The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-10-05
HER LOST
POEM

as her closest friends knew she didn't
want one. There we're no weak spots
In her character. She wrote poems
and sent them away to publishers. but
as they were always rejected that
didn't weaken her case.
One particular poem--composed on
q rainy, dreary day. when all nature
wept and sobbed and old maids could
sit in the house with their hair down
and be sure there would be no call
ers-was a poem on love. II wasn't
such a poem as Is usually written,
telling OF the joyousness OF the senti-
ment and the delights OF rambles with
Cupid, but II was satire-a damp,
chilly malarial satire. II was meant
to reduce the market price Of love by
30 per cent. II was meant to warn
the old man OF seventy. II took up
the sentiment Of love in sixteen
verses and Showed beyond cavil that
there was heap more money In
raising squads or running a boarding
house. So far as Miss Abigail went
that poem was success. She envel.
oped. put in return postage and
mailed It to a magazine.
TWO weeks. No answer. Four
weeks. No answer Then Miss Abb
gail Baxter sat down as she had done
on several previous occasions and be-
rated the magazine man. II he hadn't
read that poem and made up his mind
to accept or reject by this time then
he was no hustler. He hsk no right
to keep people waiting. He needn't
think he was a tin god because he
was a magazine man.
The letter was a satire as well as
the poem. The editor answered back
that he had rejected the poem after
reading the first verse on the day Of
lite arrival and had at once remailed
IL. He could also write satire.
Miss Abigail Baxter was aroused.
She was determined to have It back
at any cost Of blood and treasure.
She wrote to that editor again as only
strong woman thirty-five years old
can write. IL he had remailed the
poem 1t would have reached her.
II that poem, which hadn't one
single fault, and the man who said II
had was not a respecter of truth, was
not In her hands at the end of two
weeks suit for damages would be be-
gun. She was no worm of the dust
10 be walked on, and so that editor
would discover.
He replied that the suit would have
to come, but warned her that she
would surely be beaten. The red.
headed office boy clearly remembered
taking that rejected poem to the post.
office on certain day and hour.
p Miss AbigaiIs answer to this was
brief. She simply took her pen In
hand to say that she would at once
put the case in the hands OF law
yer who could not be bluffed nor
bribed and instruct him to carry It
clear to the Supreme court at Wash
ington, II necessary. The worm had
The worm had asked only for Justice.
Now the worm had turned, and II a
certain man ended his days behind
the cold iron bars she must be held
blameless-that is. the worm must.
Few poets in this world can bluff
a magazine editor. They are engaged
because they are good at blufiing
other folks. Mr.. Nicholson, the edi-
tor In this case. had turned down po-
cts by the score and never got q
knockout In return. In this case. how
ever. he became alarmed His curl.
osity was also aroused. He was an
old bachelor OF thirty-eight and some-
thing seemed to tell him that this was
the crucial point in his life. He was
served with legal summons to ap-
pear In court and he put on his hat
and went down to Roseland to see
Miss Baxter. He expected asperity.
acidity, aggression and lots OF other
things, but at the same time hoped
against 1t.
As soon as, Miss Baxter learned
who her caller was she expected de-
malls. assertions. protestations, def.
ance and other things belonging to
the profession of magazine editing,
but wished 1t might not be so.
II am sorry that this has come
about" began the editor in pacific
tones.
"And so am l."
81 must beg your pardon for the
way | wrote you"
And | said more than l should"
Anger drove me to criticlse your
poem. did II an injustice. The
trouble with II was that it was too
lengthy"
81 was afraid OF that when sent
It,"
miss Baxter, believe you can
write poem on love as It Is. / wish
you would. | should be glad to pub.
lish It, Make It the most holy and
blessed sentiment OF the human
heart"
II will try"
That law suit never came on, but a
poem was written and published Mr..
Nicholson also frequently found his