[Sidenote: =Gibson v. Acle.=]
_Gibson v. Acle._--In this case, Mr. Phillip Gibson, the
well-known publisher, brought an action for the recovery of a
sum of £3. 10_s._, advanced to Miss Acle, of “The Wolfcote,”
Croydon, in consideration of her contracting to supply a short
story, with regard to the manuscript of which he maintained,
upon receiving it, that (1) it was not a story, and (2) it was
not technically “short,” as it filled but eighteen lines in the
very large type known as grand pica. Three very important points
were decided in this case; for the Judge (Mr. Justice Veale,
brother of Lord Burpham) maintained, with sturdy common sense,
that if a publisher bought a manuscript, no matter what, so long
as it did not offend common morals or the public security of the
realm, he was bound to “print, comfort, cherish, defend, enforce,
push, maintain, advertize, circulate, and make public the same”;
and he was supported in the Court of Crown Cases Reserved in his
decision that:
_First_: the word “short” was plainly the more applicable the
less lengthy were the matter delivered: and
_Secondly_: the word “story” would hold as a definition for any
concoction of words whatsoever, of which it could be proved that
it was built up of separate sentences, such sentences each to
consist of at least one predicate and one verb, real or imaginary.
Both these decisions are quite recent, and may be regarded as the
present state of the law on the matter.
Once the legal position of the author is grasped, it is necessary
to acquire the five simple rules which govern the Short Story.
1st. It should, as a practical matter apart from the law, contain
some incident.
2nd. That incident should take place on the sea, or in brackish, or
at least tidal, waters.
3rd. The hero should be English-speaking, white or black.
4th. His adventures should be horrible; but no kind of moral should
be drawn from them, unless it be desired to exalt the patriotism of
the reader.
5th. Every short story should be divided by a “Cæsura”: that is, it
should break off sharp in the middle, and you have then the choice
of three distinct courses:
(_a_). To stop altogether--as is often done by people who die, and
whose remains are published.
(_b_). To go on with a totally different subject. This method
is not to be commended to the beginner. It is common to rich or
popular writers; and even they have commonly the decency to put in
asterisks.
(_c_). To go on with your story where it left off, as I have done
in the model which follows.
That model was constructed especially with the view to guide
the beginner. Its hero is a fellow subject, white--indeed, an
Englishman. The scene is laid in water, not perhaps salt, but at
least brackish. The adventure preys upon the mind. The moral is
doubtful: the Cæsura marked and obvious. Moreover, it begins in the
middle, which (as I omitted to state above) is the very hall-mark
of the Vivid Manner.