The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-01-26
Men Who Pass ~ "
~ ~ on Manuscripts.

The best training for the post of manuscript reader
publishing house said the with the tired behind
glasses and the network OF wrinkles his face is
holiday of service in the packing department of
dry goods First OF all he know how 20 wrap
up packages and bundles II he be enthusiast
over, he will winter oyster schooner
learn the secrets of sailors knots Half-hches bowling
knots and all kind thing are OF great service in this
branch of the publishing business You have no idea OF the
ingenuity wheewith aspiring authors treasures
with and string unless OF course they saormen
themselves like Mr. Bullen Mr. Morgan Robertson. The
undeiug of the string around manuscript is an even
greater feat than tying il up again.
THE trip the oyster schooner will furthermore give
the future publishers reader stock of forttude in adj
versty and heaven knows he needs it. His temper is
stantly being reused Some have tried gain nexhaust
BILE patience from combination inexperienced house
wife and imported cook but it won't do young man il
won't do The training is not strenuous enough
NO. the publishers reader is man who has failed
in literature and art The unsuccessful author procajms
him to be man who has failed in criticism. but he is
prejudieed you know The publishers reader like the
poet is born, made but like the poet he needs lot
of making after he has taken the trouble Nova
days he is learning something every day MANUSCRIPTS
that ten would have gone to the paper mill may
have commercial value at the present misunderstanding
has had any time during the last three wears or so
The quality OF public has not kept step with its
quantity but it appears to be catching up thanks be
heaven"
us it that the work is not paid wen?"
ION the contrary il pays very well. Too much de-
ponds upon the manuscript reader make him
paid Well known authors make nice addition to
their income by doing this kind of work
There are rough readers and final readers just as
there is rough washing and the other kudask your wife
when you home The rough does the hardest
part OF the work and gets the least pay he is the literary
bouncer at the outer gate He lives with half-hch on
his temper and then it becomes oured That sounds
mixed, but intentions honorable. He struggles with
such gems this;
Regina de la Volette van Roses parents were very
nice people. They lived in a whitewashed house with
two windows each side OF the The paror furn-
ture of olive plush and dark rcd Persian rug
an heFloom1covered the floor The works of the best
authors stood in the bookcase in corner There was
an air OF refinement all over the place but Regna pa
rents very poor.
Indeed, do exaggerate Have not told you tina,
the rough reader premaurey' For must ever
be on the lookout for the possible diamond in rough
II he passes by and the chief and the literar,
advisers of the publishing house miss it in
and another publisher makes of IT, public odum
falls upon the innocent adviser whom is pointed the
finger of Occasionally it chief reader who
sponsible by the world.
There is third possibility. and that is that after til,
first and final readers have recommended hook the liter
adviser himself turns down In tina, he de
serves the censure that always seeks him out
"If have talent, the adviser who by the way is
very busy in unpleasaptly important post, vii
struggle patiently and integeny with him to develop ii
Many successful book has been rewritten lines sug
gested by the literary adviser and his chief reader
fact the latter almost invariably changes and i'm
provements in his reports promising books. He mus
have the technique Of the trade his fingers tips That
why he paid so we'll literary adviser possesses tn
qualifications and. in addition have thorough
knowledge of the market
The publishing business is unlike Wall in it
fluctuations of public taste.
mo- the profitable hooks are not sent in hap
hazard by authors They planned by the publisher
his advsersuch works for instance, encyclopedias
dictionaries of the English language Timely books etc
But you came 20 ask about manuscript reading, no
about the publishing business whole
Certainly have made mistakes but only seriou
one thus far This in the transition period from liter
reading that catches the public taste
/ know better now / hope Yes Hall Game he OF III
dome-like Shakespeaean brain pan, declined Of Mari
Corellis books in the Of the publisher for whom
was reading and if mistake not, it Barry Pain VIII
refused John Halifax, Gentleman.
Certainly, George Meredith for many years
reader for English publishing house.
The Of American authors serving in the sam
capaoity2 The post confidential one, and OK
peced not to betray ourselves each other Goodby
Call again; there is great deal TO be said til
subject"-Ma and Express.