Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-16

HTHE editor regrets" ran the
Ioathsome legend-"The edi-
tor regrets
las il he ever saw the story"
The despised and rejected contribu-
ter-one r. A. Cator-suatched a pen,
dipped st furiously In the ink and wrote
as follows:
Dear Sir-By ts-nights post short
story Of mine reached me. with the
usual formula-your regrets But facts
lead me to the conclusion that you can
not possibly have read the story. Then
why reRret2 posted it this morning
at 1880. Presumably It reached your
table about O'Clock, since personally
addressed 10 you. And at $50 it was
again in the post-with your regrets'
From slight knowledge Of editors and
their ways, / consider the chances are
ten to one aRaist the possibility that you
read the story between $3.50 and 5. when
YOU put the office and its cares behind
you Don't imagine ! wish 10 quarrel
with your method Of conducting bust
ness; but. considering the fact that
was introduced to you by certain we'll
known novelist. I can't help feeling the
irony Of having my story returned I'M
read-yOur regrets accompanying it,
Next time won't you detain the MS a
day or two. to give your reply some
vague connection with possibility with
apologies for having troubled you TO
consider my work-an error that shall
not occur again-believe me, yours
faithfully. r. a. GATOR"
Now the editor Of the magazine in
quesuon-The Crown, to be precise
was something new in editors. one
pictures them a collection Of dust-dry,
middle-aEed creatures. who drink ink.
eat foolscap and brandish blue pencils.
The pilot Of the The Crown didn't fit
that picture one scrap.
He Was Young.
lie was young, a jovial soul and,
though not actually an Adonis toleraby
good looking and invariably well groom
ed. Above all, he had a sense Of humor.
Cynics have observed that editors are
better on without il. but that's a matter
Of opinion.
Having degested r. A. Gators I'M
furiated epistle. the editors sense of
humor turned IN trumpa. and he IN turn
put pen 20 paper and wrote thus.
Dear Mr.. Cator-A thousand apol-
ogies' Having been free lance once. I
ought 10 have known better than 10
strain your powers Of credulitv I'm such
a careless manner To be strictly
truthful, though. this statement viii
doubtless surprise you-that dia
read your story, And 81 was with real
regret / decided it wasn't quite suitable
for the Crown.
Having just gone TO press with the
next number. / returned 20 the office
after lunch, and. by some extraordinary
huke. no callers came Your story was
the first Of pile on my desk. and ]
read IT, with many others admit.
sorrowfully that such a thing could
not have happened once in twelve
months, and &c was thouRhuess Of me
to return your Ms in such an APP
parenuy heartless manner Am / for
given? II so, send along some more
stories, and come up one day Tuesday
afternoon is best for us-and we can
discuss some ideas Yours truly.
RICHARD Scale"
About week later Richard Scale
babe farewell TO laxative caller with
a sigh 81 relief sitting down On his
chair Of office, he tapped formidable
pile 81 short stories with q blue pencil.
NJ "a cigarette, elected "a stream of
smoke. and sighed again. profoundly
Cupid, though he did not know 10, was
perehcd on his shoulder
Life" pondered Richard Seale-tbe
next number weighing ON his mind
Life is sad I must Eo to a musical
comedy Tonight let me-