The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-10-13
I1I-iE DAILY
/. sE4o y I ST ) !. !
POOR OLD BANGS
ny JANE OSBORN.

III Ii - ksjtt 5isf .stsGFSkhFy 70 the man
aginE editor of tho magazine,
Daisy Jones was the go-between
tnat 1nYarlabl ~, appeared between
that important personage and
aspiraats to literary honors who
thought that g personal interview
with an editor was one OF the
ladder to- success. almost never
did one Of The callers whom Daisy
tones met In the reception room
O the magazine offices get to see
MT. Stockbridge, the editor. Yet
they 'never fell that they wers
being turned down or that they
MAD been sent empty away-that
Z III not until they had got out Of
the warmth OF Dalsy's radiant
personality. her sympathetic
smile VI and her understanding
brown eyes. II they had manu-
script she took 1t and referred It
to one Of the readers; IL they
begged d personal interview with
adrs Stockbrtdgo she made OK
cises; Il they had criticisms to
offer She listened patiently and
thanked the critics.
Harold Rogers when he called
with brief ctae OF manuscript
at the editorial office was no or
binary caller. That is. he was not
TO Be sidetracked By Daisy Jones'
interested smile or sympathetic
eyes. Harold had sold books one
summer as part OF his scheme for
Quitting himself through college
and he was immune to all OF
\ Daisy stricks and excuse.
y want to see Mr., Stockbridge
Rn1 going to see him some
how he said doggedly but with
perfect good nature.
But Mr.. Stockbridge expects
me to attend to callers with whom
he $is not personally acquainted.
N you have manuscript Ill be
very glad to take it and havo 1t
carefully read by one OF the as
Atant editors. Mr.. Stockbridge
never considers manuscript until
its has gone through the hands Of
his assistants. He is SO very
busy. You surely understand"
Yves, but this manuscript has
already gone through the hands
OF your editorial readers, and 1t
has come back with rejection
slip. 1sdidn't write it, you UNDER
stand. i'll had wouldn't be so
keen about praising it. But 1t Is
the work Of an old friend Of mine
Alden Bangs. ] undertook to
place II for him. He is especial-
lyseager to get you people to take
n. know your readers weren't
Impressed by It, but also know
that a man like Mr.. Stockbridge
might sometimes come to a differ.
emit decision from that Of his as
sistants. I want Mr.. Stockbridge
toiread this himself. That's why
1want to meet. Mr.. Stockbridge
personally. Now you say that he
never sees writer's personally,
that he never reads manuscript
until &c has been passed on by his
readers. I happen to have heard
how he took the first story from'i
John Brandige. His readers turn
ed sits down. Then he read 1t per-
sonally and recognized 1t. as .one.E
! OF the best short stories of ;tla
\ YEAR"
t'ot course, John Brandige was
different" assured Daisy. "Mr.
.Stockbrfdge's sympathy was arouE-
ed. Mr.. Brandige, you know, is
blind. When other men who try
TO beg his personal interest come
he says. They are strong, healthy.
Why don't they become doctors
or engineers or lawyers or car
penters There are too many fic-
ton writer's as it is.' You know
Mr.. Stockbrfdge Is not very en-
thusiastic about fiction writing as
a profession. Tell your friend
that Mr.. stockbridge thinks that
for nine hundred and nInety-nine
men outof a thousand who aspire
70 fiction writing, It would have
been the part of wisdom to have
taken up some other calling. That
iswhat Mr.. Stockbridge would tell
you II he saw you. OF course,
with John Brandigedt was differ
emit. He was blind"
Harold Rogers had been listen
ing intently. He interrupted
Daisy now:
There may be Just as good rea-
son why this friend OF mine
should be encouraged as John
Brandige. The fact is-the fact
lsihe broke his neck once when he
was trying-trying to save a girl
strom drowning. He has to sup
port an invalid mother and ton
sue-tied sister"
fonguertted?" queried Daisy.