The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-01-11
Something About ~
- Some Magazines.


cine writer may not indulge in what may call
harmonious background for his work. ! mean
that 10 him is perforce denied the charm Of
working in tune with his surroundings, the de-
ighttu consciousness that all nature IS keyed
with the thoughts that flow from his quill
which is another way of saying that he who
would dangle his MS. Lost in the BlisEard'
mos, temp;ingy before the willy editor must do
so nor when the roof IS shaken IN the grip Of
an icy Northwestern but When the gentle lephyrs
Of spring are redoont with the odof Of liiScs.
The magazine writer knows that
in the spring young mans fancies turn
not to love but to his next Christmas story.
But this IS not appeal 20 change all that,
To begin with. because Il would be hopeless in
these days OF elaborate preparations when
functions have to be photographed before they
take place and the editorial intellect is wrest
ling with lists Of summer reading while the
reader is niorteaging his house to Law in bis coal
Besides, fat be il from purpose Of mine TO do
aught 20 smooth the road az authorship Last
year there we're st41 books published In tins
ten To mitigate by one jot or htle--in the
face Of these ststistcs--the hardships Of
writer's lot would be a public calamity But
today appeal in the humble guiss Of mere
reader, appeal 10 the editors Of the magazines
(or at least such Machiavellis whose premium
certain conditions that have become intolerabc
yes. intolerable
From merely deriving the contributor OF his
background, the emboldened editor now has
come TO tyrsnuiEe over his subscriber, who Us
forced 70 read his stories from a month to six
weeks before the proper background pos
sibly be created. once in unseemly fashion
asked an editor why the Thanksgiving humber
Of his magazine for instance, must appear about
the middle OF October and was promptly ad-
monished that the rights Of the distant sub
scriber must be protected. In other words we
who are unfortunate enough 70 live near The
base OF supplies must eat before we have APP
petite that our brother in New Zealand may not
go hungry. OF course, one shoulders 10 think
what might happen # man we're discovered in
the middle OF November walking in the streets
Of Capetown or Melbourne with copy ct the
October number under his arm
But, after all, where, may J ask has this
frantic rush for timcliness led u.s. Il seems
10 me thai IL has brought us 10 a lack OF time
illness that could not begin TO I've approached
even in the good old days Of the latest advtces
from London three months old don't hap
pen 10 remember even the New y ork Gazette
and Weekly Post-Boy being eleven months he
hind the times And that is really what has
happened 10 the Christmas number that IS
handed to rs with our Thanksgiving turkey. AZ
its last analysis there is iorehandedness that
becomes something else. Did YOU ever happen
to hear OF the dog that started after the rat
and when last seen was "a little ahead r
Now, reader confess arc you really in the
mood for stories Of Christmas trees and rein.
deer when the bacealaureate football actually
fills the arena; Or are you truly pining for
stories with Easter lilies sprawling all over
the margins when the ait Is full Of eupds and
valentines?
am writing this in November, which,
trust--beine Of a somewhat sanguine tcmpera
For
am not altogether wthots"nope that the editor
may see the reductio ad absrrdum 70 which
their mad career has led them, and that ethei
their Christmas stories will hereafter appear ir
the January number, or that they may bring on
their maya zines 10 the middle Of the month thai
is actually sponsor 10 the baptism ASH
MEYER IN TIE January Cyiiit.
\ 4 =
The National Geographical Magazine for
January Is full Of meaty matter OF course
there arc many able articles addressed more
particularly to the student scientist but there
are also others tull OF Suterest TO the genera
reader Among the latter are Some Notes OF
| Venezuela AN Introduction 70 Physica
Geography and the paper by S. /, Carter or
the precious green stone jade.
The January number Of the New Enslart
Magazine opens With an article on Boston
!
nection With many of the public philanthrope'
Of Boston is guarantee of its accuracy The
evolution Of the playground, from what rs
name pure and simple implies, to the supervise
athletic field, gymnasium; and outdoor kinder
oarten that shall WELD correct mental anc
moral influence over the city youth. Is problem
as yet only partly solved, but what progress 'h'
city OF Boston has already made and hopes e
/ gain in the future is interestingly shown bl
text and illustrations.
Mr. John NJ Clarke who was the Uniter
States representative to the celebration recently
held in Cromarty Scotland, IN honor OF tn
centenary Of Hugh Miller, writes entertaining
" Of the life and work Of that famous seolosist
There is curious portrait Of Miller character
istic pictures az his town, Of the monument
erected to his memory, and other charming IL
Illustrations.
Fred A. Cannon tells the story OF Genera
Frederick Townsend Ward the Salem born boz
Who. died a mandarin and dmiralgeneral o.
CHM Newfoundland Is called the fits
American COLONY" by P. 7 McGtath, the edito
n one Of its best papers, who gives brie
history Of the island and rs fisheries, accom-
panyng the text with very unsual photograph
The January magazine number Of the Cut
ook contaius some six eight illustrated ar
Gcles besides full page portraits poems. 2 stor.
and the usual very full editorial treatment o
current history and literature Among the Il
lustratsd articles are I'm Delhi" by w +
Dix, talk about the great Indian city wher
this month was held the imperial "durhsr
or proclamation Of Edward VII as emperor o
India which proved such magnificent spectacle
/ and nortraits and sketches Of the new Freuci
Ambassador NJ Iusserand, NJ Mr. SuachC
H. H., Ge.r t.Na