The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-11-01
FIRST AMERICAN CHECK
Seumas McManus viii Tell His
Stories In Bennington.


here at Academy hall under The aus
pieces Of Knights of Columbus, Nov.
g. tells the story OF how he first
struck oil in America As the noun
ain schoolmaster Of a little school
among his native hills of Donegal
though sin a boy-he one day turn
cd the key in his school-clammed q
pile Of manuscripts into bag
sailed for America in the stee: age
Of an Atlantic liner and, landing
in America, stuffed his pockets with
manuscripts asked someone whom
he met to give him The name and
address of our leading American
magazine, and then walked, straight
as he could find his way, to the Of
fee Of Harpers Presenting himself
in his Donegal homespuns. with the
smell Of peat still upon them, 10 The
genial and amiable Mr. Alden the
edito' Of Harpers, he unfoded his
personal story, and intimated that
he had in his pocket several Irish
tales, the fruits Of his boyhoods ex-
pcriences among his own hill people.
MIR. Allen, who was very interested
ly looking at and listening to the
hoy in the homespuns and the Iii5h
bro cue, said that II the stories in
his poke, were anything like as in
e esting as the story he had Just
told him he was eager to see them.
The young Irish schoolmaster in
stanlly surprised Mr. Alden by pro-
ducing no less than seven stories
from various hiding places. Mr.. Al
den said tha, instead of giving these
INFO the hands Of a reader, he would
put them in his bag take them home
1!lh him. and cad them himself
without delay. This is Wednes.
day said Mr. Alden "and think
that If yea will drop in here on FIJI
day morning, will be able 10 give
you an opinion on these-at least,
some criticism and advice that may
be helpful to you, stranger in n
strange land"
Seumas MacManus says he cramp.
ed outside Harper's Friday morning.
waiting for it to open. When he got
audience of Mr. Alden that genial old
gentleman leant back in his chair,
lit his cigar contemplated him with
a smile. and remarked, We'll be-
lieye that six OF these seven stores
You gave me will suit Iarper's
The Irish schoomaste had his
breath taken away mamcntaIl Ill.,
Perhaps said Mr. Alden, you'd
like to get paid for one of them
right away"
Seumas MacManus did not dise tent
from a suggestion that was doubly
gratifying because of the fac; Ha,
he had to walk II blocks that morn
ing TO save car-fare-a fact which.
however he did not tell M Aldea.
The Editor of Harpets, picking up
one OF the stories, allie Canncns
First and Last Duel" afterwards
the first of MacManus' stories to be
published in Harper's). said wei
suppose ! pay you for this one today
How much shall / make on
check for?' The mountain school
maste- his mind barking back to
the payment Of two and a half dol
lars for three years work hadnj
enough courage TO suggest to the
Editor that it might be worth So TO
him He feared the Editor nigh
instantly turn him back all his work
on the ground that he tried to be
eXJo 'tionate. SO he wisely replied
to Mr.. Alden; you know its value
better than l." Said Mr.. Alden: AS
your name and work is yet unknown
how would 800 strike you for his
story?
MacManus says it struck him
dumb,
And he adds that the moment be
got out of Mr.. Aldens office with lie
check. he let no grass grow thrcush
his toes ill he had turned II into
ash, fen ing lest The Harper Broth.
PTS might get wind of their Editors
temporary alteration and stop pay
rent by telephone
Within two months after almost
every leading magazine Editor in
New York and Boston had given
him pleasing proof that Mr. Aldens
temporary insanity had touched
them an.
For All Women.