caution in mind, there is much to be said in defence of careful technique.

Numberless literary methods have been tried and discarded in order to bring the novel to its present perfection of form. The writer who deliberately chooses the novel as the medium through which to express his ideas is by no means justified in ignoring the rules which time and experience have proved to be of the greatest structural value.

Geniuses, to be sure, are often inclined to rebel against prescribed standards, yet there are few who can plead genius in extenuation of their iconoclasm. Almost without exception the eminent writers of our own day accept the limitations which the novel imposes, paying due regard to formal excellence without in any degree impairing the vital power of their stories.

A diamond in the rough has a natural beauty and a worth quite distinct from that of the cut and polished gem. In the latter case added luster and perfect symmetry result from artificial skill, and the incompetent or careless cutter may ruin the stone with his bungling.

It is so with the gems of human under

standing. The novelist who scorns to master the mechanical side of his profession, that side which in the ultimate analysis makes for moderation and self-restraint, is foreordained to produce inartistic work, the imperfections of which can hardly fail to detract from the inherent value of his thought. Even Hugo is guilty of "artistic falsehoods" so flagrant that John Burroughs feels impelled to characterize the great French novelist as a "malformed giant."

The study of technique, if properly conducted, ought not to deprive the student of a due appreciation of that informing spirit to which Professor Corson refers. On the contrary, it should sharpen his powers of discrimination; and since the spirit of the novel is not altogether independent of the form in which it abides, the student who detects the underlying principles of construction is not likely to remain uninfluenced by that higher quality of thought, that indwelling and pervasive essence which lends the novel its peculiar distinction. At any rate, it is upon that assumption that this little work has been prepared. Thomas L. Marble.

GORHAM, N. H.

It is not an easy task to keep up with the ingenious activities of the philanthropists at Washington, Baltimore, Cleveland, New York, Chicago, London, Paris, and possibly Petrograd, who are undertaking to do so much for the benefit of unsophisticated writers, and at the same time make a living for themselves. Some account of their generous offers to authors has been given in the Februruary, March, April, and May numbers of THE WRITER. Now the country is being flooded with circulars sent out by the American Authors' Association, 501 Tacoma Building, Chicago, which gives assurance of its standing by strongly recommending the Saulsbury Publishing Company, of Baltimore, "as they are known to every reliable literary

agency," and the Howard Music Company, of Washington, "who publish on royalties and treat the new author very fairly." The circular of the Association says:

"We are not publishers but literary agents giving the various services on MSS. as described in the Bulletin. We do not publish songs, and our only service is that described in our Bulletin. We have found song publishers to be courteous and prompt with new material, especially the Howard Music Co."

At the same time, in a slip with the heading, "Hymn Writing," the Association asks :

Can you write a hymn that has some special appeal ? If so, send us the words and we will have our Music Editor write appropriate music. This line of writing has a wide appeal, and if

you are interested we may be able to help you place your work with publishers specializing in church music books. If this suggestion interests you send us your hymn Ms. for examination. The Bulletin seems to be a four-page printed circular, beginning: "When you receive any service from the American Authors' Association, you secure the benefit of a trained staff of editors and literary workers, whose business it is to help you with your literary problems." The gist of the Bulletin is that if you have written a short story, or a poem, or a song poem, or a scenario, and will send your manuscript to the American Authors' Association "for free examination," the editors of the association will inform you what it will cost to revise your manuscript, to typewrite it, to put it in the proper form if it is a scenario, or, if "you have written your scenario to your own satisfaction, but are unable to write the synopsis," to write the synopsis. "It will not be necessary for you," says the Bulletin, "to master the complicated rules for writing a synopsis of your own play; all the bothersome and intricate detail of the preparation of your manuscript is taken care of by our Scenario Editor, who is thoroughly familiar with every demand of the producers. All that will be necessary for you to do is to send us your ideas, in whatever form you wish. A mere plot, or outline, of the simplest nature is just as acceptable to us as a long story. Write out your ideas, whatever they may be, and send the manuscript to us, and it will at once be placed in the hands of our Scenario Editor, who will examine it carefully. We will then write you the exact cost of converting your story into a complete scenario."

