The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1902-11-13


by which the editor declines manu-
scripts which he is compelled by force
of circumstances, If you believe the
slips, to return.
This odd fancy of the three literary
aspirants has just been recalled to
my mind by curious volume which |
picked up the other day at q second
hand bOOl1stall It is bound volume
OF 'The Union Magazine and Imperial
Register for 1902. 1t was published
in London by I. Hurst and was print
ed by ]. Cundee, Ivy lane.
The magazine editor Of century
ago had not reached the rejection slip
stage. In fact, he seems to have cared
very little for the feelings of his con-
tributors. On the fly leaf of each
months magazine he printed his pri-
vate communications to them. Here
are two samples of his unfeeling frank
ness:
"A.'s Ode to Peace is too defective
for insertion in our Miscellany"
IF Theophilus will call on the Pub
Usher, he will receive back his misera-
BILE essay"
Just imagine, if you please, the ex-
pectant Theophilus eagerly grasping
the newly issued magazine! Picture
him a moment later, when he has
turned to the page headed "To Core
spondents" and has read his fate!
Poor Theophilus You must trudge
your detected way down to Ivy lane
and encounter scornful T. Hurst face
uscript
But perhaps you may meet there the
discouraged A. of the defective ode.
Then you can go together to the Che
shire and over your tobies of ale ex-
change frank opinions of the brutal
L. Hurst and bemoan the low estate
to which periodical publishing has
fallen.
When Nabopolassar was king in Bah
ylon and ACKNOWLEDGMENT was only
crown prince, there was much splendid
wickedness in that part Of the earth;
also there occurred strenuous doings
There was bloodletting by day and
feasting by night, and the sun of Nine
veh was setting. All this we know
from very good and very ancient
book. But there was much more to it
all. There must have been love and
hate and smiles and tears, tender
friendships and fierce jeaIousies Behind
the heavy curtain Of historical facts at
which we have SO long gazed and been
perforce content
To lift this familiar curtain, to show
us the real human beings who moved
behind it, who loved and smiled and
hated and did the fighting, has been
left for a Denver newspaper man to
do. He has done it in quite a thick
novel newly come from the press. Jo-
siah M. Ward is the author, and he
has entitled his book SCENE With Me
Into Babylon" 1t sounds pleasant,
this invitation. The visit is well worth
the taking, too, for Mr.. Ward not only
gives us richly tinted picture of life
In those wicked days of 6G6 8. c., but
as we walk through the inner places Of
Nineveh and Babylon he tells us a sto-
~ of such thrilling interest that one is
sorry when it is ended and the gates
are closed.
Mr.. Ward says that his book is not
a historical novel. He is probably
right. It is most li..ely that the sweet
Prisca never existk.. that she never
loved the noble Talami and that the
impetuous Cleon never stole the sacred
amulet from the golden breast of the
great god Bel. However. it is very nice
of Mr.. Ward to take us with him into
Babylon and make us believe, for the.
time at least, that these things really
did come 10 pass. SEWELL FORD.