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A TEN-DOLLAR prize is awarded each month for the best letter published in this department.

Editor, the Forum:

WHAT WILL BE THE SIGNIFICANT THINGS FOR 1927?

Life is a whirling wind. It brings the dust, the leaves, the bits of paper, the scent of dying fires. Yes, it is early winter, when the thought of past moments in the year flutter through memory.

Out of the complexity of clubs, societies, charitable work, the church, reading up on local politics, social engagements, "thank you" speeches and all the rest, comes a crystal thought for us as writers. We have to make a compromise with the facts of crowded existence. When do we write? When do we read? When do we find the solitude necessary for our own little contemplation of the universe? To answer briefly, we do not. And that must be the answer unless we do as most people in other walks of life are doing-compromise.

The times tell us some truths and many lies. What shall we believe? Whom shall we follow? What is our own path of straight-thinking? The mob will get you, if you don't watch out. And on the other hand, you want to get the mob, for it is a part of the writer's business to mingle among his fellowmen.

These days are full of shattered illusions, wider horizons, and consequently much anguish in the soul of man. But there is also a stirring of imagination,

an anxiety to search for truth and a search for a way which will have beauty and rationalism. It is of vital interest to the writer, for he must be the recorder of these changing times. So much is always said about the "great commercial age," but precious little is being understood about man's (and woman's) awakening spirit. So let us allow the mob a place. Life's associations are the practical school, where the most wise may learn.

It seems to me that there are too many organizations. The struggle to attend all of the clubs, lodges, and parties which my husband is compelled to patronize is enough to bring us to the poorhouse if we don't land in a sanitarium first. Useless activity, with a good book at home, should be the rule rather than the exception. Let us choose (so says my almost vanquished resolution) enough leisure to sum up life's real, but not spurious, treasures.

If I were to make a prayer of only one sentence, I think it would be, "Oh, Lord, cast out my old prejudices, and renew my sense of humor." And if we really wished for just that much, and got it, 1927 would become the happiest kind of a new game, the invention of which is uniquely copyrighted by every writer. Maude Sumner Smith. Omaha, Nebraska

Editor, the Forum:

SLANG AND LITERATURE

The Teutonic peoples used to believe in gnomes, trolls, and kobolds, mischievous forest, cave, and house spirits who made things go wrong both at home and abroad, though they were also supposed to do kindly services.

I wonder if America is not infested with slang gnomes and kobolds who plays pranks with the pens, typewriters, and vocal cords of high and low, rich and poor, educated and uneducated, and make every American, young and old, speak and write slang on all occasions, on the solemn occasion as well as on the playful.

This conjecture of mine has been evoked by reading an excellent article on an idealistic subject by

a contemporary American writer who possesses the true writer's gift, and "the pen of a ready writer," but who nevertheless mars his work by a frequent use of such words and expressions as "geezer," "shakes a wicked Waterman," "I'll say he can," "boob," "piffle," "bone" (for dollar), etc.

Now, this writer is an educated man, and a gifted man. Why, then, does he use slang? Apparently in order to secure a humorous effect, and also to secure an effect of homely force. By mixing slang with literary English he secures, by the method of contrast, a certain humorous effect, and by this use of slang the language of uneducated and vulgar persons who are swayed by their emotions and passions he secures an effect of seeming force, for slang is

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the attempt of an uneducated person to say things graphically and forcefully.

I admit that on certain occasions, and on occasions when humorous effects are sought, an educated speaker or writer may employ slang with some grace, if he employs it judiciously. But ordinarily slang should be avoided like the plague. A writer never can achieve anything better than humor by the use of slang. But a writer who seeks humorous effects cannot write with power and influence. Our own Mark Twain realized this fact, and lamented that people would not take him seriously even on those occasions when he meant to be serious. Humor, except when wielded by very skilful hands, is the weapon of the weak. It is the ordinary weapon of

Editor, the Forum:

woman. But woman is always ready to discard humor for tears, for she realizes that tears are a more effective weapon than humor.

Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" is a standing example of the supreme force of simple, homely AngloSaxon words and idioms. "Here will I spill thy soul," said Apollyon to Christian. How much stronger this is than "Here will I bump you off" (though perhaps the two terms are not quite the same in meaning). "To bump off" or "to kill" may be in good use a thousand years from now, but one who desires to use good English will wait a thousand years before using the expression. Charles Hooper.

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

WAS YOUR AUNT AN AUTHOR?

Truly, all men are brothers, especially if they have literary aspirations. Unless you seek him out in his haunts, you very rarely meet a real live author. The modesty of the tribe is positively uncanny. But in the houses of the rich or the hovels of the destitute, on ship-board in mid-ocean, on the shell-torn fields of France or in the lonely ranch house on the great Western Plains, I have had only to mention casually that I have done a bit of scribbling, to learn that my auditor had an aunt, now defunct,

Editor, the Forum:

who once wrote a book. The crudest code of good breeding demands that I enquire about the book. Invariably it develops that but a few copies were printed for private circulation only.