Unsophisticated writers are encouraged by the statement that "Perhaps the most lucrative form of writing at present is the Scenario. Literally hundreds of thousands of dollars are paid annually by film producers for photo-plays." So the film producers themselves have been known to say; but they have not told us what proportion of the "hundreds of thousands of dollars" is paid for scenarios by unknown writers.

In the case of scenarios, as in the case of short stories, and other manuscripts, the As-. sociation asks for a fee ten per cent. of the

amount for which the manuscript is sold, with the generous explanation, “We make no charge for the Selling Service when a manuscript has been revised and typed by The American Authors' Association. We do not undertake the selling of manuscripts unless they are in the best form possible.". As for revision, the Bulletin says: "The fee for this work will, of course, depend upon the length of the manuscript and the amount of work to be done upon it." "Of course," the Bulletin adds, "a story must be saleable in order to make its disposition possible." The Bulletin gives no idea as to what the fee for revising manuscripts will be, but it is fair to assume that it will be large enough so that the Association can afford to "make no charge for the Selling Service when a manuscript has been revised and typed by the American Authors' Association."

The Bulletin makes an interesting suggestion about authors' stationery, saying: "A businesslike envelope, with your name and address neatly printed in the corner not only ensures its safety, but gives your letter a place in the package of 'important mail.'"

Song writers are encouraged by the statement in the Bulletin that "One of the most interesting and at the same time one of the most popular phases of literary work is that of song-writing." If you have a song-poem that has never been set to music, the Association will have its Song Editor write a suitable melody for the verse, and it will then undertake to submit the manuscript to publishers of popular songs, charging only three dollars for the complete Song Service, which is probably less than half what others are charging for similar work."

Incidentally, the Association encloses with its bunch of circulars a printed slip which reads : :

Splendid opportunity to edit a publication in your locality and become a forceful citizen in your community. Chance to make $200 profit a month. Small capital required. Here is an opportunity for a "wide-awake " man or woman to make money and become a leading force in the community by editing a new magazine. We coach you, and show you how to succeed. Our profit comes from use of small amount of advertising pages. We furnish you with everything. Write at once for particulars. FEATURE MAGAZINE, No. 5 N. La Salle Street, Chicago, Ill.

Readers of the May WRITER will remember the letter from Rev. R. L. Smith, of Rocheport, Missouri, saying that the Publishers' Service Bureau, under contract, sold a story for him to the Feature Magazine Company, 5 North La Salle street, "who sent me a check for four dollars, so that I am out eleven dollars on the deal."

The Feature Magazine, it may be said in passing, is not the only customer of the Publishers' Service Bureau. Miss Verona Bowes, of Republican City, Nebraska, who received one of those lovely contracts with the special clause guaranteeing at least one sale for her manuscript, but unfortunately omitting to guarantee any special price for it, writes: "I paid the Publishers' Service Bureau eighteen dollars to place a story of several thousand words, which I had submitted to the Woman's National Magazine, which recommended the Bureau, and in a few weeks I received a check for $3.30 from the Keystone Company, Printers and Publishers, Hyattsville, Maryland, so that I lost $14.70 on the deal."

The Publishers' Service Bureau, which proudly announces that it is "The Largest Bureau of Its Kind in the World," now offers to writers in a beautiful yellow circular a series of five pamphlets giving a course of twenty-five lectures which, the Bureau says, "is a condensation of the essential portions of a very successful correspondence course in short story writing." "If you have nothing but the feeling that you want to write that you could write, that you must write, send for these twenty-five lectures," urges the Bureau. "You would n't take ten times their cost for them if you could not replace them." The name of Mrs. I. O. Farber, whose complete address is "Brooklyn,

66

says:

N. Y.," is signed to a testimonial which Shortly after reading them, I revised a story, which had been rejected so many times that it was almost worn out. I used only the knowledge that I gained from your introductory lecture, and it was accepted for publication by a popular magazine, with a request for more." Is n't a course of twentyfive lectures, in five pamphlet parts, that will do that, dirt cheap at three dollars?

