Evening star., 1937-11-06
By M..C. r.

READER out in Maryland
n writes to Ask how one gets to
~ be 4 reviewer. 80.
4 a Well, 1t was one Of those oil
winters which, in pre-depression days,
used to confront young people just
out Of college II they did not happen
to enjoy bridge. The reviewer went
down to the once Of the local daily,
the only morning paper in q town Of
about $4,000, and informed the ed
itor, whom she had known all her
life, for she had known everybody
in the town all her life, that he
was entering . new era in newspaper
management by appointing her book
reviewer. The editor said very prompt
ly, using what Is called kind but
Arm manner, mot on your life, I'm
not" It appeared that he thought
that his journal had gotten along
for years and years very nicely with
out any literary comment and that
there was no reason to think that 1t
could not continue to do SO.
The reviewer, however, although
she was not q reviewer Just yet, stuck
around and reiterated her remark.
She put 1t up to him about how
long winters were in that particular
town. She put 1t up to him about
bridge. He agreed, gloomily, but
would not yield.
Finally he said, "Well. If you were
an experienced sports writer I would
give you job. But. you see, you
aren't" The reviewer optimistically
took that as q sign that he was weak
ening.
Eventually she got her job, but with
this proviso, Don't expect me to pay
you anything! Write what you want.
and I'll run it but don't expect me
to read 1t. Me or anybody else"
OBSERVING that his cultural level
was as low as she had always
suspected, the reviewer asked for desk
space. II haven't any, said the
friendly editor. you'll have to do
your work at home. But" he con-
ceded. you can use the ONCE address
that Is, If you come down and get
your mail yourself. And-well-Tn
pay you q dollar q column"
This was the Parkersburg wv. Va)
News which was about to be bright
ened by talent which it clearly failed
to appreciate.
The reviewer promptly wrote 10 a
fine list Of important publishers tell
ing them Of her project and asking
them to send her books for review. A
few OF them did reply. They wrote
her that they could not send review
copies to a paper Of such small circu-
lation. These letters she waved ex-
ultantly under the editors nose.
You see what kind of a sheet you
get out" she told him. That's what
they think of you over in New York.
And then she added insultingly, But
wait. I'll get your paper out Of the
intellectual sticks for you yet" With
that she and the editor went out for
a coca-coh, for, after all, she had
known him all her life, as mentioned
Well, it took q trip to New York
(paid for out of the reviewers persona
funds) to persuade those publishers
to come through, but they finally did
That is, about five of them did
Doubleday Doran. Alfred Knopf. Liv-
eright, Dutton and Mcbride. In the
twenties they were leading the field
however, and SO the new book re-
viewer did not feel so bad about her
investment.
CHE began writing reviews. Never
could q critic have wished for q
more halcyon sky in which to try his
wings. For nobody read anything that
she wrote. you see. Nobody cared
she could say, as she did, that Mr.
John Erskine was a charlatan, and
there was no outcry from outraged
local intellectuak. Not a peep, even
The local intellectuals just went on
playing bridge. She could announce
as she did, that Mr.. Sinclair Lewis
genius seemed to her to lie in the
field of publicity rather than that of
literature and they just raised the bid
two spades. 1t was absolutely per-
feet. 1t was just like talking to her
self
Well, after 4 time the conversation