I wish you would print this letter, so that if there are any of your readers who have NOT a latelamented aunt who published a book for private circulation, they would write and tell me so and put my mind at rest. C. W. Newcomb. Craigmyle, Alberta

FARM AND CITY CHILD

I have been very much interested in what your contributors have to say about Commercialism, the Weather Eye and Specialization. Recently I sent a series of Children's Poems to a child's magazine. They came back with the following note:

"Thank you for sending us your poems, but we feel they could be used to better advantage by some farm journal with a children's section. The large percentage of our readers are not farm children and we fear they would not appreciate your poems for the reason that they could not vision things as farm children."

Now, I am not one of those sensitive plants who are indignant because an editor returns my wares, and I am indeed more than grateful to any editor who tells me "why" instead of sending the old line of "not exactly suited to our needs." But this raises a question in my mind that I wish to place before the readers of THE WRITER. These poems had a farm setting. But must it be that no other children are to read about the farm except farm children? Conversely, is it forbidden to have farm children read about skyscrapers, street cars, huge busses, policemen, etc., when they may never have seen any of these? Can city children form no vision of collie

dogs and sheep, chickens, plows, fences, and barns? Are stories of Africa to be circulated solely in the Dark Continent? (And I did enjoy "Tarzan" and Haggard's stories, while the stories in "Adventure" take me on a magic carpet far away to wonderful lands!)

It seems to me that all readers like both the familiar and the strange. I like stories of domestic life and business life because I know the ground and can easily put myself in the story. Also, I like stories of strange places, as it widens my vision and gives me new things to think of. I have never seen the sea, but I love stories of the sea (if there are not too many directions about sails, gallant or otherwise.) "Crossing the Bar" and Masefield's sea poems give me an ache in the heart that is akin to homesickness. Can this be because I was born in the sign of Pisces?

I can see that material suitable for Weird Tales would not be acceptable to the Atlantic Monthly, but I do not agree that manuscript with a country setting must be offered only to farm papers. Of course I do not mean to insist on the high poetical value of the verses that inspired this letter, but my argument is based merely on the theme.

Muncie, Indiana

Margaret Moody.

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The Manuscript Market

THIS information as to the present special needs of various periodicals comes directly from the editors. Particulars as to condition of prize offers should be sought from those offering the prizes. Before submitting manuscripts to any periodical, writers should examine a copy of the magazine in question. - MARGARET GORDON, Manuscript Market Editor.

The recently organized firm of Ives Washburn, Publisher -119 West Fifty-seventh street, New York, began business October 12. It is the intention of the new firm to publish a general list of books that have a popular appeal, as Mr. Washburn is a firm believer in the slogan, "The public be pleased." As a newspaper reporter, writer, magazine editor, book editor, and London manager of an American publishing house, his past experience gives him an appreciation of the author's point of view as well as that of the publisher, and he has helped to develop a number of well-known writers in the last decade. The new firm is particularly interested in Western stories, mystery-detective, adventure-travel, and juvenile material for boys and girls of high-school age. Novels with a fresh point of view and a distinctive quality will also be welcomed. At present the firm will not publish poetry, drama, religious, or educational books. Unsolicited manuscripts may be sent to the New York office without previous correspondence, and will receive careful and prompt attention.

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EVERYBODY'S MAGAZINE EVERYBODY'S MAGAZINE- Spring and Macdougal streets, New York, wants, primarily, stories of adventure, stories based on the lives of men and women in those places where there is still enacted the immemorial, primitive conflict between man and woman, or between man and nature Western stories, stories of the sea, stories in strange, far countries, and, also, to some extent, stories of crime and mystery in such large cities as New York or London. Everybody's prints no articles and no plays, but it does offer a market for short poems or anecdotes that fit into the atmosphere of the sort of stories just mentioned. Novels may contain from 50,000 to 90,000 words: novelettes, 50,000 words: and short stories, 10,000 words, but the chief demand is for short, short stories, not exceeding 5,000 words.

THE AMERICAN GIRL-670 Lexington avenue, New York, is in the market for short stories, containing from 3,000 to 3,500 words. The magazine is edited with the fifteen- and sixteen-year-old girl in mind, who, as Miss Ferris, the editor, says, is a very avid young

creature, always looking for adventure and mystery. Stories for the magazine should, therefore, carry these elements in them and have plenty of action.

LIFE - 598 Madison avenue, New York, wants scenarios, or ideas for scenarios, for the Life Cartoon Comedies, which are being released through the Educational Film Exchanges, Inc. Full instructions and a sample scenario will be sent on request, which should be sent on a coupon cut from an issue of Life.

SCIENCE AND INVENTION -53 Park place, New York, especially needs some popularly illustrated articles covering general science and invention.

