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There are not a few ingenious persons who believe that the conduct of a great monthly magazine is a very simple affair. Given the necessary working capital and an editor of liberal and impeccable aesthetic tastes, and the task of assaying the pure ore in the uncounted tons of proffered material would seem to be one of mere energy and patience. "It is, of course, impossible to please everybody," says the supposititious editor to himself, "but I embody a trained opinion, regulated by fairly well-defined principles of taste and art, and in pleasing myself I am sure to please the intelligent and cultivated audience of my readers. All that they can reasonably ask - apart from those purely journalistic features inevitable in an age of action is that the fiction shall be informed with truth and life, the poetry with imagination and sentiment, the essays with but the essays are a negligible quantity."

Very simple, is it not? - and plausible enough? However, it isn't true. We have long suspected, from a more or less constant perusal of our leading periodicals, together with certain data supplied us by professional contributors, that the editorial faculty most vigorously exercised is the

esoteric one of divination - an intuition of the public's prejudices and preferences that would be almost superhuman were it not inspired by the currents and counter-currents of opinion that reach the editor from many sources, and transform the simplicity of his functions into complexities that make meteorology seem an exact science.

Acting on this suspicion, we recently ventured to address the following questions to the editors of the Century, the Atlantic, and Harper's:

I. In general, do you accept the kind of articles, stories, poems that gratify your own taste and engage your personal interest; or have you certain theories concerning what the public likes or dislikes, in distinction from your own preferences? 2. If you do entertain such theories,, whence are they derived? How can the public taste be measured? What are the tests

the specific tests?

3. Do you often reject stories or articles that please your artistic sense or that otherwise appeal to your personal taste?

4. There is a rather general complaint on the part of fastidious readers no longer in their first youth that the contents of the monthly magazines are less interesting than of old. A former editor of the Atlantic has expressed the opinion that the magazines are dull and badly written; but the greater number of critical readers complain rather that the magazines are dull, though well written, because the writers have so little to say, and their themes are so uninteresting. Is there any ground for these criticisms? If so, is it because the supply of really good matter does not keep pace with the increasing demand?

These queries elicited some frank and explicit answers. "I think it inevitable," says Bliss Perry, editor of the Atlantic, "that an editor, like a picture dealer, should distinguish between his personal preferences and the supposed preferences of his patrons. In the purchase of articles he can sometimes gratify his own personal taste, if it is not too eccentric, but in general his judgment

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As to theories, "I should prefer to call them observations," says Mr. Perry," the result of experience in watching the effect of different articles. But no exact measurement of public taste is possible." Says the . Century's editor: "We certainly entertain theories of the public's likes or dislikes, and they are derived from near and far sources, from often very subtle indications, and again very violent ones."

"Yes," "Constantly," are the answers to Question 3.

With respect to criticism of the magazines: "We hear complaints, and we hear the opposite of complaints," responds the Century's spokesman. "Encouragement comes from various sources - from sales, of course; from newspaper notices of various kinds, editorial or under book notices; and largely from conversations and letters.

"We think there is a great deal of vitality in the magazine writing of to-day," he continues. And finally a word that cheers : "There are some indications that the essay is coming again into its own."

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Mazie V. Caruthers, who had a poem, "The Road to Yesterday," in Lippincott's for June, was born in Norwich, Conn., of a Southern mother and an English father. She began writing verses about ten years ago, her first poem appearing in Puck a very happy day for her, she says, as every young scribbler realizes. Miss Caruthers has done a little short-story writing, and has written some tales for children, and some historical sketches for the Springfield Republican, but her main work has been writing verse, which has been published in Munsey's, the Harpers' publications, Town Topics, Vogue, Lippincott's, the Delineator, and the New York Times, Sun, and Herald. "The Road to Yesterday" was inspired somewhat by seeing the play of that name in New York, as well as by a habit of personal introspection. On reading this poem,

the editor of the Cosmopolitan wrote to Miss Caruthers, asking her to send on what she had on hand for his examination.

