The Washington herald., 1908-05-24

before but not until after he, thinking
IT lost, had sent duplicate copy 70 the
other magazine. He was exceedingly sor-
ry. and would make any amends in his
power
The editors had to believe It was
mistake It did not seem reasonable that
a well-known author would send out two
stories. expecting to draw double pay.
without getting caught The editors made
lists OF other stories by the same writer
which they had in stock and sent them
TO other magazine editors, asking that the
list be compared with any or Blanks
stories which the latter might have
No Further Implications.
No further Implications were found. and
the incident has been declared closed
IL is not the first time that authors
have sent out duplicate stories and re-
ceived two checks. although this is one of
the few instances In which there has been
actual publication Of duplicates. A clever
young woman who had spent several
years in East Side schools as a teacher
was persuaded by her friends to put into
story form some of her experiences. She
had heard> of the difficulty new authors
experienced in getting a magazine hear
ing, Of the weary wait while manuscripts
made the rounds of the magazine offices
20 final acceptance or return. She made
three copies Of her first effort She had
little hope that Ii would be accepted
and confided the three 20 the same post
box, addressed TO as many editors OF
leading mOnthlieS. with the usual stamps
are attached for return If not available" ."
The morning mail week later brought
her an acceptance. accompanied by a
check for S75, which the editor hoped she
would consider satisfactory Her JOY was
unbounded and she hurried about among
her friends exhibiting the check. Be
fore she returned to her apartment from
this joyous mission the postman brought
another letter from a second magazine,
which read: I'VE accept with pleasure
your brilliant story OF East Side life, and
inclose a check for 500 In payment there
for We would like 70 see more of your
/ work"
The young woman was in quandary.
She had two checks for the same story,
and all sorts OF visions Of arrest FOR OBJ
tanning money under false pretenses and
everlasting literary disgrace rose before
her. While she was trying 20 decide what
20 do. an acceptance came from third
magazine. accompanied with a promise 10
pay SllO for the story on publication.
Accepts 800 Cash Oner.
She finally decided to accept the $40,
cash offer. and TO make a clean breast
OF # TO the other editors. She told them
frankly that she was a new hand. and
that the three copies had been sent out
with no intention 10 deceive. She had
hardly hoped for a single acceptance.
Wouldn't they let her withdraw the
story7 She was unusually good looking;
she had a captivating smile. and her
innocence Of wrongdolng was unmistak-
able The editors gave her back the
duplicates
Another incident is not so refreshing
A periodical published a story by a
writer who had been newspaper worker
which was valuable chiefly for the bril-
liant epigrams which the author had put
I'm the mouth Of his hero II was pub
Hshed. and attracted some attention.
Then came letter from the Sunday
editor Of daily newspaper.
How does II cumc that you use our
eplcrams without giving credit?' he
asked. you should make Blank write
some new ones. You will see by the In
closed clipping that We printed every
bright thing in this story three months
ago"
The clipping referred 20 contained near
lly all OF the smart sayings in the story.
The magazine editorssent for him, and
his reception was one big question. lie
readily admitted the duplication
Uses Epigrams Again.
THE epigrams were mine in the first
lplace. he declared, dehantly. and I have
a right 10 use 'em as see fit"
The editor cut the authors check in two
and told him that ii would be useless for
him to submit any more work. The Incl
dent was reported 70 other magazine edi-
tors. and for some time this particular
author was looked on with suspicion.
| Some months ago a New York magazine
received a manuscript in mans hand
writing. entitled AT the German Baths. 20
The editors liked the story. but did not
care for the title. They changed IL 70
Never Say Diet" an expression which
ran through the story. Two weeks later
their London Office sent a cable message
saying that the story had appeared In
England under the same title several
years before There was an immediate
investigation. which brought out several
interesting facts. The person who had
sent the stolen story was a woman I'm the
Middle West. She had changed the orig
inal title 20 AT the German Baths" and
the editors. without knowing II, had
changed il back to the real title. The
claim OF the woman In the Middle West
was dismissed with a curt letter OF warn
ing The check she was 10 have received
was sent 70 the real author. an English
man.
PIagiarIzed Emerson.