a simple matter, and it is something that every writer in his own interest should do. The best way is for a writer to have printed self-addressed envelopes of several sizes, and he should take care that the return envelope enclosed with any manuscript is of the proper size. If the return envelope is too small, the editor has to fold the manuscript to fit, and that does not improve the appearance of the manuscript.

Mr. Dale, whose interesting article on "Freelance Proofreading" appears in this number of THE WRITER, says that the way to get such work is to advertise in THE WRITER and mail out copies, or to write to a few publishing houses, stating qualifications.

A writer in the Pittsburg Post points out that there are still misguided beings who imagine that phonetic spelling constitutes dialect writing, and notes that they are easily recognized by their habit of using "ov" for "of " and "tu tuff" for " too tough."

LITERARY SHOP TALK.

[This department is open to readers of THE WRITER for the relation of interesting experiences in writing or in dealing with editors, and for the free discussion of any topic connected with literary work. Contributors are requested to be brief.]

When an article keeps on coming back, even though you know that it is good, examine it carefully to see whether you have stepped on any advertiser's toes. Notice the advertisements in the periodicals you are trying to "make," and then be sure you have not said anything to hurt the advertisers' feelings. The editor has to pay you, if he takes your stuff, but the advertisers pay him (or rather the magazine), and he has to consider this fact.

Some magazines are very strict over the matter of "free advertising." that is to say a recommendation, or even a mention of a particular manufactured commodity, because rival manufacturers promptly jump upon the magazine for "favoring" that especial commodity.

Once, in an article for a farm paper, I accidentally mentioned by name a well-known seed company. The article came back repeatedly. I knew it was good. At last I noticed this name and scratched it out, substituting the words "a well-known seed concern." The article sold next trip to the editor that had had it first. Maristan Chapman.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.

VAGARIOUS SPANISH IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

With

the appearance of "The Bright Shawl," it seemed that its author had broken the record in his use of what Mr. Mencken has aptly termed " cigar-box Spanish." He did not, however, long hold his supremacy. Along came Mr. Stribling, with "Fombombo," leaving Mr. Hergersheimer hopelessly outdistanced.

Why do they do it? Can it be supposed that it lends atmosphere to a story laid in Cuba or Venezuela to speak of going into the calle, whenever you step into the street; or write casa when you mean a house; or caballo in speaking of a horse? These authors must believe it does.

I have read somewhere that Mr. Stribling spent several months in Venezuela before or at the time of writing "Fombombo." In justice to him, I refuse to believe it. If he had done so, he must have found the word esquina (corner) confronting him a dozen times a day, and could not have called it "eschino," as he does throughout his book.

He is not content to use the perfectly good Spanish word vamos, with which every one is familiar, but prefers to write "Vamose, señors!" with its two mistakes in a two-word sentence. He does not hesitate to use words whose meaning he does not grasp.

Sol y Sombra should have been named Josefa (Josephine) instead of José. One is touched by his many misfortunes, and fails to understand why he should have had this indignity thrust upon him.

At times the lovely Dolores calls her hero Señor Strawbridge; at others Señor Tomas. Her maid knows well that Señor can be used only with a surname. Dolores should have known it, too.

Mr. Stribling speaks of the “soft Castilian pronunciation" of Dolores, compared with "the hard colonial accent of South America." The Spaniards have always accused the natives of Latin America of softening, and thereby weakening the pure Castilian a perfectly just charge.

In "Fombombo " accents are scattered about with a generous hand. They land haphazard, seldom in the right place.

Mr. Stribling has a long list of oaths and curses, remarkable for being correct, with a few exceptions. Is it possible that he made a special study of this branch of the Spanish language? The gem of the collection is what he calls "Ray of God." It would be interesting to know what idea is conveyed to him by "Ray of God," as he translates Rayo de Dios. This is a common curse, voicing the pious hope that you may be struck down, not by a ray," but by a thunderbolt from God! "Sin embargo," Fombombo" is a rattling good yarn, amusing to those who will skip all the Spanish, and doubly so to those who happen to be Latin-Americans. Berta de Carret. ENGLEWOOD, N. J.

66

THE MANUSCRIPT MARKET.

[ This information as to the present special needs of various periodicals comes directly from the editors. Particulars as to conditions 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.]

