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fully read than the author imagines。 Editors know that； from the standpoint of good business alone； it is unwise to return a manuscript unread。 Literary talent has been found in many instances where it was least expected。
This does not mean that every manuscript received by a magazine is read from first page to last。 There is no reason why it should be； any more than that all of a bad egg should be eaten to prove that it is bad。 The title alone sometimes decides the fate of a manuscript。 If the subject discussed is entirely foreign to the aims of the magazine； it is simply a case of misapplication on the author's part； and it would be a waste of time for the editor to read something which he knows from its subject he cannot use。
This； of course； applies more to articles than to other forms of literary work； although unsuitability in a poem is naturally as quickly detected。 Stories； no matter how unpromising they may appear at the beginning； are generally read through； since gold in a piece of fiction has often been found almost at the close。 This careful attention to manuscripts in editorial offices is fixed by rules； and an author's indorsement or a friend's judgment never affects the custom。
At no time does the fallacy hold in a magazine office that 〃a big name counts for everything and an unknown name for nothing。〃 There can be no denial of the fact that where a name of repute is attached to a meritorious story or article the combination is ideal。 But as between an indifferent story and a well…known name and a good story with an unknown name the editor may be depended upon to accept the latter。 Editors are very careful nowadays to avoid the public impatience that invariably follows upon publishing material simply on account of the name attached to it。 Nothing so quickly injures the reputation of a magazine in the estimation of its readers。 If a person； taking up a magazine； reads a story attracted by a famous name； and the story disappoints； the editor has a doubly disappointed reader on his hands： a reader whose high expectations from the name have not been realized and who is disappointed with the story。
It is a well…known fact among successful magazine editors that their most striking successes have been made by material to which unknown names were attached； where the material was fresh； the approach new； the note different。 That is what builds up a magazine； the reader learns to have confidence in what he finds in the periodical； whether it bears a famous name or not。
Nor must the young author believe that the best work in modern magazine literature 〃is dashed off at white heat。〃 What is dashed off reads dashed off； and one does not come across it in the well…edited magazine； because it is never accepted。 Good writing is laborious writing； the result of revision upon revision。 The work of masters such as Robert Louis Stevenson and Rudyard Kipling represents never less than eight or ten revisions； and often a far greater number。 It was Stevenson who once said to Edward Bok； after a laborious correction of certain proofs： 〃My boy； I could be a healthy man； I think； if I did something else than writing。 But to write； as I try to write； takes every ounce of my vitality。〃 Just as the best 〃impromptu〃 speeches are those most carefully prepared； so do the simplest articles and stories represent the hardest kind of work； the simpler the method seems and the easier the article reads； the harder； it is safe to say； was the work put into it。
But the author must also know when to let his material alone。 In his excessive regard for style even so great a master as Robert Louis Stevenson robbed his work of much of the spontaneity and natural charm found； for example； in his Vailima Letters。 The main thing is for a writer to say what he has to say in the best way； natural to himself； in which he can say it； and then let it alonealways remembering that； provided he has made himself clear； the message itself is of greater import than the manner in which it is said。 Up to a certain point only is a piece of literary work an artistic endeavor。 A readable； lucid style is far preferable to what is called a 〃literary style〃a foolish phrase； since it often means nothing except a complicated method of expression which confuses rather than clarifies thought。 What the public wants in its literature is human nature； and that human nature simply and forcibly expressed。 This is fundamental； and this is why true literature has no fashion and knows no change； despite the cries of the modern weaklings who affect weird forms。 The clarity of Shakespeare is the clarity of to…day and will be that of to…morrow。
XXVII。 Women's Clubs and Woman Suffrage
Edward Bok was now jumping from one sizzling frying…pan into another。 He had become vitally interested in the growth of women's clubs as a power for good； and began to follow their work and study their methods。 He attended meetings； he had his editors attend others and give him reports； he collected and read the year…books of scores of clubs； and he secured and read a number of the papers that had been presented by members at these meetings。 He saw at once that what might prove a wonderful power in the civic life of the nation was being misdirected into gatherings of pseudo…culture； where papers ill…digested and mostly copied from books were read and superficially discussed。
Apparently the average club thought nothing of disposing of the works of the Victorian poets in one afternoon； the Italian Renaissance was 〃fully treated and most ably discussed；〃 according to one programme； at a single meeting； Rembrandt and his school were likewise disposed of in one afternoon； and German literature was 〃adequately treated〃 at one session 〃in able papers。〃
Bok gathered a mass of this material； and then paid his respects to it in the magazine。 He recited his evidence and then expressed his opinion of it。 He realized that his arraignment of the clubs would cost the magazine hundreds of friends； but； convinced of the great power of the woman's club with its activities rightly directed； he concluded that he could afford to risk incurring displeasure if he might point the way to more effective work。 The one was worth the other。
The displeasure was not slow in making itself manifest。 It came to maturity overnight； as it were； and expressed itself in no uncertain terms。 Every club flew to arms； and Bok was intensely interested to note that the clubs whose work he had taken as 〃horrible examples；〃 although he had not mentioned their names； were the most strenuous in their denials of the methods outlined in the magazine； and that the members of those clubs were particularly heated in their attacks upon him。
He soon found that he had stirred up quite as active a hornet's nest as he had anticipated。 Letters by the hundred poured in attacking and reviling him。 In nearly every case the writers fell back upon personal abuse； ignoring his arguments altogether。 He became the subject of heated debates at club meetings； at conventions； in the public press； and soon long petitions demanding his removal as editor began to come to Mr。 Curtis。 These petitions were signed by hundreds of names。 Bok read them with absorbed interest； and bided his time for action。 Meanwhile he continued his articles of criticism in the magazine； and these； of course； added fuel to the conflagration。
Former President Cleveland now came to Bok's side； and in an article in the magazine went even further than Bok had ever thought of going in his criticism of women's clubs。 This article deflected the criticism from Bok momentarily； and Mr。 Cleveland received a grilling to which his experiences in the White House were 〃as child's play；〃 as he expressed it。 The two men； the editor and the former President； were now bracketed as copartners in crime in the eyes of the club…women； and nothing too harsh could be found to say or write of either。
Meanwhile Bok had been watching the petitions for his removal which kept coming in。 He was looking for an opening； and soon found it。 One of the most prominent women's clubs sent a protest condemning his attitude and advising him by resolutions； which were enclosed； that unless he ceased his attacks； the members of the Woman's Club had resolved 〃to unitedly and unanimously boycott The Ladies' Home Journal and had already put the plan into effect with the current issue。〃
Bok immediately engaged counsel in the city where the club was situated； and instructed his lawyer to begin proceedings； for violation of the Sherman Act； against the president and the secretary of the club； and three other members； counsel to take particular pains to choose； if possible； the wives of three lawyers。
Within forty…eight hours Bok heard from the husbands of the five wives； who pointed out to him that the women had acted in entire ignorance of the law； and suggested a reconsideration of his action。 Bok replied by quoting from the petition which set forth that it was signed 〃by the most intelligent women of who were thoroughly versed in civic and national affairs〃； and if this were true； Bok argued； it naturally followed that they must have been cognizant of a legislative measure so well known and so widely discussed