New-York tribune., 1920-01-05
Books

Henry Ford, SO the story goes, called
upon the editor of his magazine "The
Dear born Independent" to ascertain how
things were going.
Were too statistical, I'm afraid"
said the editor. "Of course we can try
and get that sort Of stuff over by put
ting it in the form Of how many hours
1T ia kes to turn out enough end-to-end
Fords to reach from here to Shanghai
and back, but that sort of thing has been
done before. 1t doesn't take the curse
Oft. What we need is some good, live
fiction"
~ III right" replied Mr.. Ford, "let's
have fiction"
u rs not as easy as all that" objected
the young editor. "Theres very keen
competition among all the magazines for
the fction writer's, and I'd need pretty
big appropriation to get any Of them"
Why not get some of the bright
young men on the magazine to write us
som b tiction?" suggested Ford.
"fhat's not feasible" said the editor.
"Fiftion's highly specialized product.
Nobody on our magazine has the COM
plete equipment to turn out successful
tiction."
- Ah, but that's where efficiency comes
in,' interrupted Ford triumphantly.
"Get one of the young men to think up
an idea. Then let another outline the
gen eral structure. A third can do the
descriptions and another one the dia-
logq lie. And then you-you're the editor
y pu assemble it,
The fight between Carpenter and
Bee kett developed another contest
equh ally spirited and almost equally
one |sided. Arnold Bennett and George
Bernard Shaw were both at the ring
side, and both reported the fight.
Be1 nett for "The New Statesman" and
Shaw for "The London Nation" The
con Fensus of opinion seems to be that
be,fnett won by a knockout. Shaw
showed much greater technical knowl-
edge OF the sport. His story abounds
IN shrewd comment on the style Of the
twd contestants. He refers to Beckett
as ia chopping block" speaks Of blow
as having an impact like the kick of
Thoroughbred horse" comments on the
pre- clslon of Carpenters right to the
Jaw and sticks pretty generally
Throughout to the correct and conven
tiohal thing.
N'ennett is less technical and more in
teresting. He has keener eye for the
possibilities of what newspapers know
as human interest" He even succeeds
in investing the affa ir with a philo-
soHhic significance. And yet we do not
imply that Shaw fell down on the story,
as American writing men usually do
when called on to report big fight
There is little likelihood thht the editor
Of "The Nation" upon reading his story
locked up savagely and remarked: !:
That's the last fight you'll ever cover
fol- US. After this you'd better stick to
driEma and society"
No, indeed. There arc indications in
Shhw's story that he might go far in
tinhe AS sporting reporter. In time
heIwould undoubtedly rid himself of The
teIdancy to follow the small-town news
paPer practice Of seeking humorous ef-
fe|ts by referring to Joe Beckett as
"AEr. Joseph Beckett; he might even
lesrn to keep himself out of his stories,
Though IL is u nntural weakness in any
onh upon first being sent out on All az
sifnment az an expert" There is
prbnaisa in Shaw-s copy.
Carpentier was hoisted up to be
chfered," ho wrote in describing the
scRne just after the Knockout dragged
ddwn to bc kissed, hung out by tho heels
trfm the ncafEold to. be fondIed by lady.