River, or of New Orleans, or of Portland (either Maine or Oregon), and the editor asks why some of our promising new writers do not stay in their own home towns and write about the people, the environment, and the atmosphere seen from their own front doors, giving stories that reflect life in the thousands of cities and villages in the United States apart from New York City and particularly Greenwich Village. Collier's will welcome such stories, short short stories of not more than 5,000 words with good characterization and plots that contain action, but stories that, first of all, are representative of American life today.

Good Morning, an illustrated weekly of humor and satire, will appear May 1. Ellis O. Jones is to be the editor and Art Young the cartoonist, and the magazine wants contributions of cartoons, pictures, poems, paragraphs, dialogues, allegories, fables, brief stories, etc. The publication office is at 7 East Fifteenth street, New York.

Opportunities for free lance writers are offered by the European Publicity Department of the War Emergency and Reconstruction Committee of the Methodist Episcopal Church. A list of suggested subjects from which to choose is submitted to the writer. The Department then does whatever research or interviewing is required (unless the writer prefers to do this work) and supplies the writer with the collected material. After

The Current History Magazine (NewYork) wants articles giving authentic information regarding international phases of current history.

Hight C. Moore, D.D., editor of the publications of the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention (Nashville, Tenn.), says that the market for manuscripts. with him is practically limited to three illustrated weeklies: Kind Words, a four-column,. eight-page paper for young people; Baptist Boys and Girls, a three-column, four-pagepaper for boys and girls; and the Child's Gem, a two-column, four-page paper for the

little ones. The annual needs of these three publications call for more than 1,000 manuscripts. He needs for Kind Words from six to ten serials, 200 short stories, 250 articles, and from 50 to 75 poems; for Baptist Boys and Girls, six or eight serials, 100 shor: stories, 150 articles, and from 40 to 50 poems ; for the Child's Gem, 150 stories, 50 articles, and 50 poems. In addition he accepts annually about fifty manuscripts (poems, articles, stories, and sermonettes) for the quarterly, Home Department Magazine. All other matter is almost exclusively supplied by the edi-· tors or staff writers. The articles desired cover a pretty wide range. They may be descriptive, biographical, historical, literary, or scientific, but they should be written in popular style, and not be severely technical or statistical. Variety in topic and treatment is refreshing. Publication of articles along a certain line does not mean that more on the same subject will be available. On the contrary, "something different" might be especially welcome. The publishers have no room for long poems, but suitable verse is welcome. The themes need not be solely religious, but the sentiment must be sound, and nothing trite, slangy, childish, or goodygoody is desired. Stories should have a purpose that pulls upward, with originality that takes out of the beaten path, and with movement that attracts red-blooded young people and their seniors. The moral note need not be prominent, but it should be there. Stories of wholesome adventure are generally given first-page position, and the story of achievement stands high. Love stories, slang, everything that smacks of commercial advertising, treatment of events that would be stale reading before publication, marital and domestic difficulties, reflections on parents, flippancy 'n regard to religion and religious matters, the presentation of false doctrines, and whatever antagonizes or compromises the beliefs of Baptists are rigidly barred. "Special Day" stories should reach the editor from four to six months ahead of the date of publication. A Fourth-of-July article cannot be accepted in June, or a Christmas story in November, unless for publication the following year. Illustrations for stories are ordered from staff

artists, but original photographs accompanying available articles are sometimes purchased. The maximum length limit for the Child's Gem is 600 words; for Boys and Girls, 1,500 words; for Kind Words, 2,000 words. Serials should run from four to twelve chapters, and poems from one to four stanzas. Publication will be guided by the timeliness of story, space available, balance with other material, and similar limitations. Payment is made on the tenth of the month following the month of receipt of accepted manuscripts.

The Oliver Ditson Company, music publishers (Boston), say that they are always ready to consider compositions offered for publication, but at the present time they cannot use any Marches. They publish but few Marches at any time, and just now they are overstocked with them.

Little Folks Magazine (Salem, Mass.) is oversupplied with material, and will not be in the market until fall.

Live Stories (New York) is looking for some business stories.

The Business Magazine and the Suburban Review have discontinued publication.

The Utah Farmer has been combined with the Irrigation Age (Salt Lake City ).

Others, which resumed publication with the December number, is now located at the Washington Square Bookshop, 17 West Eighth street, New York City. It is to add a prose department, so that poetry may be considered critically as well as presented to its readers. The editor now is Alfred Kreymborg, and Lola Ridge, William Saphier, and Dorothy Kreymborg are associate editors. According to an editorial announcement there are tons of manuscripts in the office awaiting decision.

The Francis Joseph Vernon Memorial Prize at Yale the interest of a fund of $2,100 is presented annually by the committee of award to the author or composer of the best song or poem illustrating Yale life and associations. The prize may be divided,

one-half for the best musical composition, and one-half for the best verse. The competition is open to graduates and undergraduates of the University, and manuscripts should be addressed to the Committee on the Francis Joseph Vernon Prize, in care of the Secretary of Yale University, New Haven, Conn., not later than May 1.

