St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-08-16
A Woman and the Editor.


she had nothing much to do to-day, and
should wait until you came in"
The lady in waiting had written on
her card: about story. Urgent"
She hasn't got the copy with herr"
Not unless it's in her pocket"
"Well," said the editor, with an air of
sanity resignation, tell her that I'm
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 remain.
der of his cigaret into the fireplace, open
ed the window, secreted the copy of
"Notre Champagne" that he had been
reading, and set to work on pile of
proofs. By that time Tomlin had re-
turned, announcing Miss Sands.
She was 35 and she was plain. More
over, she was nervous as a cat in new
home.
She said Good morning." in a choked
whisper
"Pray be seated" said the editor. He
pushed over basket piled high with
manuscripts to Tomlin. "Send all those
back" Then ne turned to Miss Sands
again, and asked what he could do for
her.
II wanted to ask what you would
think of story OF Japanese lite."
I'm afraid that sort of thing is good
deal overdone nowadays. They've got
a Jap series running in Busters Maya.
zine, and, OF course, we've had Sir Ed
win and whole lot more. No, the pub
lies sick of it. Sorry you've had the
trouble"
"Oh, not at all I'm glad"
81 don't quite understand"
You see, want the story to be refused.
It's by my sister Caroline. Thanks so
much for promising to send it back"
but wait minute-I gave no such
promise. 1t is part of an EDITORS duty
to consider carefully everything that is
submitted-everything. Besides, why
should you be so anxious that your sister
should be disappointed ~
you see you don't know her. Her be-
setting sin is conceit. She's younger
than am, and-well she's rather good
looking. She's been spoiled by having
too much fuss made about her. Ifyou
could hear her Dragging sometimes. Pm
sure you'd agree with me. Really, it's
often difficult enough for me to live with
her as it is, and if she had story ac-
cepted bv the Latest Light she would be-
come quite intolerable."
"But really" said the editor with SUI
periority, these family disputes have
nothing to do with me. I'm simply
here to-
"Oh, yes, OF course! only mention it
toexplain why Iwant you to refuse her
silly rubbish"
How do you know it's silly rubbish ~
give read it, and it wouldn't do for
you at all"
Really, Miss Sands" said the editor
with growing severity. you must leave
me to be the judge OF that. cannot
permit any body to dictate to ME what
am to accept or what | am to refuse.
Have you any special training which Ell
titles you to criticise your sisters work
at all? It's remarkable-the belief which
almost every woman seems to have,
that she is qualified to judge literary
work! Are you quite sure that you
know the difference betweensilly rubbish
and work OF genius ?"
anyhow. it shows that she has nc
imagination-her having made it Jap
anese story"
II don't follow that argument
"No, / hadn't told you. My sister
Caroline lived in Japan, with Japanese
family, for some years. She's only using
up what she saw and heard there, and
that's not imagination"
"At any rate it makes it the more prob
able that the story will beinteresting.
II can't see that. She got to know
things about the Japanese women-well
really"
"As bad as that ?"
Miss Sands wriggled uneasily, "Td
rather not talk about it. 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, twill
you give up trying to teach me my bust
ness? What is the sense Of telling mt
that the pnbic don't care for japanese
topics when Busters Magazine is going
in for them hot? 10 you think they
don't know the public taste through an
through at Busters place? What about
the success of the 'Geisha? What about
but really, lose all patience. The at
tempt to make an editor refuse story
to satisfy some personal grudge OF you
own is, OF course, utterly useless; it il
also dishonest, and as the author hap
pens to be your own sister it is ever
more dishonest. It's no good pleading
have nothing more to say to YOU"
Good morning, then" said Mis-
Sands, looking doleful, Il didn't know
: you'd take it like that"
When she got into the street the dole
: fitness passed Off She turned into tn
next A, B. c shop for a bun and glas
, of milk, and looked as pleased as ii sh
had accomplished something.
: "Tomlin," said the editor, when
manuscript comes from Miss Carolin
Sands-it will be a story on Japanes
subiect-don't send it up with the res
= for MIR. Garner to read. but let me hay
it at once. will read that one myself.
And in due course the story wa
brought, and the editor noted wit
pleasure that it was just about tn
right length.
: The story was neither too good t.
t leave out nor too bad to put in. 1t wa
mediocre, and as rule that editor di
not love- mediocrity. However, he az
: cepted it at once and wrote to Miss Cal
oline Sands to say that he had done sc
IF he had been told that he had pract
cally made up his mind to accept tn
story even before he read it, he woui
have been angry.
And all this was a great Joy to tina