New-York tribune., 1910-11-13

fame That is mere newspaper hunor; nothing shor.
of what magazine editors call literary quality VIII
do now
He has long wanted to write series Of sarrcal essays
certain schools of modern fiction. and his eve ndeS
with enthusiasm he outlines his scheme lie knows
what has been done in England by Bernard Shaw
H. Belloc, Max Beerbohm and others IN the way OF
intellectual satire, and IS patriotic enough 70 believe
his heart what everyone of US pretends 20 believe
namely that own reading public IS not less cul-
waited and appreciative than that OF England Trained
in newspaper office, he IS OF course conscious OF the
value of timelineSS, and he argues that with theme Of
national interest, he will succeed quite well
when writing in his own newspaper, he confined him
self to the narrow limits of the town
The editor listens to him attentively and then shakes
his head with smile meant 10 mitigate the -sors Of
refusal he says, I'm afraid Our ReaderS would
scarcely for that. You see they seldom read
books, and they never care to read what Is printed
about them We four pages OF book Cl-- some
wears ago and stopped it because We could no. nj thai
anybody really liked it, Go on with Your suggestions
What! Ridicule society and social suobbery3 NJ dear
bOy Our Readers would never stand for thar single
ninutel They're all crazy about society. and great
many of them actually have friends in the Fou Hun
dred- No, What We want Is satire that does run
contrary to the popular taste
Like Others of his class. this editor does no know
what was known in The Atlantic Monthly Office
forty years ago: that wit and wisdom alno ynon
v1nous terms and that satire must run agair,- cur
rent and not merely float along with the Sluggi- mental
tide that we call public opinion it VIII be urely
worthless.
After the VISITOR mas exhausted his list OF cCtua
themes the editor propoundS what he thinks N idea
and what | have doubt Is an idea b. use =
least twenty editors have suggested precisely
thing to me since the DOOlev papers became coOular
What think YOU could do, SAYS the e5--o- speak
ing Solemnly and after the manner OF r.r 1hO be
holds vision in trance, Is to assume SOM ter-
German, perhaps, or negro, or SwedSh-.ov--.o bur
IRISH; that's been little OverdOne ac,E.-lud write
about all sorts OF topics in dialect thar VIII be easy
read and understand.
How would it DO" SAYS the hsraorst afte- mo-
ment reflection, to IF with soueth about The
big strike? That's SUR ,o last SIX months longer at
least"
Don't touch that Stri1c SAYS the editor warRjnglv
We can't handle any such topics the labor union.
or religion, politics. or anything like that. Sue
Our Readers would be sure 10 take OfenSe. And caf
ful what YOU about any OF the big of th, Oun
try, except Rockefeller and Carnegie. You ms say
something funny about Carnegie starting Hbr or
Kockeicller being able to grease his way through Europe
but be very good natured about II. Our Read
very good natured lot"
They must be-, remarks the hunoriS- with some
acerb1ty, If they'll stand for that comic au mobile
story YOU printed two months ago.
That hit them lust right saws the cf-.. cheer-
iuIy- And do YOU know, laughed mvScIt when
read the manuscript! Don't YOU think it Vs. tlnny
WneTe he craWed under the machine and cam, With
OH dripping from HIM. Why, got pretty near ,hou-
sand letters from Our Readers asking for stores
of that SORT
the Young writer returns tO his native ,r.r Uuca
east down IN spirit, but determined TO make inal
effort 10 reach those readers who don care for vthng
about books or politics religion who are ur 1e q
appreciate any form OF humor save that ot rhvSica.
catastrophe, who clamor for school of ~atir writ
ing that praises everybody and everything. an.
able 10 contain themselves for Joy when thcv upon
the fossil remains OF some old iokc clothed I'm .odern
dress AMI exposed To view in the highly coated ses q
a magazine.
Betsy Milkweed To Life Again