Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-07-19
Not a Manuscript Agent.

Guy Wetmore Carryl, who died sud
denly this spring, was one OF the few
authors who are as brilliant in converse
ton and in private life as In their writ
ings.
Many good stories In which he shone
are told by his friends, but nothing more
characteristic than the account he gave
of ''run-up' he had quite recently
with a well-known magazine publisher.
The publisher had accepted novel
cite from Mr.. Carryl and paid him for 1t.
The story was put into type. Mr.. Car
ryl revised the proofs, spent the money,
and thought no more about 1t.
Some months later, however, he was
surprised to receive the proof sheets
again, with the following note from
the publisher:
"Dear Mr.. Carryl-Upon consideration
1 find that the inclosed story is not quite
what l want, after all, and am accord
ingly returning it to you in order that
you may sell it elsewhere. I shall be
glad to have you remit to me whatever
you may receive for 1t, up to the amount
have paid you for it,
When Mr.. Carryl had sufficiently re-
covered from the temporary trance into
which this proposition had put him to
be able to use his typewriter, he wrote
a courteous reply, thanking the pub
Usher for the opportunity so kindly af-
forded him of correcting his correspond
ent's errors of judgment, but stating
that he was satisfied with the negotia-
ton as it stood.
He added that, as his literary engage
ments would prevent him from acting
a. manuscript broker for the publisher,
he returned the proof sheets, in which
he had no present interest.
After some further correspondence, in
which Mr.. Carryl declined to recede
from his position, he supposed that the
matter was ended, until he received from
still another publisher a note, from
which the following is an extract:
81 was somewhat surprised this morn
ing to receive by mail the proofs of one
of your stories, which is offered to me
for sale by Mr.. -. AS this is at least
an unusual proceeding, write to ask If
it is all right and done with your ap-
prevail"
Mr.. Carryl promptly replied:
"No; it is not all right. If you want
to buy one of my stories will write you
one, and you can pay me for it. l sold
the novelette, to Mr.. - for use in his
magazine, and not to. hawk around the
country. Send it back"
His correspondent did 80, and ap-
parently this action, in connection with
whatever he may have seen tit to write
at the same time, served to close the in
cident, as far as the magazine publisher
was concerned.
Not 30 with Mr.. Carryl. If there was
to be last word he wished to have it
himself, and in few days the oppor-
tunity presented itself.
The magazine publisher, among
various other enterprises, was interested
in the grocery business. Happening to
be wandering about New York in search
of "local color" Mr.. Carryl found him.
self in front of one of the links in the
publishers ''chain" of retail stores.
He entered, purchased a can of to-
matoes, took it home, opened 1t, poured
out about a third of the contents, jam
med down the lid, wrapped up the can,
summoned district messenger boy, and
sent the parcel to the publisher with the
following note:
Dear Mr.. --:
l purchased to-day at one of your
grocery stores the accompanying can OF
tomatoes. Upon reconsideration l find
that it is not quite what want after all,
and am accordingly returning it to you
that you may place it on sale again.
shall he Glad Tn have Won remit to me
whatever you may receive for it, up to
the amount III cents) which paid for
it. Yours very truly,
GUY WETMoRE CARRYL."
Mr.. Carryl heard nothing more in re-
gard to either the novelette, or the toma-
toes.-New York Tribune.