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well written. Never does he turn out a "sloppy" piece of work.

corre

The work of Ruel McDaniel is pictured nicely in a letter recently mailed to editors of the various magazines for which he has acted as spondent from time to time. In this letter he stated that he was planning a trip throughout the West, and listed the names of the various cities on his itinerary. He then asked the editors to look through their "physical and mental files and suggest any leads they might have for stories in those localities." And, he added, "an order for material incurs no obligation. Each story is to stand on its own bottom.”

An editor just can't help co-operating with a writer like that.

King Hamilton Grayson's work is characterized by the most remarkable neatness I have ever seen

Editor, the Forum:

in any manuscript. The pages of his well written material are truly beautiful to gaze upon; each is spotless white with never a misspelled word or pencil mark to mar its physical perfection.

We have not bought a great deal of Mr. Grayson's material because most of his writing is in other fields, but on the occasions that we have purchased an article from him, he has been willing to co-operate in every manner possible. And in the final analysis, it is co-operation that puts a free-lance writer on a firm foundation in editorial offices.

Almost every editor will enter into correspondence with and encourage even the poorest writer if he believes that by so doing he will arouse a spark of co-operation that will result in future good material for his publication. Chicago, Ill. James L. Dilley.

REALISM IN THE SHORT STORY

Like many other men, I read stories for diversion, and prefer them to the "movies," or to the "legitimate drama." There is a verisimilitude about a well-told story that perhaps no actor, except one of the first rank, can throw about a stage representation.

I consider that no form of modern literature has been carried to such a pitch of artistic perfection as the short story. We have no dramatists like Shakspere and Marlowe, no poets like Shelley and Keats, fabulists like Aesop and Hans Andersen, historians like Motley, nor essayists like Charles Lamb. Neither have we at present religious, philosophical, and scientific writers of the first rank, nor writers of long stories (novels) like Dickens and Thackeray. With the exception of the short story writer, practically all our writers fall into the dilettante and tyro classes. Our short storyists are the only stars of first magnitude that shine in our present-day literary heavens.

I should like to point out one serious flaw in the artistry of many short stories: namely, their melancholy, tragic, and morbid endings. The writers of such stories, called realists, think they do well by "holding the mirror up to nature." Their viewpoint may be justified in certain instances where it may be necessary to end a story tragically for the purpose of teaching a salutary lesson. But such writers

Editor, the Forum:

should be aware of the fact that the vast majority of story readers seek entertainment, a coloring to tint their more or less drab, every-day lives. They read stories primarily for diversion. Anything in the way of instruction, or of the presentation of examples of beautiful, noble types of character should be incorporated in the story in such a manner as to continue, or at least not break, the interesting thread of the narrative. Most readers have enough melancholy in their lives. They turn to stories to get away from it for a brief interval.

In all cases where a tragic element is introduced into a story, the conclusion of the story should pierce through the dark clouds with rays of hope. Fannie Hurst's short story, "Get Ready the Wreathes," is a fair example of a tragic story with a consolatory conclusion.

Conrad was mistaken in his theory of how a story should end. Conrad's pessimism, and the melancholy, unsatisfactory conclusions of his tales are the weak points in his fabric. Time will begin her undermining of his fabric at these points. The great novelists and story writers, men who possess and will possess an enduring fame, have ended their stories in a happy or in a consolatory manner. Captain Marryat was a conspicuous example of this type of novelist. Charles Hooper. Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

CREATIVE CRITICISM. From the College Man's Viewpoint.

In our study of literature and our evaluation of its phases, we are liable to fall into the ruts of trite and hackneyed methods and forms of criticism. Too often we consider the great and

potentially great in the light of the thoughts of hack-workers who have pounded out sheaves of writing on these men, but who have themselves given little to the world of thought that is of any value or lasting vitality.

Often, it seems that if the bibliographies were cut down in many of our courses in literary evaluation, and our personal reactions were encouraged to a greater degree, we should have better work from our students, and a greater development of the intellectual potentialities of these men. The imbibition of potions of thought already mixed is good as long as it serves as a stimulation for original thought. When it becomes a substitute for personal intellectual activity, and when we almost fear to voice an opinion that has not before appeared on the printed page, we are losing sight of the object of education, and are doing little for the good of literature. We are producing men who are not standing on their own mental feet, but who are riding in the wheel-chairs of intellectual invalids.

