the americanization of edward bok-第54章
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ou see his head here〃and then both were off again。
The private secretary came in at this point and whispered in the President's ear。
〃I know； I know。 I'll see him later。 Say that I am very busy now。〃 And the face beamed with smiles。
〃Now； Mr。 President〃 began the father。
〃No； sir； no； sir； not at all。 Affairs can wait。 This is a long…standing engagement between Curtis and me； and that must come first。 Isn't that so； Curtis？〃
Of course the boy agreed。
Suddenly the boy looked around the room and said：
〃Where's your gun； Mr。 President？ Got it here？〃
〃No；〃 laughingly came from the President； 〃but I'll tell you〃and then the two heads were together again。
A moment for breath…taking came； and the boy said：
〃Aren't you ever afraid of being shot？〃
〃You mean while I am hunting？〃
〃Oh； no。 I mean as President。〃
〃No；〃 replied the smiling President。 〃I'll tell you； Curtis； I'm too busy to think about that。 I have too many things to do to bother about anything of that sort。 When I was in battle I was always too anxious to get to the front to think about the shots。 And herewell； here I'm too busy too。 Never think about it。 But I'll tell you； Curtis； there are some men down there；〃 pointing out of the window in the direction of the capitol； 〃called the Congress； and if they would only give me the four battleships I want； I'd be perfectly willing to have any one take a crack at me。〃 Then； for the first time recognizing the existence of the parents； the President said： 〃And I don't know but if they did pick me off I'd be pretty well ahead of the game。〃
Just in that moment only did the boy…knowing President get a single inch above the boy…interest。 It was astonishing to see the natural accuracy with which the man gauged the boy…level。
〃Now； how would you like to see a bear； Curtis？〃 came next。 〃I know where there's a beauty； twelve hundred pounds。〃
〃Must be some bear！〃 interjected the boy。
〃That's what it is；〃 put in the President。 〃Regular cinnamon…brown type〃and then off went the talk to the big bear at the Washington 〃Zoo〃 where the President was to send the boy。
Then； after a little： 〃Now； Curtis； see those men over there in that room。 They've travelled from all parts of the country to come here at my invitation； and I've got to make a little speech to them； and I'll do that while you go off to see the bear。〃
And then the hand came forth to say good…by。 The boy put his in it； each looked into the other's face； and on neither was there a place big enough to put a ten…cent piece that was not wreathed in smiles。 〃He certainly is all right；〃 said the boy to the father； looking wistfully after the President。
Almost to the other room had the President gone when he； too； instinctively looked back to find the boy following him with his eyes。 He stopped； wheeled around； and then the two instinctively sought each other again。 The President came back； the boy went forward。 This time each held out both hands； and as each looked once more into the other's eyes a world of complete understanding was in both faces； and every looker…on smiled with them。
〃Good…by； Curtis；〃 came at last from the President。
〃Good…by； Mr。 President；〃 came from the boy。
Then； with another pump…handly shake and with a 〃Gee； but he's great； all right！〃 the boy went out to see the cinnamon…bear at the 〃Zoo；〃 and to live it all over in the days to come。
Two boy…hearts had met； although one of them belonged to the President of the United States。
XXVI。 The Literary Back…Stairs
His complete absorption in the magazine work now compelled Bok to close his newspaper syndicate in New York and end the writing of his weekly newspaper literary letter。 He decided； however； to transfer to the pages of his magazine his idea of making the American public more conversant with books and authors。 Accordingly； he engaged Robert Bridges （the present editor of Scribner's Magazine） to write a series of conversational book…talks under his nom de plume of 〃Droch。〃 Later； this was supplemented by the engagement of Hamilton W。 Mabie； who for years reviewed the newest books。
In almost every issue of the magazine there appeared also an article addressed to the literary novice。 Bok was eager； of course； to attract the new authors to the magazine； but； particularly； he had in mind the correction of the popular notion； then so prevalent （less so to…day； fortunately； but still existent）； that only the manuscripts of famous authors were given favorable reading in editorial offices； that in these offices there really existed a clique； and that unless the writer knew the literary back…stairs he had a slim chance to enter and be heard。
In the minds of these misinformed writers； these back…stairs are gained by 〃knowing the editor〃 or through 〃having some influence with him。〃 These writers have conclusively settled two points in their own minds： first； that an editor is antagonistic to the struggling writer； and； second； that a manuscript sent in the ordinary manner to an editor never reaches him。 Hence； some 〃influence〃 is necessary； and they set about to secure it。
Now； the truth is； of course； that there are no 〃literary back…stairs〃 to the editorial office of the modern magazine。 There cannot be。 The making of a modern magazine is a business proposition； the editor is there to make it pay。 He can do this only if he is of service to his readers； and that depends on his ability to obtain a class of material essentially the best of its kind and varied in its character。
The 〃best；〃 while it means good writing； means also that it shall say something。 The most desired writer in the magazine office is the man who has something to say； and knows how to say it。 Variety requires that there shall be many of these writers； and it is the editor's business to ferret them out。 It stands to reason； therefore； that there can be no such thing as a 〃clique〃； limitation by the editor of his list of authors would mean being limited to the style of the few and the thoughts of a handful。 And with a public that easily tires even of the best where it continually comes from one source； such an editorial policy would be suicidal。
Hence； if the editor is more keenly alert for one thing than for another； it is for the new writer。 The frequency of the new note in his magazine is his salvation； for just in proportion as he can introduce that new note is his success with his readers。 A successful magazine is exactly like a successful store： it must keep its wares constantly fresh and varied to attract the eye and hold the patronage of its customers。
With an editor ever alive to the new message； the new note； the fresh way of saying a thing； the new angle on a current subject； whether in article or storysince fiction is really to…day only a reflection of modern thoughtthe foolish notion that an editor must be approached through 〃influence；〃 by a letter of introduction from some friend or other author； falls of itself。 There is no more powerful lever to open the modern magazine door than a postage…stamp on an envelope containing a manuscript that says something。 No influence is needed to bring that manuscript to the editor's desk or to his attention。 That he will receive it the sender need not for a moment doubt； his mail is too closely scanned for that very envelope。
The most successful authors have 〃broken into〃 the magazines very often without even a letter accompanying their first manuscript。 The name and address in the right…hand corner of the first page； some 〃return〃 stamps in the left corner； and all that the editor requires is there。 The author need tell nothing about the manuscript； if what the editor wants is in it he will find it。 An editor can stand a tremendous amount of letting alone。 If young authors could be made to realize how simple is the process of 〃breaking into〃 the modern magazine； which apparently gives them such needless heartburn； they would save themselves infinite pains； time； and worry。
Despite all the rubbish written to the contrary； manuscripts sent to the magazines of to…day are； in every case； read； and frequently more carefully read than the author imagines。 Editors know that； from the standpoint of good business alone；