JOHN MARTIN'S BOOK-33 West Forty

ninth street, New York, will extend its age appeal, "both up and down," beginning with the January issue. For the older readers, from nine to twelve, the magazine will use serials, of about six chapters, of 2,500 words each, with both boy and girl appeal — adventurous, but avoiding sentimentality and the fear element, stories of romance and fact, things to do and to make, games, and stunts for both boys and girls. Stories should not exceed 2,000 words; craft and game articles, not more than 1,000 words. For the little tot section, the magazine wants timely stories and articles, games, and things to make and to do. The magazine is well supplied with verse. WESTERN FLYING -701 Bryson Building, Los Angeles, Calif., is particularly interested in stories dealing with the adventures of the barnstorming flyer that is, the gypsy aviator who flies from town to town. Mr. Pritchard, the editor of Western Flying, says that there is a mine of romance and adventure in this theme which has not been touched by writers of fiction, and he is very anxious to obtain short fiction, of from 2,000 to 3,000 words, dealing with aviation. Stories should be written in the first person, so as to be the narrative of the barnstormer himself, and should include the slang of the air and the

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minor technical expressions which are common to aviators.

THE NEW SOUTH - 604 Provident Building, Chattanooga, Tenn., wants high-grade short stories, preferably with a Southern setting, and success stories or articles on lives of outstanding Southern men and women.

NORTH-WEST STORIES-461 Eighth avenue, New York, needs at once two Western and two Northern novelettes, containing from 20,000 to 30,000 words, each. Stories for the magazine should be swift-moving and have a fair share of drama and suspense, and must contain some form of sentimental interest.

THE BUDDY-BOOK-93 Massachusetts aveGardner, Mass., particularly needs some good nue, Boston, Mass., formerly published in

short stories for children of nine and ten. Verse of merit, and novel ideas for puzzles and hand work will also be considered. D. E. Bushnell is now the editor of the magazine. MCCLURE'S-119 West Fortieth street, New York, is now an all-fiction magazine, with romantic fiction predominating, the only limitations set being interest and appeal. Romance is, of course, the first essential, but a story endowed with distinction, yet lacking the love element, will not be rejected. Stories that are modern and have American characters are preferred, but varity and picturesqueness of setting are also desirable. Sex is not barred, but it must never be handled selfconsciously nor with any attempt at vulgarity or cheap facetiousness. McClure's regards sex as a subject to be treated simply, genuinely, and in its proportionate relationship to life. Stories with a war background are acceptable only from authentic writers. The editors are as much interested in the author who writes with fine sentiment as in the one who has

cleverness and smartness of style. Romance, adventure, mystery, humor

all are neces

sary to give the fully rounded magazine which they want. They are especially interested in the new writer. Long short stories and serials

are acceptable, as well as short stories. The Mass., has no especial manuscript needs at the magazine uses very little verse.

TODAY'S HUMOR-1112 North boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois, formerly Snickers Snacks, is in the market for short burlesques in verse on modern subjects, especially on subjects about the "Four Million."

THE DIXIE DAIRY AND POULTRY JOURNAL 110 Seventh avenue, Nashville, Tenn., especially needs articles on poultry and dairying suitable for Southern readers, and poems relating to nature or the countryside.

COLLEGE STORIES 8 West Fortieth street, New York, wants some good short humorous stories of a scholastic or collegiate nature. FOREIGN SERVICE - Veterans of Foreign Wars Headquarters, Kansas City, Kansas, would like to receive human interest stories and articles, based on experiences of men in the service during the World War, or the War with Spain. The magazine is also in the market for short, snappy jokes, and humorous

verse.

TALES OF TEMPTATION-586 Drexel Building, Philadelphia, Penn., wants stories of the confession type, stressing that "the right way is the best way," and love stories, with the scenes laid in the city rather than in the country.

THE BEACON 16 Beacon street, Boston,

present time, but is always in the market for wholesome stories, not exceeding 2,000 words, suited to bright-minded boys and girls of from eight to thirteen. The magazine also uses short plays and verse.

The address of the Mystery Magazine is now 52 Vanderbilt avenue, New York.

The address of the Bookmaker's Folio is 216 South Mulberry street, Chillicothe, Ohio, instead of Cincinnati, as inadvertently printed in THE WRITER for November.

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Prize Offers and Awards

THE PAST PRESIDENTS ASSEMBLY for the National Federation of Music Clubs, with the permission and hearty approval of Katharine Lee Bates, offers a nation-wide contest for an adequate musical setting of "America, the Beautiful," and will award a prize of $500 to the American-born composer whose setting best expresses the love, loyalty, and majesty suggested by the poem. The setting must be for mixed voices in hymn-form, and in vocal

range and character fitted for mass singing. Each manuscript must be written in ink, submitted under an assumed name, and accompanied by a sealed envelope, containing the name and address of the author, with return postage. The contest will close March 1, and manuscripts should be sent to the Chairman of the contest, Mrs. William Arms Fisher, 362 Commonwealth avenue, Boston, Mass. THE SWIFT And Company MALE CHORUS has

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