The Washington herald., 1918-10-11
Nv O. o, Mcintyre.

New York, Oct. 10.-At a luncheon
the members of the Dutch Treat CLUB,
composed OF writers and artists. dis
cussed the short story the other day.
Ten of the most celebrated short
story writers were present and not
one made fiction pay until after
struggle of at least five years. 1t re-
quired ten years for one Of them.
Most of the fiction writer's declared
that IL is possible to get only two or
three really big ideas for a tale in
year The other stories must depend
more upon execution than upon con-
eeption. Another point made was
that the average fiction writer aver
ages one short story a month.
Originality of idea is now the thing
In demand in magazine offices. Many
writers appear only once in highly
popular magazine. They are heard
of no more. Editors say 1t Is because
of a lack of originality. They had
one idea and when IT was gwen to
the world they were through.
Irwin Cobb once started a series of
mystery tales with the scene in New
York City, the general title of the
series to be THE Island OF Adven-
ture." The first two tales went well,
but the series was cut off. Cobb sim
ply ran out of ideas and he himself
humorously said it was because he
knew too much about New York.
Myra Kelly, an East Side school
teacher. Is said to be the only writer
that ever had her very first story ac-
cepted by an important magazine. 1t
got over purely because Of the origi-
nality of the idea-the love of a slum
child for the settlement teacher.
o. Henry was perhaps the most
prolific writer in original ideas. He
once told Freeman Tilden that some
day he was going to write a story
about a boy spoiled by good infiu-
ences. There was an idea. He died
before he carried out the resolution,
and Mr.. Tilden later did the story
with style that would have delight
ed o. Henry.
Most of the successful writers made
their way to the top by selling to the
penny a word magazines first. 1t gave
them style and experience. In this
connection, one writer told of the
craze among the cheaper magazines
for punchy titles. One editor in espe-
cial was a wolf for pep and vinegar.
Struck with an idea one day, he called
III put DOlltl "IlltT lIOIH
and said: Harry. I've got a whale
of an idea. 1 want you to write me
a bright, snappy life of Jesus" Need
less to say it was never written. but
it shows the craze for snappy/writing.
Usually there is nothing in a name.
But there is a thrill in the fact that
from a New York port there sailed
several weeks Lieut.. Benton Killing.
Here is hoping he does it.
Word filters back to the parlor
lamps around Broadway that Gaby
Deslys, the dancer, is soon to marry
well known American actor. Gaby.
with the aid of a press agent. smashed
her way to stardom here with nothing
but ability to wear fine clothes. But
the public got tired of her and she
had to return to Paris. the scene of
her former trumphs. The actor 1t
is said, is over there with the army
met her and will marry her when the
war is over. Perhaps no woman in
the world gained so much fame out
trivial incident as Gaby. One night
the eX-King of Portugal, sat with her
in a box at a music hall. That was
about all there was to it. Before
Gaby's press agent got through with
the incident Gaby was heralded all
over the world as kicking Manny's
crown from off his royal head. She
had no more to do with the Portugal
rulers downfall than the Cherry Sis
ters.
Here is a problem for psychologists
as reported in a New York morning
paper. Four men met at breakfast
near Fulton street. The subject of
Spanish influenza came. up. Three
had not heard of the scare. The
fourth explained it in detail. The
next morning the three listeners were
taken down with the malady-which
is a mild form of grippe.