Life, 1883-11-29 · page 4 of 16
Life — November 29, 1883 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "The Adventures of a MS." - Life Magazine Satire This appears to be a serialized satirical story about the rejections of a manuscript submitted to various publications. The narrative follows a rejected piece of writing ("MS" = manuscript) as it's returned with increasingly dismissive notes from different journals and editors. The satire mocks the publishing industry's treatment of aspiring authors—particularly women writers, given the reference to a female author with a husband and daughter. Each chapter chronicles another rejection: one journal returns it unread, another dismisses it within 24 hours, a third throws it in a stove. The humor targets both the brutality of editorial gatekeeping and the persistence required of writers seeking publication in the late 19th century.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
272 THE ADVENTURES OF A MS. In a PotycLoT Famity. INTRODUCTION, SRBE following sad tale has a pleasant conclusion, therefore the reader is warned that premature tears will be wasted. If this truthful record will for a moment lighten the cares of aspirants to literary honors and emoluments, then the author’s labors will not have been in vain. Cuapter I, The First Voyage. J" was sent to a journal with fear and trembling on part of the author. Three months later it was returned to him with a delicate slip of paper pinned to its first page. On the paper was written, “ Re- spectfully declined.” Cuapter II, Again to the Breach. I" was re-written and sent to another journal. This time the sender was more brave ; his last exper- ience had prepared him for what might come. After two weeks it came—back without a word. CuHapTer III. Alas! ANOTHER journal returned it within twenty-four hours, with the following note: “We regret to say that the accompanying manuscript is not available for our periodical, We accordingly return it to your address. Very respectfully, your obliged and obedient servants, Cuapter IV, Saved from Vivicremation. HE manuscript was thrown into the stove, but snatched from a fiery death by the valiant author. Another journal received and returns it, with the following encouraging note: “A very unpleasant subject—depicted with so much matter-of-fact truthful- ness as to make it disagreeable to any one—but—per- haps—a medical student.” The substitution of hyphens for other punctuation, and the general tone of the note acted as invigoratingly upon the author as does the November breeze upon the flowering hot-house-sweet-potato ; he gathered up his waning spirits and attacked a first class journal (entered at the Post Office as second class matter). Cuapter V. Victory. EN days later the author rushes into his wife’s room, kisses her brown ringlets frantically as they hang suspended from the gas-bracket, then poses before her and bawls: “ Die Welt, die Welt, ist wun- derschoen.” * 1“ The world, the world is beautiful,""—From a German song. LIFE She is a calm creature, and as her deep grey eyes, which he swears are blue, are raised to him, says: “Try again, my dear, and I am sure you will succeed in waking Baby.” He, nothing daunted, Poses once more, and sings: “Je suis gai, soyons gais—" * “ Husband, will you endeavor to have some sense, and tell me what is the matier ?” “ Guess."" “Some horrible amputation, I dare say.” “ Guess again.’ “One of your sweet, delightfully bewildering cases, which is going to make you oblivious to all the world except your microscope for two weeks at least, and in the meanwhile no theatre, no party, no ball, no ‘nothing for me.” (Why wé? grammar desert’ an angry woman ?) “T tell you one thing, husband of my heart, if my little Edith wants to marry a physician, I *1I—— “My dear, does it not occur to you that the remark is rather premature, inasmuch as your little Edith, in whom I also claim a small right of ownership, is not yet two years old?” “Nous verrons.—But what is the occasion of your ver undignified conduct ?” 5 “Behold.” i Sip Cuapter VI. aK A Letter. Orrice or ** Lire,” New York, Nov, 8th, 1883. x DEAR Sik: Inclosed you will find a check for $15 in pay- ‘ogy ment for manuscript entitled “ Nosbnna,” B Viease read, and return enclosed proof, Yours very truly, Epiror or ** Lire.” Cuapter VII. x Happiness. at DE hm % fe] % 66] USBAND mine, you be Z2ER 2 ae are a—well, you & Apap at 3a oP know itall. Let me read Pee Be your manuscript.” a pied r . RK Cuapter VIII. RG RBS: 4 a The Last. ® HBt ag4 OILA!" % LEgahs Again the alleged py 5 e fo Hf blue eyes aim upward, & 33 Bh HE “Yéso—que serd ?” 5 b3 4 “ Alma mia, it is a sweet , — describi he + gg jh Lien-Tsin. Listen to its beautiful rhythm—” ‘THE OFT REJECTED MANUSCRIFT. “Spare me, Darling. But why do you suppose the Editor consents to publish it?” “Tam gay, let us be gay,” from “* La Belle Helene,""—French, comicbooks.com