The New York herald., 1922-08-06

lie wrote about them i'm the
Roundabout Papers" on "Thorns
in the Cushion" They worried him
SO that he resigned the editorshin
after years service. There was
one from an actress of the Theater
Royal, Dublin, who, offended by a
careless line, wrote to inform that
theatrical managers were in the
habit of using better English than
authors; and another, signed yours
in supreme disgust" which ended
with the admonition: II think it
would be much better if you were
to reform your own life, instead of
telling lies of those who are i'm
measurably your superiors."
| UST to what extent do American
= authors of to-day receive sur
prlsing letters from strangers? For
the purpose Of throwing light upon
that interesting subject this de-
partment OF the book section has
sent out number of letters to
widely known authors asking then,
to tell the readers of THE New York
HERALD of the particular letter
brought by the postman that left
the deepest impression. what
letter stands out in the memory as
being the most crushing, or the
most humorous, or the most touch
ing, or the most impossible?" was
about the form of Interrogation.
We take this occasion of thanking
the authors for their courtesy in
cooperating, and also to explain
, that their letters, which will be dis
cussed from time to time in this
department, are being taken up in
the order in which they are re-
ceiyed. The first replies came in
the following order: First, Irwin s.
COBB; second, Arthur B. Reeve:
third, Booth Harrington; fourth.
Gene Stratton-Porter; fifth, Ernest
Poole.
| MR.. COBB thinks that the most
Az unusual letter, the most as
tonishing letter and the most
humorous letter-that is to say. the
most unconsciously humorous-that
ne ever received was the one that
came to him from a young person
she was female person-who ad-
vanced the following suggestion:
That Mr.. Cobb should write a fic-
tion story, choosing his own theme,
sign her name to it as author.
secure It's publication in some
standard magazine and send her the
cheque, to be devoted to paying for
her education in some field or an
other OF artistic endeavor, either
literature or art. At the end of five
years she would return the amount
to Mr.. Cobb with interest. The most
crushing letter came to Mr.. Cobb
some twelve years ago when he was
doing special work for the Erenino
World. 1t was signed "An Edu-
Gated Negro" The writer said that
he had been reading Cobb article
on Jack Johnson, then the cham
pion heavyweight pugilist of the
world, and wished to take issue
with some of the comments on that
large, black man. His language
was temperate and courteous but
emphatic. and he concluded with
these words. Il notice you pay con-
siderable attention to Jack Jonn-
sons physical appearance. Now, 1
have never seen you but l fire.
quently have seen your pictures
and, with all due respect, / wish to
say to you that you are no Lillian
Russell yourself"
MR.. ARTHUR B. REEVE has
AZ reached the point where he
feels that a story did not "get over"
il he does not receive letters about
it during the fortnight or month
after 1t is published. One of the
first letters and the most f1attering
that he ever received was from
rather large manufacturer in Pitts
burgh. A poisonous chemical had