Life — December 21, 1916 — page 12: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

1144 An Asylum for Rejected Manuscripts W have havens and places of refuge for so many in- competents, why should there not be an asylum for jected manuscripts? Certainly, among so many of these unfortunates, are there not some that are curable? And who shall say t mong them there may not be many victims of gross injustice? As for the real malefactors, society is certainly entitled Why should a rejected manuscript that is nd happiness he permitted to to protection. a genuine menace to peace roam at large, working its will upon innocent and over- worked editors? When one considers the number of these derelicts and their power of mental destruction, certainly something ought to be done about it. . Some manuscripts that have been rejected by many ex- perts have, when printed, proven to be masterpieces of popularity, to wit: “Lorna Doone” and “ David Harum.” It is not uncommon for manuscripts to be rejected by a dozen editors, to be printed at last and find favor with the public. Think of such a jaded manuscript, knowing its own charm, fainting by the wayside for want of proper rest. The asylum for rejected manuscript could be in three main divisions: first, for those that have been misjudged ; second, for the curables, and third, for the incurables. The whole should he in charge of a competent staff of literar: experts and trained nurses. The selection of this st should naturally be made with the greatest care. All high- brows should be excluded, and the majority of editors, What is most needed for this office is a combination of common sense, a capacity for real sentiment and humor, a passion for clarity, a horror of the supertluous and a boundless charity. In short time, if the asylum were properly conducted, we have no doubt that rejected manu- scripts would apply voluntarily for admission. Those who are, however, duly apprehended and forced to submit, should be treated with strict impartiality. They should not be compelled to wear a prison garb, and as much as possible should be placed upon their honor. Many of them, hy these wise methods, may thus be induced to leac useful lives and be found entitled to life, liberty and the further pursuit of readers. Deceased RANCIS JOSEPH, Emperor of Austria, has passed from this life and joined a large company of Hapsburgs wh present location is matter of conjecture. Francis Joseph was brought up to a bad trade, and was His specialty was hanging demo- crats, but he lived to see many more born than he had heen reasonably good at it, able to dispose of. His domestic life was checkered with tragedies that grew aturally out of his discharge of an impossible employment. A young understudy, named Charles Francis, succeeds him: Epitaphs on the Kaiger Here lies William, the King of Prussi He died of “ England, France and Russi Too late he died, who was not worth the life Of the least Belgian child, or man or wife. The only German soldier who never fired a gun, The only German father who never lost a son, Bill called himself the Lord of War, bat never faced a fight. He died in bed, I’ll bet you, with the doctors day ard night! * “Lusitania Will” lies here. Few will weep while millions cheer. Here lies the Kaiser, who (oh, mark you well!) Hath made of God a mock, of earth a hell. His nation’s mothers mourn their ruler’s fate, Not that he died, but that he died too late! “OH, MOTHER! BORRIE JONES, THAT PITCHES FOR OUR TEAM, 1S GOING UP THE STREFT, COME QUICK AND YELL SEE HEM”