The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-06
MAGAxTNE
A P~Oughkeevsis aushSg Rmites Thsm mo
and Thigh,

/ Anu TnhNns
To THE RDITon On FmE suN-Ss: That
the editor does not even reed the work Of q
favored contributor I learned some years
ago. A literary and religious weekly cams
to me with q war story OF lst7-l6. IL was
about two boys who enlisted on 4 ~frieate,
were chased by Lafftte's plrates Ia the Gulf
OF Mexico. and finally brought up 1t New
Orleans just In time to witnsss Jackson's
triumph over the English "veterans Of Water
loo. as he called the EaRiIsh soldiers. though
Waterloo was fought In June. New Orleans In
January. 1913. reminded the editOr that his
able contributors knowledge OF history was
rather shaky. TO which he replied that he had
not read the story In advance Of publicationl
Some years ago I asked the editor OF a
certain magazine whether the publication OF
a story in a local paper Of a few hundred
circulation would bar IL from publication
In his ma gazine provided 10 had real merit.
Ne replied that II would. l then pointed out
that he had recently published a story by
an authOress now popular, but which had
been first published when she was compare
lively unknown. He admitted the fact, but
said that she had won her spurs ana de-
served that token OF appreciationE That
Ia to say. as soon as she had won popularity
1t impaired merit to work which before was
ephemeral and trashy
When Humbert I. was King Of Italy certain
bapNiN u thb 40 NF8NNht
literary ambition, had written a novel which
she read to certain female friends for their
criticism. They praised IL profusely; but to
test the worth OF their opinions she sent 10.
under a pen name, TO a London publisher.
In due time IL was returned as unavailable. y
But after a while the IA that she had written
a novel leaked out. her women conidants
probably being unable to keep q secret. and
then applications to publish poured In from
many quarters, including the London Arm
that had rejected IL. Not being hard up for
pin money her Majesty took her turn to
decline the offers.
II il also well and widely known that many
famous books have been published with great
profit which. when first offered for publica-
ton. were rejected. "Unole Tom Cabin"
was one; Carlyle's "Sartor Resartus" another;
Kinglake's "Eothen- another. and the list
might be greatly extended did space permit.
Most Of the leading magazines have a corps
OF contributors. enga ged BY personal appiica-
ton at high rates with, doubtless. Immunity
from criticism. Within due limitations that
IL all right. even though 1t 10 discours ging to
new writer's. In such cases, however. the
publishers should advertise that volunteer
contributions are not wanted. They do not do
IL. hence the printed slip must be freely used.
A Southern dialect MAGAZINE story pub
lished some years aRO was reported to have
been in the editors desk twelve years before
il was recognized az available" It was
good stun" Of its class, but of a dreadfully
poor class. 80 that incubation for another
twelve years would not have harmed Il. But
where, oh, where, was the editorial instinct"
that discerns merit at a glance, even when
typewrittenP
Sometimes the editor will make solemn
\ pledges only to for get them, OF do the other
thing A friend of mine. on invitation by the
editor, sent a story to a popular weekly on
the pledge that the editor himself would read
it and act upon il. Instead. he handed II to
a female reader and amanuensis, with dfrec-
ions to give him a written criticism. which
he forwarded to the author as his answer.
1t was unfavorable. and was ornamented with
ave or sir common words in the simplihed
spelling of Chaucer and A. Ward. Yet he
insisted hat he kept his word.
Mr.. +. p. Watson says that the glst OF the
matter is that there are too many writers. "
No; the gist Of the matter is that there Is no
fair play IL volunteer contributions are
wanted let the editor say so and give them
fair treatment. When he do es not say so he
should commit them TO competent critics, not
to budding typewriters, nor ratified hello
girls" nor bumptious law students out OF a
job. when he must return. the return itself
shows that IL Is una vaila Bile" without the
printed slip, which tells nothing that the
writer wishes TO know. 1t is a sort of insult
to pretend to say something explanatory and
say nothing. Were the editor kindly dis
the return of manuscripts wOuld
greatly benefit many young writer's by a
printed form giving a list or common literary
failures and Indicating the special weakness
Of the manuscript returned by marks next
the words that apply. But as long as only
the selfish Commercial" aspects of literature
are studied as being OF first Importance no
change can be expected. =. s.
p"OIGHKRRPSIR 0cf0hQr Z