The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1911-05-21
THE FORCE
OF HABIT
By c. ROBBINS ANDREWS
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, l.I1.

HCiG MEA iGNRtuttAii ia ElEAitfs
General Alvarez was suspected by the
president and closely watched One
day a visitor called at the generals
headquarters
General said the visitor, taking d
manuscript package from his pocket.
Knowing your reputation as man
Of literary taste, a critic Of the highest
order
"Cut that out" interrupted Alvarez.
II was once chief reader for d pub
fishing house"
Il see. / have here book of po-
EMS ~
Poems of any kind are not avail
able, We have a whole room full Of
Excuse me; the force of habit is great.
was thinking l was back in the edi-
toral sanctum."
But these poems of mine," contin-
ued the visitor. Il consider to be in
that lighter vein which Is the only
kind Of poetry now popular"
"IIave you tried the Mexican Popu.
lar Maga2ineg
General" replied the visitor impress
sively after Il pause. III you have been
an editor | have been contributor.
I'm on to that honeyed fashion OF get
ting rid Of AN author"
The general settled back in his chair
as one bracing himself to hear an
authors reason why his experience is
more valuable than other experiences
Those In the room went about their
various duties. The visitor met the
generals eye and winked at him. T6a
latter caught on.
"These poems,' continued the man
| with the manuscript, were composed
during a period of deep feeling. The
spring was coming on and nature was
awakening"
"You can wake me when you ge
through yawned the general.
zone word more. fearful April
with its clouds and thin gilded Innings
| had passed into June, and the roses
were unfolding their delicate petals"
The general closed his eyes
III seized my pen and yielding to tht
balmy"-
The general snored. The visitor look
cd about him and seeing that tht
others in the room were becoming in
fected with the drowsness that haf
fallen upon their chief. laid his manu-
script ON the table and silently with
drew
AS soon as the door had closed be
hind the author the general awoke.
"Has he gomez" he asked with &
shudder
Eyes, general"
Taking up the manuscript Aware;
| remarked:
"He has put his address on 1t, but
don't see any stamps for its return
However, here's a mem stating that b,
will call tomorrow"
That night Alvarez took the manu-
script home with him. lie was no
interested in the literary form, or IL
| the meter OF the verse. Even the di
vine afflatus, If II was there, failed Il
move him. He puzzled for hours try
ing to find key to aisecret message
At last, by skipping all but ever,
tenth word, he succeeded. He was in
vited to join the revolutionlstS carry
ing with him the force under his com
mand. For so doing he was to be, az
pointed minister of war.
Having read all of the message h
could find TO read, and being satisfies
that there was no more of II, he wrot
his acceptance Of the proposition an
laid down his plan OF operations b.
making dot over the words require,
to make up his message. This done a
daybreak, in the morning he went t
bed When the author came the mex
day for his manuscript,the general,sai
to him:
IL am very muchtobliged to you 10
your kind permission to read you
beautiful poems. have not bee
struck SO forcibly with the poetic fei
vor Of any manuscript In many years
In these verses Is the very soul 3
poetry But M
"Never mind that" said the author
81 have heard 1t million times before
/ know what you're coming to-"
"Oh, forgot" replied the genera
81 am not now in the position of
publisher; you wish simply my homes
individual literary opinion. Well, you
poems are tommyrot. There is neitht
versification nor feeling nor though
in them. But I'll make suggestion
They are so bad that if you can max
them little worse and start a few {
them in some publication intended
be popular, with Il curious story abol
the author, I'm not sure but you coul
get big sum for them"
"Thank you. general, for your ,ver
practical advice"
The general threw the manuSrlE
at the author, telling him to get gu
and is he ever came again on such
matter he would have him arreste
and his poetic ambition cut off byith
garrote.
The young man caught the paclcls
and, departing, made his way to tL