The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-12-08
He Was New and Didn't
Understand Specialists.
HUMBLED BY THEIR NERVE
He Has to Approach Them
Like a Lackey.

ing as d last resort Against the iAubS
appal IN their eyes no man is proof No
matter what their personal appearance
or thes~ ubject matter of their manu-
scripts. hose who peddle their wares
from one magazine to another are all
alike in that they cannot write and ara
persistent IN the face of evey discour-
agement. Those who can write, and
whose work Is ii demand, long ago
learned the value Of putting on a good
front No natter what their secret need,
the editor who would avail himself Of
their services must seek them out
For instance, the editor Of one Of the
magazines in this city not long ago de-
sired 10 obtain an article OF a topic OF
current interest. lie had but newly been
Invested with the editorial prerogative,
and locked forward with no little pleas
IRE to the first exercise of his authority.
He wrote a terse business-iike letter TO
the specially informed correspondent of
great newspaper. asking him to call
upon him at the office OF the magazine
TO receive an assignment TO write the
article in question. In the course of a
day or two, a reply was received, signed
by the secretary of the correspondent
saying that Mr. B regretted that his
many engagements would prevent his
calling upon Mr.. Editor, but that he
would be happy TO see him at his apart
ments If he desired TO call.
While The letter was no little shock to
the preconceived notions Of the editor in
question as to the respect due his posi-
ton he swallowed his pride, as the cor
respondent was the best Informed man
IN the country on the subject in hand.
Waiting a decent length OF time. the edi-
10 made his way TO one of the most ex
pensive and fashionable hotels in the
city and sent his card TO the correspond
ent After the lapse OF twenty minutes
he was ushered upstairs to the ante
room OF the journalistic nabob. Here a
buttons again took his card and re-
turned, accompanied by a remarkably
well groomed Briton, whom the editor,
OF course, took for the man he had come
TO see. He was again mistaken. With
a wave Of his hand toward the inner
apartment, the secretary at one and the
same tine checked the Introductory re-
marks Of the visitor. and ushered him
through the heavy eastern hsngings
shutting of The Journalistic sanctum
from the outer world.
Seated at a desk, attired in a silk
dressing gown OF wondrous hue, was the
correspondent. TO him humbly ard with
subdued mien came the now miserable
editor With Ianguid grace, the CORES
pondent extended the tips OF three fin
gers as the visitor seated himself on the
edge Of the straightforward chair In as
few words as possible. the editor stated
the nature Of the article he desired. Still
with a bored air, the writer directed bis
secretary to bring his engagement book.
Running over the pages a date was
the great one then showed his first faint
as he asked:
by the way. Mr.. -, what do you
intend to pay me for this material?'
The editor had fixed on pretty high
price for the article as he left the Office.
At each successive step in his journey
from the hotel desk to the great ones
door Il had gone UP a notch, and now
under the influence Of the Turkish bang
ings it scared to point heretofore IN
heard Of on that magazine.
Without as much as winking an eyelid
the correspondent said, why. my dear
sir. I never write for such a paltry sum
a sthat; my price is s." naming a sum
four times as great as that mentioned
by the other. With his last spark Of
reason. the editor mumbled something
about consulting with the proprietor and
fed
As soon as he reached the Office. he
wrote to tie correspondent saying that
the proprietor was unwilling TO pay the
price asked but renewed his former Of
fer. BY return mail came a letter in the
CORES pondeuts own hand saying that
rs the editor evidently wanted the article
badly and he was now little Interested
in it. he would write it for the figure
named.
The ediaor it, question had Just sue
e.sa-O-eanaInedcamwr tingETAOINNN
cee,ieG in recovering a certain amount of
amour proprs, when il became necessary
90 md some one TO write ar article On
character pec1:lar to certain section of
This country. For this the name of a
more or less prominent woman writer
was suggested. in this case the person
WHO had suggested tie name volunteered
to bring the authoress TO call upon tins
editor. st the time appointed she ap-
peared with condesoension written on
every line OF her face.
The editor had barely started in on his
explanation of what was wanted. when
The authoress interrupted.
L am sorry. AR --. but ] cannot
allow YOU 20 teach me my trade. am
an artist and must evolve my OWE ideas
Give me The title of the article you want
and ] viii treat II from my own stand
point
But. madam" the editor put in. how
are you te know the character OF article /
We want # I 90 not tell YOU about Il ? I
There are a numbe ROT types OF persons 4
similar 70 the one We want 20 consider (
and YOU might hit on the wrong one. /
"Yuo must leave that TO my sympa- I
thetic sense. I will consider the subject /
and take up the lire that most appeals /
10 my mood
VERY we'll" the editor ssid. we viii I
also take = day or two for consideration. i
81 you don't mind. II at the end OF that !
time we stin want the article. we viii |
let vou know by mail" il Is OF course I
unnecessary TO add that TIE letter WAS /
never written.
Another character that enters .nto the I
lie Of magazine editor is The literary I
adventurer. Some women belong TO this 4
rlass. pue they are IN 4 minority and sell 1
dom cali~at the ofloe. Their frauds srs /
usually perpetuatod through the mails, /
an5 tase tie form OF rank pIagarissns +
from The writings OF wen-known authors /
,r-,r--,7., =, most instances with little /