Paris Nights, a new magazine, with publication offices in the Drexel Building, Philadelphia, Penn., and W. H. Kofoed as editor, will make its appearance in March. It will be a brisk, enlivening magazine of Paris night

The editors of Saucy Stories (45 West Forty-fifth street, New York) say that they intend to keep Saucy Stories a sex magazine, but that sex does not mean dirt. "We want to stick to elementals, sex-elementals - the things closest to the heart of the average woman or girl, whatever her ignorance and sophistication. Above all, we mean to lift the moral tone of the magazine. We believe that to treat sex trivially is to diminish its dramatic value, while sober treatment enhances it. Characters may do anything they please, but they must do it from some lofty, or apparently lofty, motive. If a girl falls, she must fall

upward. We are particularly partial to the story attacking present-day morals, exposing their hypocrisy and pointing to a higher standard. And the moral of a story need not be the conventional one; it can be personal, original, even weird, if it can be proved superior to existent morality. We also like stories of 'bad' women who, judged by a higher standard, are really worthy of respect. The dramatization of some moral theme, or a moral standard, or a moral vogue, will always interest us. In foreign stories, we prefer the type of story bringing out dramatically some point in which the foreign attitude toward sex differs from ours. In other words, how the French girl, for instance, meets her special sex problems, and how these differ from the American girl's. Only foreign stories featuring this element, playing on the American girl's curiosity about Old World morality, as compared with her own, will interest us at the present time."

Henry W. Lanier, editor of the Golden Book Magazine (55 Fifth avenue, New York), writes that the magazine is really not in the market for contributions of any kind except suggestions as to material (stories, poems, plays, etc.) which readers feel have sufficient merit, excellence, and enduring quality to warrant inclusion in the magazine's "literary aristocracy." For such suggestions as are accepted, and are not already on file in the rather voluminous card-catalogue which Mr. Lanier is keeping, a reasonable fee will be paid.

The National Humane Review (80 Howard street, Albany, N. Y.) especially wants stories showing how humane societies rescue and help children and animals.

The Black Mask (45 West Forty-fifth street. New York) desires detective stories, mystery stories, and adventure stories that have either detective work or unusual mystery as a basic element. Stories must have logical and convincing plots, vigorous treatment, realistic characters, and, above all, freshness and originality. Those that have a logical happy ending will be preferred, but obviously forced happy endings will not be accepted. Mr. Cody, who is now the editor, says the magazine does not

want "love stories," but he believes that an otherwise good story of the Black Mask kind is improved by the inclusion of that element when well and logically done. The Black Mask has an English edition, and so buys both British and American serial rights. Hereafter the magazine will publish no stories, no matter how clever, that are sinister, depressing, or repellent in plot, action, or atmosphere stories that "leave a bad taste in the mouth," or horror stories of any kind.

Weird Tales (317 Baldwin Building, Indianapolis, Ind.) wants some very short stories of the bizarre and unusual, not exceeding 2,500 words.

The New Yorker is a new weekly magazine, edited by Harold W. Ross and published at 25 West Forty-fifth street, New York. The purpose of the magazine is outlined as follows: "The New Yorker will be a reflection in word and picture of metropolitan life. It will be human. Its general tenor will be one of gaiety, wit, and satire, but it will be more than a jester. It will not be what is commonly called radical or highbrow. It will be what is commonly called sophisticated, in that it will assume a reasonable degree of enlightenment on the part of its readers." The New Yorker will print each week several pages of prose and verse short and long, humorous, satirical, and miscellaneous.

Everyboy's Magazine (15 Woodhull avenue, Hollis, L. I., N. Y.), a new magazine, needs short stories pertaining to life in the woods. Jokes and matter for such departments as Everyboy's Department (anything for boys), Radio, and Model Engineering are also wanted.

The George Matthew Adams Service (8 West Fortieth street, New York) has taken over the Fun Shop humorous joke column feature, previously handled by the Fun Shop. Maxson Foxhall Judell continues as editor.

The Writers' Guild, a newly formed organization, with an executive office at 508 West 134th street, New York, will publish a quarterly magazine, to be called the Oracle,

avenue,

The Mesa (1106 North Nevada Colorado Springs, Colo.), a new quarterly magazine of poetry, offers a prize of $25 for the best poem published in the magazine during 1925.

Edwin Baird, editor of Real Detective Tales and Mystery Stories (800 North Clark street, Chicago), writes that he has just accepted for immediate publication a big mystery novel by Charles N. Gabriel, Jr., and cannot find a satisfactory title for it. Mr. Gabriel has suggested some fifty titles, and Mr. Baird has compiled fifty, but none of them suit. He will pay twenty-five dollars for an acceptable title. Among the titles already suggested are "Masters of Terror," "Flashing Doom," "When the World Shuddered," and "When Terror Gripped

the World." In addition, Mr. Baird offers 129 other prizes, ranging in value from one dollar to one hundred dollars, for the best solution of the mystery in the novel.

The Canadian Bookman (125 Simcoe street, Toronto, Canada) offers three monthly prizes in book review competitions, for reviews not exceeding 400 words. The book to be reviewed for the contest closing April 1 is Jeffery Farnol's new novel, "The Loring Mystery."

The Bookman (244 Madison avenue, New York) is offering prizes (open only to club men and club women) for papers on (1) A Literary Subject, (2) National Affairs (domestic), (3) Education, (4) Decorative Art or Business Ideals, (5) Religion or Social Welfare or Club Work. The best essay will be awarded a prize of $200, and $100 will be paid for the best essay in each of the five classes. Manuscripts should contain from 2,000 to 3,000 words and must be typewritten on one side of the paper. They should be addressed to the Club Contest Editor, The Bookman, 244 Madison avenue, New York, by April 1.

