Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-06-22
THEIR LIVES
ANDLETTERS
by HENRY GALLUP PANE
tcopyrlah. " Dally s.ory I,ub. Oo.l

MAYNARD BARLOW was 9 poet.
V That is, she wrote verses and sent
them to the magazines: but the regu-
larity with which they came back to her
declined with thanks" was beginning
to cause some doubt ON the subject 70
arise In her mind.
One day, however, she received q de-
lightfully appreciative letter from the
ONCE of the Weekly Symposium, sug-
costing two or three minor changes In
sonnet she had submitted. and stat
ing that II these met her approval, the
poem would be accepted. The letter was
signed Marion Fiske, Assistant Ed
tor"
Here, at last" thought Maynard, lis
girl who sympathizes with struggling
genius" and she promptly wrote an
equally sppreciative letter in reply, ac-
cepting the editorial recommendations
and inclosing another poem.
She had noticed with some amuse-
ment that the letter from the Symposi-
um had been addressed to "Mr. Maynard
Barlow" and she decided not to disil-
fusion the editor. She did not wish to
do anything that might cause Miss Fiske
to take less interest in the papers new
contributor.
"Confound my sponsors!" said the
young assistant editor Of the Symposi-
Vim the next day, as he lighted cigar
cite and ran over the morning mail.
Here's another communication ad-
dressed to Miss Marion Fiske! Hello,
it's from that clever young chap, Bar
low. He's not so slow, either" unused
Fiske, with a smile, as he laid down the
letter. Trying to make an impression
on the young lady editor, Ell! Well,
the young lady editor will give him a
run for his money"
Two or three days later, Maynard re-
ceived quite long letter from Fiske, ac-
cepting the second poem, and encourage
ing her to try her hand at prose. There
Is not much demand for verse" wrote
the assistant editor, even for verse
which is as nearly poetry as yours
Maynard WINGED little at this--"but
-man"-Maynard forgot the slight shock
to her pride in the success Of her lit
erary rsonation-"who can write
as brilliant a letter as yours should find
ready market for short stories and ar
tlcles. Why not try your hand at some
Of our 'Pithy Paragraphs by Casual Con-
tributors?',, :. 2-as-~-.',''"-~as
Then, In fulfillment Of his promise to
himself, he added few shrewd observa-
lions on the literary life, leavened with
Just enough Of the personal equation to
draw forth characteristic reply from
my dear Mr.. Barlow"
This was the beginning Of spirited
interchange of ideas and reflections,
which in spite OF, or perhaps because Of,
the Misrepresentation on which It was
founded riuensd intn a. strong literary
friendship. The young editor especial
ly, who fretted at the necessity which
compelled him to slave at desk and to
subordinate his own ideas to those Of
an unsympathetic chief, found vent In
his letters for many keen observations
on men and manners that he could not
have printed even in the Symposium's
"Pithy Paragraphs" and that would
have jeopardized his position II pub
lished elsewhere,
81 had at first some scruples In writing
to you" wrote Maynard to Fiske in the
early stages Of their correspondence, "as
your ever welcome answers always con-
tanned many fine marketable ideas that |
hated to see wasted on a single unre-
muneratlve, II appreciative, reader.
81 said to myself as read them over.
a woman who can write letters like
those is bound to have a career and
then came q check from your house for
my latest poem, and was sure Of II.
ct then occurred to me that when you
became famous would come demand
for your Life and Letters, and that II
encouraged you now. could supply the
demand then. II Is for this reason
that my letters have OF late assumed a
tone and character so closely resemb-
ling your own inimltable eplstles The
result has exceeded my expectations.
Your recent letters have been fine
They are really literary productions
Il have thought It best however. to
inform you OF what am doing. In order
that you may not allow yourself 10 fall
below the hish standard you have set
yourself. and 80 TO iniure your reputA-
ton when the letters are eventually pub
llshed. besides incidentally hurting the
aAla a. iha hnnkH