It is a pity that limitations of space in THE WRITER make it impossible to reprint the leaflet entitled "On Being an Editor," by the associate editor of the Woman's National

Magazine, beginning: "Perhaps you imagine an editor as being a stooped-shouldered, gruff, long-bearded individual, entirely devoid of a sympathetic nature," for the leaflet is very entertaining. Doubtless, however, Mr. Hitchcock will be courteous enough to send a copy to any unsophisticated writer on request. He is very proud, he says, to be associated with the Woman's National Magazine, and he predicts that "it will not be long before it becomes the largest and most influential of the women's journals published in America." Those who have seen recent copies of the magazine will realize that in that case it will have to grow. "The friends I make every

day," says Mr. Hitchcock, "are a true inspiration." THE WRITER has received letters from a good many of them. "You would be surprised," he adds, "and you probably would n't believe some of the things that are written to me in letters." He does not say just what they are, but he adds: “If I never had a sympathetic nature, I ought to have one now when I take to heart the secrets, the troubles, the ambitions, the disappointments that come bobbing up from the pen-written and typewritten pages in letters." It is indeed a very entertaining leaflet, and every unsophisticated writer should try to procure

Company (which, according to a letter from the Saulsbury Publishing Company, December 13, 1917, was then going out of business); Asst. Editor, the Cosmos Magazine; and Secretary, National Institute of Efficiency." It begins by asking the reader : "Would you like to become a newspaper writer, and earn a steady, permanent income of $100 to $200 a month not one month, but every month in the year?" Assuming that you would, you can learn from the pamphlet how by simply sending two dollars to Mr. Hobart you can become a member of the National Press Syndicate, and get all the printed instructions of the Hobart system, a card of membership from the Syndicate saying that you are a writer for the press, and free advice and assistance for a year, with the understanding that the other ten dollars of the regular fee for enrollment and membership is not payable until you shall have earned fifty dollars through following the system. Of course the extra ten dollars will be paid cheerfully by any one who has been enabled through the instructions of the System to earn "$200 a month not one month, but every month in the year."

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A circular sent out by the American Authors' Association, quoting an article "reprinted from America's New Era Magazine, Chicago," tells how the Woman's National Magazine Corporation, of which Horace D. Hitchcock is president, is planning to publish a new journal, the Woman's National Journal, first as a monthly, then as a weekly, carrying out "a very novel and original idea in buying MSS." Acceptable MSS.," says the circular, are limited to a few passing the severe test of editorial acid. The authors of these MSS. are permitted to hold stock in the company and to pay for the securities half in cash and half in literary value. . . . No stock is offered to the public."

It was a very fortunate thing that I kept a little memo of that MS. you sent me some time ago for now I have good news for you and a splendid opportunity to get it published. Just the other day the President of the Company came into my office and during the discussion I suggested this idea: Why not permit some of the authors whom I knew had written interesting, commendable work, to participate with us in the growing success of our magazine?

The idea was approved by the Board of Directors and you will no doubt be pleased to learn that this proposition will enable you to have your MS. published without delay in our new magazine, "The Woman's National Journal which we are preparing to put out now....

I want to see that MS. of yours or one equally as good published in our new magazine and at the same time I want you to be one to share in the profits of our future business success. I have already recommended your MS. as one suitable for the new issue and as you no doubt know Our space is limited. Consequently, we can publish only a comparatively few good stories and articles and some verse. I certainly am glad that I am able to give you an oppor tunity for the actual publication of your MS. in a magazine of national circulation. Here is just the reason I can do it:

Like all publishing companies that have expanded rapidly, we are now in a position to of fer a small amount of our corporation shares to those interested and desiring a participating interest in our future success. We are just now on the threshold of the bigger, broader interests that come to any national publication that has passed the critical years of early growth. Our publication has achieved a worthy success; it is national in extent and it has subscribers in every state in the Union, Canada, England and many foreign countries. We are going to erect a fine publishing plant here in the National Capital — one of the finest plants in the East. We are willing to dispose of a limited amount of our corporation shares to business interests and to a few writers whom we select as having suitable work for publication.