The Lyric West (3551 University avenue, Los Angeles, Calif.) offers the Sarah Bixby Smith prize of fifty dollars for the best lyric poem published in the magazine from October, 1924, to September, 1925; the Ben Field prize of fifty dollars for the best narrative poem published in the magazine during the same time; and the Charles Granger Blander prize of fifty dollars for the best poem in blank verse published in the magazine during 1925.

The Churchman (2 West Forty-seventh street, New York) offers a prize of $100 for the best musical setting to "The King's Highway," by Evelyn Atwater Cummins, published in the Churchman for January 10. Manuscripts must be mailed not later than April 11.

In 1923 the Trust Department of the Chicago Trust Company offered a Triennial Research prize of $2,500, to be awarded in 1925

and every three years thereafter, and two annual Monograph prizes of $300 and $200, for the best unpublished contributions on any subject relating to business development and the modern trust company. The Monograph prizes offered in 1923 have been awarded to Bradley D. Nash, for his paper, "Investment Banking in England," and to Lawrence M. Speaker, for his paper, "The Investment Trust." These studies are published as business handbooks by the A. W. Shaw Company, of Chicago. The annual prizes will be given again this year as usual. No restrictions are made as to the eligibility of contestants for the Research prize. The competition for the Monograph prizes is open to students registered in the American Institute of Banking and to bank employes generally, excepting officers of banks; to students in commerce and law, and in departments of economics of colleges and universities; and to graduate students who have not completed more than one year of graduate work. Graduate students should accompany their papers with a statement from the registrar, head of the department, or other executive officer certifying that they are within the limitations required. Masters' theses in the field of finance are regarded as desirable contributions in this contest. All papers should be in the hands of the Secretary of the Committee of Award not later than August of the year in which the prize is sought. Each paper should be inscribed with an assumed name and an indication of the prize for which it is presented, and accompanied by a sealed envelope giving both the assumed name and the real name and address of the competitor. Papers offered for the Monograph prizes should not exceed 20,000 words. Further information may be obtained from the Secretary, Leverett S. Lyon, Head of the Department of Economics, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri.

the standard of good morals, good taste, and good manners, $1,000; for the best book of the year on the history of the United States, $2,000; for the best American biography teaching patriotic and unselfish services to the people, illustrated by an eminent example, $1,000; for the best volume of verse pub. lished during the year by an American author, $1,000. Also, Prizes in Journalism, amounting to $3,000 and a $500 medal, and three traveling scholarships having a value of $1,500 each. All offered annually under the terms of the will of Joseph Pulitzer. Nominations of candidates must be made in writing on or before February 1 of each year, addressed to the Secretary of Columbia University, New York, on forms that may be obtained on application to the Secretary of the University.

Hart, Schaffner and Marx prizes of $1,000, $500, $300, and $200 for the four best studies in the ecoParticulars nomic field submitted by June 1, 1925.

in June WRITER.

Prize of $2,000, in addition to royalty, offered by Harper & Brothers for the best novel submitted be fore April 1, 1925. Particulars in July WRITER.

Prize of $50 offered by the Harvard School of Education at Harvard University for an official song. Particulars in February, 1924, WRITER.

Prizes amounting to $1,600 offered by the National Federation of Music Clubs. Particulars from Mrs. Edwin B. Garrigues, 1527 Spruce street, Philadelphia, Penn.

trust

Prize of $2.500, to be awarded in 1925 and every three years thereafter, and an annual prize of $300, offered by the Chicago Trust Company for the best contribution on any subject relating to business development and the modern company. Particulars in the August WRITER. Maurice Tourneur prize of 170,000 francs for the best scenarios depicting the Frenchwoman as she is - a clever and happy companion, a devoted wife, an excellent, economical housekeeper, and an admirable mother. Particulars in March WRITER.

Prize offered by the Poet's Guild for the best May Day poem on childhood, contest extended to April 10, 1925. Particulars in July WRITER.

Annual poetry prize of $100 offered by the Nation, poems to be submitted between Thanksgiving Day and New Year's Day of each year. Particulars in February, 1923, WRITER.

Prizes of the Poetry Society of South Carolina; Blindman Prize of $250; Southern Prize of $100; Society's Prize of $25; Henry E. Harman Prize of $25; Sky Lark Prize of $10 all offered annually. Particulars in January, 1923, WRITER.

Monthly prizes offered by the Photo-Era Maga. zine (Wolfeboro, N. H.) for photographs, in an advanced competition and a beginner's competition.

Walker prizes for the best memoirs on Natural History, offered annually by the Boston Society of Natural History, closing March 1 of each calendar year. Particulars in June WRITER.

Prize of $100 offered by the Drama League of America for the best play suited to children, contest closing August 1. Particulars in January WRITER.

Monthly prizes of $25 offered by Station WLW for the best radio dealing with Americanism, contests