The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-05
The Rejected story

The Rejected story.
/ Doubtless unknown merit will he
heartcnei and some magazine pundts
annoyed by Mr.. HENRY IyDSoR HARRI.
SONS direct testimony in the case OF
contributors versus the editors. which
/ IL always on the trial docket but will
never reach the court OF last appeal.
Mr.. HARRIsoNs evidence IL given in the
| April number OF the Atlantic Monthly,
and he calls his statement Adventures
with the Editors" lie deposes that
in December. 1910. he had the good
| fortune to have two book manuscripts
accepted for publication. one Of them
being the story "Oueed."
While waiting for royalties Mr.. HAIR
RIsoN wrote several short stories. eleven
altogether. and put them in circulation
among the magazines. only to learn that
there was but a limited market for his
wares. Speaking In the large" he
says. Il could not sell my stories; few
seemed TO find them meritorious at ALL"
although there was said to be "a short
story famine in the land Five days
after "Queed'' came out New York cdi.
tor wrote complimentary letter to the
author and craved the pleasure of pub
fishing some of his short stories. This
editor had rejected five OF MIR. HARRr-
SONS manuscripts within Il brief period
and was politely reminded OF II. But
business being business the editor. put
ting the blame upon his (anonymous)
assistants. asked 10 see the stories again
The author concluded that he would
not share the fruits OF his success with
one who had seen no merit in his work,
most valiant resolution.
To another editor who in the remote
past had accepted and published a story
of the now successful author three
timeworn manuscripts were sent upon
request. One of them this editor had
rejected the year before. but after pub.
fishing 1t he wrote that all the stories
printed by him had been "tremen-
dously successful" The author asked
the editor about the phenomenon. and
for once got an honest confession:
II think ! can tell you why editors SO
frequently reject the earlier and often the
best work of writer's, 1t is because any
new writer who sends In first class work
sends in work that is very different from
what editors are used to- That is Tn.
reason KiPLiSG's work was rejected by
the - when ne brought his great
body Of books from India"
Not regarding himself as a genius.
Mr.. HARRISON did not lay this Halter
ing JUNCTION 10 his soul but he thought
the statement might explain why edi.
tors were often cold to the unconven-
tional story. \ third member of the
guild having written to the rising
author 10 express pleasure and envy
upon reading some Of his stories in a
rival magazine was also put on the wit.
ness stand. Why had he rejected three
of the stories that now excited his en-
thusiasm! Thus cornerel this editor
marshallcd those reasons for rejection
with which contributors are n IA.
miliar, hut also spoke of "thc lack of
judgment OF our readers" The fact
was, however, he had signed the rcjec-
ton slip with his own initials
II seems 10 be Mr.. HARRIsoN's opin.
ion that "the tradition Of chief cdito.
rial nfnlllbility" Is Il hollow pretcn.
sion and he thinks there is warrant for
the conclusion that the editor some
times lacks the reasonable faculty Of
discrimination" That is to say, that
the magazine editor is human; never
more so than In trying 10 keep up ap-
penrances. II may also be honestly
doubted whether IN periods ~ glut In
magazine offices the MANUSCRIPTS of the
obscure are conscientlousy read, If read
at all. Mr.. HARRISON makes one excel
lent suggestion. In other businesses
the buyer Is generally competent and
well paid employee Why. he asks
should readers for magazines moi be
specialists In the true sense and we'll
compensated; Wa fancy that genius
would be discovered Oftener and that
greater profit would accrue to the mag
azine enterprising enough to require
discriminating Judgment in it's sub.
editors.