In view of _The Daily Mail's_ praiseworthy efforts to instruct
applicants for situations in the correct phrasing of letters to
prospective employers, we propose to supply a similar long-felt want,
and give a little advice as to the kind of letter it is desirable to
enclose with contributions to periodicals.
Begin your letter in a friendly vein, hoping the Editor and his people
are pretty well. Remember also that Editors like to know something
of the characters and histories of their contributors. So let your
communication include a _résumé_ of your personal and literary career.
Don't fall into the error of making your letter too concise.
The following suggestions may serve to indicate some of the lines of
thought that you might follow:--
(1) State where you sent your first manuscript.
(2) What you thought of it, and of the Editor who returned it.
(3) Your height and chest measurement (an Editor likes to be on the
safe side).
(4) State who persuaded you to take up literature, and give height and
chest measurement of same.
(5) Give a short but optimistic description of your contribution, not
to exceed in length the contribution itself.
(6) State whether literary genius is rife in your family or has been
rife at any time since 1066.
(7) Give a list of journals to which you have already sent the
enclosed contribution, and state your reasons for supposing that the
Editors were misguided. Hint that perhaps, after all, their lack of
enterprise was fortunate for the present recipient.
(8) Mention your hobbies and the different appointments you have held
since the age of twelve, with names and addresses of employers. Also
give your reasons for remaining as long as you did in each situation.
(9) State how long you have been a subscriber to the journal you are
electing to honour, and whether you think it's worth the money. Point
out any little improvements you consider desirable in its compilation,
and mention other periodicals as perfect examples. Preface these
remarks with some such phrase as this: "Pray don't think I want to
teach you your business, but--"
(10) Give full list (names and addresses) of friends who have promised
to buy the paper if your contribution appears.
(11) Give a brief outline, in faultless English, of your religious,
political and police court convictions, your views on Mr. LLOYD
GEORGE, and any ideas you may have about the Law of Copyright.
Finally, enclose a stamped and addressed envelope for the return of
your article.
* * * * *
"It has always been supposed that Charles I. when Prince of
Wales and travelling incognito with the Duke of Buckingham saw
and fell in love with Marie Antoinette."
Not by us. We always supposed he fell in love with SARAH BERNHARDT.
* * * * *