Howard R. Garis, whose story, "The Disappearance of Iris Fordyke," appeared in the People's Magazine for June, is a former newspaper man, having been a reporter on the Newark (N. J.) News for twelve years. His early education was obtained in. the schools and academies of Syracuse and East Syracuse, N. Y., and in Newark. He has been a farmer, a railroad clerk, a car checker in the railroad freight yards, a printer's devil, a stenographer, and finally settled down to newspaper work. His first published work was a novel, based on the Salem witchcraft craze, and entitled "With Force and Arms." This made something of a hit "literarily," but not financially. About two years ago, finding that his literary efforts took up so much of his time, Mr. Garis gave up his newspaper work, and now devotes himself to writing books for boys and short stories. Four of his boys' books have been published, and two more are to be brought out this fall. He has had books published by the J. B. Lippincott Company, Little, Brown & Co., and Crossett & Dunlap. Some of the books deal with his experiences as a reporter, and others are of the adventure type. He has had nearly a hundred short stories published in various magazines and papers, including the Newark News, the Argosy, the Youth's Companion, Short Stories, Judge's Library, the AllStory Magazine, the Popular Magazine, and the People's. Other tales, having for a central figure Sherman Ford, the detectivemystery-solver, who plays the main role in "Iris Fordyke," will appear in the People's Magazine. His story, "The Yellow Powder," is printed in the August number. Mr. Garis now lives, with his wife and two children, in Verona, N. J., where, between spells of writing, he raises chickens, as he says, "for pleasure, and very little profit."

Elsie Casseigne King, whose poem, "The Moderns," appeared in Lippincott's Maga

zine for June, is a New York woman, now living in Paris. She has had poems published in the Metropolitan, Harper's, the Reader, and several other periodicals. Her work is not hackneyed, and her poems have been praised by good authorities and widely quoted.

Maude Woodruff Newell, author of the story, "The Awakening," published in the Red Book for June, is a Connecticut girl still in her twenties, and lives in Bridgeport. Her first story, "A Daughter of Romany," was published in the Red Book about six years ago. The first number of The Munsey Company's magazine, Woman, two years ago, contained Twenty-three for Skelly," which caused considerable favorable comment. Miss Newell has also had stories in the Smart Set, one, "The Long Hunt," in the July issue, being published under the nom-de-plume, "Jean Elginbrod," which she has used until quite recently. “A Japanese Enchantment," published in the Blue Book for February, has since been dramatized. The baby in "The Awakening" is a real baby. Miss Newell asserts that he is a new story each day himself, and boldly announces her intention of stealing him some day when his mother is n't looking. Almost invariably after the publication of her stories, Miss Newell has received letters concerning them from some one quite unknown to her. At present she is at work on a book, which she hopes to get out next winter.

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Charlotte Louise Rudyard, author "Mater" in Harper's Monthly for May, and "Robin Songs," in Harper's Bazar for the same month, is a young writer, a New Yorker, and a graduate, in 1904, of Vassar College, where she was identified with speShe cial study in the English branches. afterward engaged in journalism, having been received on the staff of the Brooklyn Eagle upon the submission of her first article. Later she resigned to continue in the newspaper field as free lance, and latterly has been occupied in editorial work and

should be guided, it seems to me, by an objective study of the tastes of that portion of the general public which is likely to buy what he offers for sale."

In the Century office, we are assured, there is "a constant cross-fire of opinion. One story may be read by from two to five readers. The 'personal equation' is unescapable, and this is fortunate because frank liking is a very valuable element of opinion. An editorial force comes to be trained in wide sympathies, and this keeps acceptances away from ruts."

As to theories, — “I should prefer to call them observations," says Mr. Perry, — "the result of experience in watching the effect of different articles. But no exact measurement of public taste is possible." Says the Century's editor: "We certainly entertain theories of the public's likes or dislikes, and they are derived from near and far sources, from often very subtle indications, and again very violent ones."

"Yes," "Constantly," are the answers to Question 3.

