One can maintain the most cordial and intimate relations with
editors of magazines and journals if he will recognize that such
relations should have no influence whatever in the acceptance or
declination of manuscripts. I am constantly receiving letters from
literary aspirants who appear to think that if I will use a little
influence their stories or papers would be taken and paid for. I
have no such influence, nor do I wish any, in regard to my own
work. The conscientious editor's first duty is to his periodical
and its constituents, and he would and should be more scrupulous
in accepting a manuscript from a friend than from a stranger. To
show resentment because a manuscript is returned is absurd,
however great may be our disappointment.
Perhaps one of the most perplexing and often painful experiences
of an author comes from the appeals of those who hope through him
to obtain immediate recognition as writers. One is asked to read
manuscripts and commend them to publishers, or at least to give an
opinion in regard to them, often to revise or even to rewrite
certain portions.
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