The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-02-05

~ most minute details OF their
lives, including what they
have for breakfast (after they nave
reached the state of having anything
at am. Which may account for
their being driven 10 an early grave.
But the editor is unknown. He may
be spoken Of as "Stevenson's editor"
say. as in the case OF our present
subject. And when he sends word 10
contributors he is delightfully."- mystic
rious: "The Editors" One really
doesn't know whether he is singular
or plural. The general inference is
that he is singular very much SO.
In presenting Mr. Edward Liver
more Burlinsame l deplore this form
of writing as much as you do. The
pep ard the Kawa-ism OF this age
does not belong to him. But / use it,
just as real authors do, TO attempt
to deceive you into believing that 1
really have something to say. Con-
sidering how admirable q subject /
have, you will see that this article is
distinctly thin. And yet / stubbornly
state that anything at all about Mr..
Burlingame is more interesting than
much would be about some one else.
An editor. some think. is villain,
cold and repellant TO budding talent.
With, like Stevenson's dog Chuchu.
ga tear of elegant sentiment perma-
nently in his eye" and a rejection
slip in his hand. But, when you
reach him in his Office, you will find
that he is a very lowly person in his
own opinion. He will say with the
air of Francois Villon, one mag
ines: Il am only a poor editor" while
he looks appraisingly at the poten-
tial author, thinking to himself: Il
wonder if he really is worth while!"
The meanest author can talk him
down, only to find that the editors
opinions remain fixed.
AS many know, and a great many
more do not know, Edward l.. Bur
i.ngame was the editor of Serb
ncr's Magdzine for thirty years. He
was SteVenson's editor and friend and
served in the two most delightful
capacities TO many another author
of the first rank during those years.
And he has spent forty-three years
in the arduous business of literature.
The real purpose OF such an article
as this should be 10 announce the
early publication o. Mr.. Burlinsame's
memoirs or 1T least TO say that he
was hard at work writing them.
Such news would agitate the cables
OF the world. And / do hope the
House OF Scribner viii assign him to
such a genial task right away.
All who have read Sidney Colvin's
look know, OF course, about Mr..
Burlinganle. But / considered it an
adventure OF the rarest sort to be
going up Fifth avenue on brilliant
January afternoon to talk for awhile
with this editor and to find out
the manner OF man he was.
Now, in photograph galleries and
such places you'll find a great show
of Oriental rugs, soft divanS and
paintings. and things generally called
artistic. But Charles Scribner's Sons
work in a modern Office building. 1t
would be fine TO imagine Walter Pater
stroliing Zip 10 the swinging gate.
upon leaving the elevator. and look
ing over this Office. He would have
said, upon this particular afternoon,
"Humph. very fireproof. no doubt
No publishing house is as God for
saken as newspaper Office: they
have to have art around to help out
their existence.
There is an air OF leisure and
friendliness at Scribner's which is
very delightful in this day OF hurry
ing about 10 no purpose. Tables of
books beguile the caller into thinking
that time has raced away. And while
looking eagerly into the new volumes,
fresh from the press, one would for
get the asphalt floor and the swing
ing gate and know only that the
business of producing books, writing
or editing or publishing them is the
best in the world. Air. Burlingame
said this himself. presently, and
added that he had no regrets for so
! much time spent i'm a literary work.
shop.
However. this account of how a