One of the most discouraging phases of modern college training, to the man who aspires to mental excellence, is its close adherence to conventions, and its attempt to pour each man into the same intellectual mold. While creative work is encouraged to a certain point, its importance does not seem to be realized to the extent it deserves. If a man, in the presence of educated folk, is able to voice an unusual and original evaluation of a literary man and his works, he is immediately stamped as a fellow of attainments not of the ordinary. Yet, what is he doing but complying with the dictum of true education; the very word meaning to "lead out" the potentialities within his mind, and to develop that ability to voice a fresh and basic product of his own mental activity? We have too few of that type of man today, and the fault is not entirely with the man. College courses seem to aim to pour in a flood of facts, rather than to lead out a stream of thoughts.

However, I should prefer a man who criticized "according to the book" to a man whose criticism is

entirely destructive and iconoclastic, though it be original. Today we seem to be losing a certain mental balance that is the treasure of truly educated men. On the one hand we have men who cannot criticize intelligently because they allow others to think for them, and on the other hand we have men who are critics only because they are critics, and who consider an evaluation worthwhile only when it tears down. Where is the ideal man, who takes enough of the objective, combines it with enough of the subjective, and produces a synthesis of real intellectual value? He seems to be sadly in the minority with the mental sheep or the amateur Mencken holding the floor against his feeble opposition.

We should, in the interest of true education, and the advance of the literary art, work for the ability to criticize constructively and creatively; to be able to evaluate things and thoughts in the light of common sense, free from the shadows of mental lethargy or the flickerings of weak-kneed sophistication. Let us aspire to the ideal type of man who can criticize ably, a bit destructively, if you please, but who can supply a very satisfactory substitute of a positive nature for the negative criticism that he has made. Gilbert Keith Chesterton looms on the horizon of thought as an ideal in this matter.

Let us see to it that along with our aspirations toward creative and constructive ability, in combination with the destructive ability of which we all have too much, there shall come a renaissance in the universities of America whereby the thoughts of men will be considered as the primary ends of the courses offered, and not as possible byproducts of methodical duties, studied bibliographies, and a maze of facts wherein the thinker might get lost.

Lakewood, Ohio.

George A. Kiener.

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The Manuscript Market

THIS information as to the present special needs of various period-
icals comes directly from the editors. Partieulars as to condi-
tions of prizes 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 PHOTO-ERA-Wolfeboro, N. H., is now in the market for photographic travel articles of interesting places in all parts of the world. The emphasis should be placed on photographic equipment, its use, conditions of weather, etc., regulations, source of photographic supplies, and such other information as would help the reader to follow the author's route successfully. That is, there should be a minimum of description and a maximum of photographic data. The magazine is also interested in practical articles based on the experiences of amateur and professional photographers in the field.

THE HIGH ROAD-810 Broadway, Nashville, Tenn., formerly Our Young People, is designed for young men and women of from eighteen to thirty. The editor is in need of short stories, of from 2,500 to 3,500 words; serials, of from eight to ten chapters; discussional articles, of from 1,000 to 2,000 words; and photographs, accompanied by short write-ups. Payment is made on acceptance, the rates being from five to ten dollars a thousand words.

THE NATIONAL GUARD MAGAZINE-30

North Dearborn street, Chicago, Ill., is in the market for news items, special features, and photographs dealing with the activities of the National Guard and the Naval Militia in every state. The magazine is not interested in the regular army, the regular navy, or the organized reserve. Personals concerning both officers and enlisted men are particularly wanted, and photographs of individuals are welcome. Openings are now offered in several states for staff correspondents, preferably active members of the Guard or Naval Militia, and Mr. Main, the editor, will be glad to hear from writers who can undertake to cover their local organizations regularly. Payment is made on acceptance, at a rate of $2.50 a column of ten inches, or $7.50 a page of three col

umns.

THE MISSIONARY-Apostolic Mission House, Brookland, Washington, D. C., is in the market for some exceptionally well-written articles, and some short stories.

THE DREAM WORLD-1926 Broadway, New York, specializes in pretty romances and charming love stories, free from horror and tragedy. Love is, of course,

the predominating note of this magazine, and the more tears, laughter, partings, embraces, farewells, kisses, and joyful reunions a story has, the better its chances of acceptance. The Dream World offers a market for the Cinderella type of story-the experience of the poor abused little girl with beautiful dreams, whose dreams come true when she finds her fairy prince. Manuscripts should contain from 4,500 to 6,500 words.

MYSTERY STORIES-52 Vanderbilt avenue, New York, again wants to call the attention of readers of THE WRITER to the fact that the policy of the magazine has undergone a change. The first issue under the new policy will be that for November, and Mr. Faudré suggests that prospective contributors examine this issue carefully to familiarize themselves with the magazine's needs. Every story should be filled with action and suspense, and should have a mystery or crime element as its basis. The magazine is especially interested in ghost stories and other occult tales which have unusual ideas and which seem plausible, and in which the action element is very strong. Such stories may contain from 2,000 to 8,000 words.

