Life — April 23, 1914 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Notes on the Periodicals This page discusses magazine editorial practices, specifically referencing Henry Sydnor Harrison's experiences with editors. The text critiques editors who reject stories based on novelty rather than quality, noting that Harrison's previously rejected tales later became successful after he published "Queed" (his breakthrough work). The two illustrations satirize editorial gatekeeping: the top cartoon shows Cupid and Psyche (classical figures representing love and the soul), while the bottom depicts a "Baby Show" where figures in formal dress judge infants—a clear metaphor for editors judging literary submissions based on superficial criteria like pedigree and social standing rather than merit. The article argues that editors should evaluate work on quality alone, not reject stories simply because they're unfamiliar with the author.