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Mazie V. Caruthers, who had a poem, "The Road to Yesterday," in Lippincott's for June, was born in Norwich, Conn., of a Southern mother and an English father. She began writing verses about ten years ago, her first poem appearing in Puck -a very happy day for her, she says, as every young scribbler realizes. Miss Caruthers has done a little short-story writing, and has written some tales for children, and some historical sketches for the Springfield Republican, but her main work has been writing verse, which has been published in Munsey's, the Harpers' publications, Town Topics, Vogue, Lippincott's, the Delineator, and the New York Times, Sun, and Herald. "The Road to Yesterday" was inspired somewhat by seeing the play of that name in New York, as well as by a habit of personal introspection. On reading this poem,

the editor of the Cosmopolitan wrote to Miss Caruthers, asking her to send on what she had on hand for his examination.

Howard R. Garis, whose story, "The Disappearance of Iris Fordyke," appeared in the People's Magazine for June, is a former newspaper man, having been a reporter on the Newark (N. J.) News for twelve years. His early education was obtained in. the schools and academies of Syracuse and East Syracuse, N. Y., and in Newark. He has been a farmer, a railroad clerk, a car checker in the railroad freight yards, a printer's devil, a stenographer, and finally settled down to newspaper work. His first published work was a novel, based on the Salem witchcraft craze, and entitled "With Force and Arms." This made something of a hit "literarily," but not financially. About two years ago, finding that his literary efforts took up so much of his time, Mr. Garis gave up his newspaper work, and now devotes himself to writing books for boys and short stories. Four of his boys' books have been published, and two more are to be brought out this fall. He has had books published by the J. B. Lippincott Company, Little, Brown & Co., and Crossett & Dunlap. Some of the books deal with his experiences as a reporter, and others are of the adventure type. He has had nearly a hundred short stories published in various magazines and papers, including the Newark News, the Argosy, the Youth's Companion, Short Stories, Judge's Library, the AllStory Magazine, the Popular Magazine, and the People's. Other tales, having for a central figure Sherman Ford, the detectivemystery-solver, who plays the main role in "Iris Fordyke," will appear in the People's Magazine. His story, 'The Yellow Powder," is printed in the August number. Mr. Garis now lives, with his wife and two children, in Verona, N. J., where, between spells of writing, he raises chickens, as he says, "for pleasure, and very little profit."

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Elsie Casseigne King, whose poem, "The Moderns," appeared in Lippincott's Maga

zine for June, is a New York woman, now living in Paris. She has had poems published in the Metropolitan, Harper's, the Reader, and several other periodicals. Her work is not hackneyed, and her poems have been praised by good authorities and widely quoted.

Maude Woodruff Newell, author of the story, "The Awakening," published in the Red Book for June, is a Connecticut girl still in her twenties, and lives in Bridgeport. Her first story, "A Daughter of Romany," was published in the Red Book about six years ago. The first number of The Munsey Company's magazine, Woman, two years ago, contained "Twenty-three for Skelly," which caused considerable favorable comment. Miss Newell has also had stories in the Smart Set, one, "The Long Hunt," in the July issue, being published under the nom-de-plume, "Jean Elginbrod," which she has used until quite recently. "A Japanese Enchantment," published in the Blue Book for February, has since been dramatized. The baby in "The Awakening" is a real baby. Miss Newell asserts that he is a new story each day himself, and boldly announces her intention of stealing him some day when his mother is n't looking. Almost invariably after the publication of her stories, Miss Newell has received letters concerning them from some one quite unknown to her. At present she is at work on a book, which she hopes to get out next winter.

Charlotte Louise Rudyard, author of "Mater" in Harper's Monthly for May, and "Robin Songs," in Harper's Bazar for the same month, is a young writer, a New Yorker, and a graduate, in 1904, of Vassar College, where she was identified with special study in the English branches. She afterward engaged in journalism, having been received on the staff of the Brooklyn Eagle upon the submission of her first article. Later she resigned to continue in the newspaper field as free lance, and latterly has been occupied in editorial work and

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