
could hear her Dragging sometimes I'm
sure you would agree with me. Really
II IS often difficult enough for me To I'VE
with her as it is. and If She had a story
accepted by The Latest Light she would
become quite Noticeable
but. really" said the editor with SUI
periority. these family disputes have
nothing 60 do with me. I'm simply acre
to"
ooh. yes. Of course! 1 only mention
II 10 explain why ] want you - refuse
her SILLY rubbish"
How DO you know IT'S silly rubbish
eve read it.. and it wouldn't 10 for yon
at all"
.Really Miss Sands" said the editor
with growing severity, you must Leave
me 10 be the Judge Of that / cannot
permit anybody 10 dictate 20 me what !
ann 10 accept or what ] an to refuse.
Have YOU any spoc.a training which en-
titles you 10 crticise your sisters work
at all? It's remarkable-that BELIEF which
almost every woman seems % have. tA1t
she is qualified 90 judge literary work!
Are YOU quite sure that you know the
difference between silly rubbish and
work Of gcrius2'
ANYHOW. il shows that she has no
imagination-her having made it Japl-
nese story"
Il don't follow that argument"
40. ! hadn't told you. ny sister Caro-
lire lived ia Japan. with a japanese fam
ily. for some years. She's only using mp
what She saw and heard there. and that's
no Imagination
AT ana rate IL makes il the moro prob
able that the story Will BE- interesting
Il can't SEQ that She gQt 20 know
things about the japanese women-weu
really"
las bad as that
Miss Sands wriggled uneasily. Ia
rather not talk about IL. All ] 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, 'wili
You give up trying 20 teach ne my busi-
ness? What Is the sense OF telling me
that the public don't care for japanese
topics when Busters Magazine" Is go
Inc I'm for them hot DO YOU think
they don't know the public taste
through and through 40 Busters placer
what about the success Of the Geisha'y
What about-but really ! Jose all pa
tlenec. The attempt 20 make an editor
refuse a story 10 satisfy some personal
grudge Of your own is. of course, ut
tery useless Il Is also dishonest. ana
as the author happens 10 be your own
sister. il Is even worse than dishonest.
It's no good pleading. ] have nothing
more TO say 10 you
Good morning. then" said Miss Sands.
looking dOleful II didn't know you'd
take il Ike that"
When she got into the street the dole
fulness passed on. She turned into the
next \ b G. shop for a bun and a
glass OF milk and looked as pleased as IL
she had accomplished something.
''Tomin." said the editor. when
manuscript comes from Miss Caroline
Sands-it will be a story on a japanese
suhject-don't send IL up with the rest
for Mr.. Garner " read. but let ne have