The Society of Arts and Sciences (25 West Forty-second street, New York) - which was founded as the Twilight Club in 1883 by Herbert Spencer having decided at a dinner in 1918 to honor the memory of O. Henry, appointed a committee to consider ways and means. The committee has decided the most fitting memorial will be a prize of $500 to be awarded to the author of the best short story published in America during 1919. Only published stories will be considered, so that a story to be eligible must be first published in 1919, must be published in America, and must be of American authorship including Canada. The committee in charge of the competition is composed of Blanche Colton Williams, Ph. D., Edward J. Wheeler, Litt. D., Robert Wilson Neal, M.A., Merle St. Croix Wright, D.D., and Ethel Watts Mumford,

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The American Sunday-School Union (1816 Chestnut street, Philadelphia ), under the provisions of the John C. Green Fund, offers a prize of $1,000 for the best book manuscript on the subject, "Christianity and Modern Industry How to apply Christian principles to the relations of employer, employee, and consumer." This work should deal with actual achievements, as well as with principles and methods, and should include the rural as well as the urban situation. The Union also offers prizes of $600 for the best manuscript and $400 for the second best, on the subject. "Everyday Heroism: The challenge to the heroic presented by the common tasks of life"; the "moral equivalent for war" found in self-sacrificing service in peace. This work should have special application and appeal to young people. It should emphasize presentday calls to community service and worldwide brotherhood, and should be freely illustrated by examples from real life. books should be of a practical, instructive,

The

and popular sort, containing from 40,000 to 70,000 words each. All manuscripts should be typewritten, or in plain, legible handwriting, and must reach the Union on or before December 1, 1919. Each manuscript should have a designating mark or number, and the name and address of the author sent. in a sealed envelope. The manuscripts winning the prizes are to become the exclusive property of the American Sunday-School Union, the prizes to be paid as soon as the copyrights are so secured to and by the Union. Manuscripts not winning prizes will be returned to the writers at their request and expense within ninety days after the award. The Union reserves the right to decline any and all manuscripts not suitable for its purpose.

The Assembly's Committee on the Forward Movement of the Presbyterian Church in Canada is offering $250 in prizes for the three best manuscripts on "The Twentieth-Century Minister," the purpose being to secure contributions which will comprehensively present the ideals and functions of the Christian minister, with special reference to Canadian conditions in this new era. Manuscripts should contain approximately 2,500 words, and must not exceed 3,000 words, and should be written on one side of the paper, and, where possible, typewritten. Each manuscript should bear a motto and be distinctly marked, "Competition on the Twentieth Century Minister," and should be accompanied by an envelope bearing the same motto, and, within, the name of the writer. The prizes will be $125, $75, and $50. The competition will close April 21, and manuscripts should be addressed to the Secretary of the Forward Movement, Room 256, Confederation Life Building, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The Engineering Company of America, 35 West 39th street, New York, has fixed November I as the closing date for the prize offer of $100 for the best story on the subject, "America in War and Peace," using all the 6,221 different words used by President Wilson in the delivery of his seventy-five addresses. 1913-1918. The words are given in the "Victory White House Vocabulary,"

compiled by Bannell Sawyer, a copy of which will be sent by the Engineering Company on request.

Prize offers still open: —

Two prizes of $25 each offered by A. Stone, for the best letter in favor of submitting manuscripts every. where at one time and the best letter against the practice, submitted before May 1, 1919. Particulars in February WRITER.

Prizes of $15, $10, and $5 offered by the American Sunday School Union for the best, the second-best. and the third-best article, stimulating smaller Sunday schools to become bigger and better, offered by June 1. Particulars in February WRITER.

Prizes offered to Iowa College students by the Iowa Press and Authors' Club, $25 for the best short story and $25 for the best poem submitted by April 15. Particulars in February WRITER.

Prizes offered by Poetry (Chicago) for the best work printed in the magazine during the year Oc. tober, 1918 September, 1919. Particulars in December WRITER. Prizes offered by American Ambition (Philadel phia) in comedy-drama, short story, song, and other

contests.

Monthly prizes offered by the Photo-Era (Boston) for photographs, in an advanced competition and a beginner's competition.

Prizes of two dollars and one dollar offered monthly by Wohelo (New York) for stories, short poems, and essays on subjects suggested by the editor, written by Camp Fire girls. Particulars in November WRITER.

Prize of $1,000 offered by the National Industrial Conference Bureau for the best essay or monograph on any one of eight different economic subjects submitted before July 1, 1919. Particulars in March WRITER.

Prize of $1co offered by the Manuscript Society of Philadelphia for a cantata on the subject of Peace. Particulars in March WRITER.

Seven prizes, ranging from $500 to $50, offered by Physical Culture, for the best Personal Efficiency stories submitted before June I. Particulars in March WRITER.

Prize of $100 offered by Poetry, as a mark of distinction, like a scholarship, to be awarded in November to the unknown poet among its contributors who most deserves and needs the stimulus of such a reward. Particulars in March WRITER.

Weekly prizes offered by the Boston Post for original short stories by women, published each day. Particulars in January WRITER.

The Boston Evening Record is paying one dollar each week day for a poem written by a Record

reader.

WRITERS OF THE DAY.