THE OCCULT PUBLISHING COMPANY-108 Dudley street, Boston, Mass., publishes books on such occult subjects as astrology, numerology, palmistry, etc., as well as fiction relating to any of these subjects. The Company buys manuscripts outright, excepting in the case of exceptional merit, when it makes a special contract with the author. S. Gargilis is the director of the Company.

THE NEW YORKER-25 West Forty-fifth street, New York, wants satire, humor, historical and descriptive material, short short-stories, and prose articles, with a special emphasis on timeliness and journalistic value, containing from 300 to 1,500 words; also timely fillers, light poetry, and newspaper breaks and clumsy wordings. The editor

should be consulted before submission of portrait sketches and serious articles.

THE GIRLS' WEEKLY AND THE BOYS' WEEKLY-Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, Nashville, Tenn., are in the market for stories of adventure and achievement, containing from 1,000 to 1,250 words, and for serials, of from four to eight chapters, each chapter containing from 1,000 to 1,250 words. Editorials, of from 250 to 600 words, and articles, of from 250 to 600 words, on raising flowers, how to make things, describing people and places of exceptional interest, illustrated puzzles, and good recipes that have been tested, are also wanted. Nothing preachy or goody-goody is used.

AVIATION STORIES AND MECHANICS-109 West Forty-ninth street, New York, wants some short stories of actual flying experiences of American fliers, and some good technical articles.

THE POETS' DELIGHT-Sumner, Ill., is especially interested in the work of new writers and of those who have not had a volume of verse published. Short poems are preferred, but poems of as many as fifty-five lines can be used. All manuscripts must be typewritten, and accompanied by self-addressed, stamped envelopes. Material is reported on promptly, and a monthly prize of five dollars is given for the best poem appearing in each issue. Manuscripts should be addressed to the editor, Omer Henry.

THE NORTHERN LIGHT-Holt, Minnesota, desires short, stimulating articles on present-day literature, written from the standpoint of the active creator; poetry of a virile, frank, healthy character; clean humor; and short fiction dealing with the West, the Northwest, and the North, as those localities are today. No payment is made for material.

MCCLURE'S-119 West Fortieth street, New York, aim is built around the idea of suc

cess in living-the kind of success that is not measured by money. Its appeal is to all ages, but it believes in youth's ability to make the world happier and better, and it also believes that there is plenty of amusement and happiness to be had "without mucking in life's sewers." Its outlook is the constructive one, and the editors like simplicity in treatment. On the whole, they want cheerful stories, and have no place for the morbid, the unwholesome, the supernatural, or the too psychological. Stories must carry strong human interest, or action, but the action must be the logical outcome of situation and character. Humor is always welcome, love-interest should not be sex-interest, crime and criminals must not "get away with it," and while pathos and tragedy are not barred they must uplift, not depress, the reader. Poetry should have sufficient substance to stir the emotions, and articles should be as dramatic as possible.

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about one manuscript out of every twenty unsolicited manuscripts received, so that a manuscript to be acceptable must be written by an authority who has lived the life he writes of and knows what he is writing about.

LOVE ROMANCES-271 Madison avenue, New York, needs wholesome, gripping love stories that are love stories in the truest sense. Stories of the first-person, confessional type, or "sexy" or extra sophisticated stories are not wanted.

THE A. B. C. MAGAZINE-804 Rockford National Bank Building, Rockford, Ill., of which volume I, number one, will soon be published, is devoted to young business executives and professional men. Dr. Royden E. Tull is the editor of the magazine, and he is in the market for articles on business conditions and business management, and for short stories that are clean and full of action or humor, and preferably minus love interest. Manuscripts may contain from 1,000 to 3,000 words, and payment will be made. on acceptance, at a minimum rate of one cent a word.

NORTH-WEST STORIES-271 Madison avenue, New York, wants fast-moving novels, of from 20,000 to 25,000 words, located in the West or the North. They must have color and sentimental pull, with a touch of woman interest, but the fundamental requisite is action, with plenty of outdoor tang and character sympathy, and a smashing climax.

THE MID-WESTERN POETRY MAGAZINE909 Fourth avenue, Council Bluffs, Iowa, edited by A. Earl Smith, will issue its first edition October 20. Mr. Smith is soliciting poems from embryonic writers. THE MICHIGAN BUSINESS FARMER-Mt. Clemens, Michigan, is always in the market for good agricultural articles, particularly those with a Michigan setting.

DROLL STORIES-709 Sixth avenue, New York, suspended publication with the June issue.

MCNAUGHT'S MONTHLY-1475 Broadway, New York, suspended publication with the July issue.

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