Right here is your opportunity. I have recommended you as a writer who has a MS. worthy

of publication and I am authorized to offer you a participating interest in the Company under the enclosed agreement. Please read this agreement over and note that you will be entitled to a number of advantages aside from the prestige of having your work published. Here is a splendid opportunity for you to acquire a life interest in a national magazine at a percentage rate over twice that paid by the average savings bank. If you purchased one of our shares for cash you would have to pay $100 cash at this writing and a good deal more than that after we close all sales of shares.

Our immediate need now is a big publishing building and additional press facilities to handle our growing business. For this reason we can accept from you, as a writer with acceptable work, the sale of a full $100 share for only $50 cash and the balance in MS. value. This offer seems almost too good to be true, and for our own protection there is only one stipulation: If you haven't the MS. which I examined some time ago, you may send another you believe as good, subject to approval, and if for any reason we cannot accept it as available, we will return it, also the $50 which you send with one copy of the agreement. For this reason I left the space for title blank in the agreement so you may fill in the title of the MS. you send in for publication.

You will have your MS. actually published in a nationally circulated magazine. Copies containing your work will be on sale on news stands in your locality. You will receive full returns from the newspaper (reprint) rights and the motion picture rights (unless you substitute verse) all of which ought to amount to a neat little sum of money. Besides these things, you will be a shareholder in the Woman's National Magazine Corporation and be glad a few years hence, that you grasped the opportunity. Here is a genuine case in which you can help us and we can help you.

Remember, you can at this writing secure a full $100 share for only $50, as we allow your MS. to apply on the balance. Everyone else has had to pay dollar for dollar in value to obtain a small or large number of shares. The largest magazines in this country have offered their shares to their subscribers in order to give them the opportunity to share in their profits and help the enlargement of their field. Just such an opportunity comes to you now. I hope you will take it up so as not to be disappointed. We are, day by day, selling our shares and there will come a time when we will have sold all the shares that are now available.

Sign one copy of the agreement now and send me your MS. so I can get it into proof and show you how it will look. I will have it published in the next issue which goes to press in about ten days, if you will send me your MS. promptly. If you don't remember the MS. you sent here, send me the best you have and of

course if it is not suited I will refund your $50 and send back the MS. at once.

Hoping to hear from you by early mail,
Sincerely yours,

A. V. Hitchcock

Associate Editor. The fortunate recipients of this circular letter including, apparently, everybody who has ever submitted a manuscript to the Woman's National Magazine will probably gather from it the idea that each is urgently desired to send a manuscript whether the manuscript already previously submitted or some other equally good does not seem to be important which each has reason to hope will be accepted to represent fifty dollars "in MS. value," in exchange for stock if it is accompanied by fifty dollars: cash. To be sure, Mr. Hitchcock says that if the manuscript does not pass the editorial acid test he will refund the fifty dollars and send back the manuscript at once, but of course he hopes that all the manuscripts he gets with the accompanying fifty-dollar checks will be suited for his use. Otherwise, there would be disappointment all around. The "Agreement" enclosed with these circular letters informs 'the party of the second part, hereinafter called the Author," that the Company can accept Liberty Bonds at their face value, and for patriotic reasons will hold all such bonds and not resell. The Agreement says:

The Company agrees to remit to the Author the full amounts received from all reprints in newspapers or elsewhere, such accounting to be made semi-annually at the same time the regular dividend checks are sent out to each share holder.

The Author is to receive in addition to the above a 7 per cent. participating interest in all profits of the Company as one of its full shareholders, it being understood that dividend payments are made on July 1st and January 1st of each year. It is agreed that the share in profits. will be on a full paid share of $100 and will include the 7 per cent. share in the total profits of the Company from all sources whatsoever, such advertising, subscriptions, newsstand sales, rentals of buildings, sale of obsolete machinery,. real estate, etc.

as

Think of the advantages of being an Author, differentiated from the public, and receiving apparently typewritten offers of such glittering opportunities! Arthur Fosdick. BOSTON, Mass.