Hugh F. Grinstead, who had an adventure story, "In a Grain Chute," in the Youth's Companion for March 13, was born in Mis

souri forty-nine years ago. His early life was spent on the ranches of Texas and New Mexico, of which he writes chiefly. For a number of years he was engaged in the publication of a country newspaper and was later in the United States Postal service, from which he resigned about a year ago to engage exclusively in writing. Mr. Grinstead wrote his first story in 1912, and since that time his work has appeared in the Youth's Companion, the American Boy, and other periodicals of like character. He lives now at Columbia, Missouri.

Elizabeth Patterson, whose story, "Honor Among Thieves," was published in Munsey's Magazine for January, is the daughter of Brigadier-General John H. Patterson, U. S. Army, retired. She was born on an army post, and spent her childhood riding the Indian ponies and playing with the other children in frontier garrisons. She has traveled a good deal, especially in France and Italy, and she is now on service in France. "Honor Among Thieves" is Miss Patterson's second story, her first, "Sir Galahad," having appeared in the All-Story Weekly last May.

Beatrice Witte Ravenel, whose story, "As One Lady to Another," was printed in Harper's Magazine for March, was born in Charleston, S. C., and still lives there. She spent five years at Radcliffe as a special student, giving most of her time to English composition and literature. While at college she had a short story in Scribner's Magazine and one in the Chap Book, which was later reprinted in the second volume of Chap Book Stories. She has contributed to the Harvard Monthly and to the Advocate, one of her articles, The Coming Man in Fiction," having been partially reprinted in the Literary Digest. In 1900 she married Francis Gualdo Ravenel, of Charleston. Mrs. Ravenel had a short story, "The High Cost of Conscience," in Harper's for January, and she has had poems in the Atlantic Monthly, the Bookman, and Contemporary Verse.

PERSONAL GOSSIP ABOUT AUTHORS.

Harland. Seventy-three years ago Marion Harland (in private life, Mrs. Mary Virginia

Yesterday morning Marion Harland worked from eight to twelve at her desk, as she does six mornings out of seven, clicking away at the typewriter which she substituted for her pen a few years ago, when a fall badly strained her wrist.

After that she conferred with two publishers and made arrangements for several sets of articles to be written during the coming year.

Marion Harland was one of the first women in America to enter the field of novel writing. Close to two-score romances bear her name. For years she wrote a novel each year, and innumerable shorter works. During this time her husband, the late Rev. Dr. E. P. Terhune, was at the head of large parishes in Newark, N. J., Springfield, Mass., and Brooklyn. For a major part of this period there was always a baby in the home. She was a pioneer in domestic science. A dozen of her books on household lore have brought counsel and comfort to women of three generations.

She has traveled in far lands, and has written many volumes of history, biography and accounts of her journeyings.

But it is not as novelist, domestic scientist, historian, biographer, or traveler that Marion Harland hopes that her name is to be remembered. Upon her long life of tireless activity she wishes that a more intimate characterization be placed: "Marion Harland, maker of homes." New York Tribune.

Hurst. Fannie Hurst's confession, in the American Magazine, of the steepness and length of her path toward success shows that she had a vocation for letters. The test of her "sticking" power lasted for twelve years, during which time she had to struggle with "discouragement which finally festered into active opposition." She was the only child of well-to-do parents, who wondered why their daughter could not be "like other girls" and love parties and beaux instead of literature.

Instead of marrying, she went to college; and, that phase ended, she had to overleap a great barrier of parental opposition in order to get to New York. Here her real appreaticeship began. She received an allowance from home, so there was no pinch of poverty as yet; but in spite of her courage the loneliness of a great city almost submerged her at moments. She began a weary, fruitlessround to editors' offices; and then, laying aside her manuscripts for a while, she found a place as a supernumerary in one of the season's most successful plays. She had only a few lines to speak, and no one saw in her a budding genius of the stage, so when the company started "on tour," she returned to her typewriter, and was encouraged by selling a story for thirty dollars. But this, she adds, represented her literary gains for six months.

Her thirst to know human nature led her, as she says, into "strange highways and stranger byways." For a month she lived with an Armenian family in a room over a tobacconist's shop. She was, by turns, a salesgirl in a department store, a waitress in a white-tiled lunchroom, wardrobe woman of a Broadway musical show, a newspaper reporter, and a stitcher of "boys' pants" in a Polish sweat-shop. Then came the decree from her family: "No more checks would be forthcoming except for home-coming.” Anticipating this, she had been husbanding her resources; but the time came when she began to slip into arrears, and to feel, for the first time, that she was "dickering with: life in terms of money."

Though manuscripts were still returned, letters of encouragement sometimes camewith them, and an editor sent for her and agreed to purchase one of her stories if she would rewrite the ending. She owns that she "would have agreed to rewrite the Book of Job," but, after all, the rewritten story was sent back to her without explanation. This was a severe blow. "I had hit bottom," sheowns. Then, she says, she hunted up a letter of introduction to an editor, sent her by a. friend twelve months before. This brought her "in touch with a man to whom I was one in a thousand, and who happened for me to be the one in a thousand." The man was