The Democratic advocate., 1909-05-28
THE REJECTED STORY
BY MAUD MACMILLAN.

literary only after having given the
matter as much as half days serious
thought. but Miss Nina Harper saved
eleven and half hours by deciding
within thirty minutes after reading o
certain sketch Of Ouida's.
AS soon as pen and ink. and paper
could be procured she began work on
a story. and before sunset on the same
day 1t was finished and sent or to the
waiting editor Of magazine.
Like Ouida, Miss Nina didn't start
out to write for money. Her widowed
mother had been left fair compe-
tence. Like Ouida. she had sudden
desire to uplift sentiment and improve
the social status OF the world around
her Like Ouida again, she had
thoughts and she wanted the millions
TO share those thoughts with her and
profit by them.
This. IN way. was praiseworthy in
girl Of twenty who had half dozen
admirers and nothing to do but to be
entertaining and handsome and wait
for the right man to touch her heart.
Unfortunately for her. the various pub.
fishers didn't share in her object or
enthusiasm. They were out for the
dollar instead Of sentiment, or for the
sentiment that brought In the dollars.
The literary effort was returned with
thanks.
If that greedy publisher chuckled
over the idea that he had nIpped a
literary career in the bud by sending
back that manuscript he was very
much mistaken. Some young ladies'
would have stopped right there and
turned to crochet work, but Miss Nina
didn't belong to that bunch She shut
her lips tightly and determined not TO
be killed of At the same time she
determined TO XIII that editor If ever
opportunity offered
In this determination she was backed
and encouraged by Fred Waterman.
one Of her admirers. to whom she
showed the manuscript and related
how 1t had been chucked back at her
as II II had been copy for family
almanac. Fred was Ilsper IN his
speech, but that only made his voice
more tender as he said
Miss Harper, take my word for II
that you have gone beyond Oulda even
in your first attempt II IL glorious!
1t is grandl II is ennoblingl / feel
the better man for having heard 1t
read"
"But they didn't publish III" pro.
tested the girl.
II see, but II was too high class,
don't you know. It's beyond the edi.
tor He isn't up TO the sentiment Of
IT,"
This declaration Modified Miss Nina,
and she selected another publication
and another editor. Mr.. watcrman's
generous offer TO call on and punch
the head OF the first editor was de.
clined on the ground that the said edi-
tor might already have regretted his
haste in returning the manuscript.
The story came back from the sec
ond publication just as a request for
charity would have been returned
mot just what we are looking for"
II hurt and Inundated. but II did not
quench Ouida's first delicious little
sketches went begging. Miss Nina
shed one tear. doubled up her fists and
consulted Mr.. Horace Elkins.
Mr.. Elkins was another admirer.
though he didn't lisp. He had en-
many occasions written the menu
cards for entertainments and there.
fore was admired as literary man.
He read the manuscript with the ut.
most care, looked at the back Of each
page as he laid II down and then an
nounced his solemn verdict:
''My dear Miss Harper, II Is grapdt
1t is gem! Indeed, the only fault
possible to be found is that It is too
gemmy. The modern magazine editor
is not up to It. II is as far beyond
him as Shakespeare is beyond the av-
erage farmers hired man. For no
other reason was It returned to you.
What A gem like this crowded
among the mawkish love stories in
which the heroines cannot talk ten
words without making a grammatical
blunderl Heaven forDidP'
"But II they won't publish It how
can get it before the peopleT' asked
the author. with anxiety In her tones.
Il could call on those editors and
call them ignoramuses and scoundrels.
/ could prove to them that they were
suppressing the brightest and most
charming thoughts Of the century"
But that would anger them"
Mr.. Elkins picked up the manuscript
and carefully studied the backs OF the
pages again and then sighed and
raised his eyes TO heaven. He didn't
say so in so many words, but his at
titude plainly betokened TINT he was
out of It.
Two days elapsed. and then the story
was sent away again. There surely
must be one editor IN the country who
could rise to the sentiment Of ii. In
due time. which was about a week. II
came back for the third time. There
was cold blooded type written notice
fnclosed to the effect that Its rejection
did not signify any lack OF literary
merit, but there was no consolation In
this. Indeed. If 1t did not lack literary
merit why not publish It?
This question was asked Of young
Sanger, third caller and admirer,
and he promptly replied.
Because 1t Is Ouida over again, and
you know the jealousy against OuIda.
All these magazine editors are a trust.
They won't permit a new writer to en-
ter the field and make a reputation.
Why. Miss Harper. once wrote a
story and sent 1t away and had it come