The Argosy, Christmas 1912 — page 254: what you’re looking at

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

240 letters in the Log-Book are not real. If he sees mine he'll change his mind. This Letter Will Make Greene Blue. After all this sweetness and honey, it’s about time I got my head out of the clouds and came down to earth with a good, hard kick. This one is adminis- tered by a lady, too—what do you know about thatr But place aux dames, as they say in Paris, and here’s a slap at Greene, Jr., straight from the shoulder. Ella P. H., of Miama, Arizona, furnishes us with this spice of variety: You have been kind enough to ask us for our opinions from time to time regarding the stories published in THE Arcosy, and so far mine has always been good. If there was one or two stories which did not exactly come up to the mark, I just did not read them and forgot it. But I am bound, in all honesty, as a former admirer of your magazine to tell you that the last two numbers have been— well, let us say, punk. Now you laud Mr. Fred V. Greene’s stories to the sky, while a great many have told you just what they thought of his “ Shooting at ig D,” so I made up my mind to just charge that up to the punk list and let it go at that. I was very much interested in your arguments to prove that it ended right. To my mind Monny had plenty of time to practise shooting, and could have won easily or at least lost and took his lawping. But now you are running “Making a Fan of Him.” I had intended to pass that one up till I noted in the Log-Book that it was by one of your favorites a are you simply experimenting with the reading public?) so I read it as far as it has gone, and I assure you that I shall not buy the October number simply to learn that Lonnte Flack lost the game and that nut married Margaret. Protests Against Small and Dainty Heroine. In striking contrast to the foregoing here is a communication from J. M., Rock Island, Illinois, with whom Mr. Greene appears to be a special favorite. Yes, Cord is Lord of the Chicago Amer- icans, and Vord is not Wood, but Ford, the star pitcher of the New York Amer- icans. I think that J. M. will find the hero and heroine of Terhune’s new Rev- olutionary story, ‘The Trouble Hun- ter,” to begin next month, will neither of them possess the failings to which he alludes. I have been a constant reader of THE Arcosy for fifteen years, and a friend to books, magazines, and baseball. I’m a semi- pro ball-player, write a little on the side, so I hesitate before offering criticism on your stories. THE ARGOSY. I'll just say that I detest that Hawkins business. I like a story that appeared some years ago, called “A Deal in the Dark.” I am on the road so much that I can’t save my magazines. I enjoy the Log-Book and think it is a great idea. In the criticism of the readers authors can see where they can im- prove quite often. I like the serials best. I’m interested in “ Making a Fan of Him.” Who is the player referred to as Vord? Cord means Lord, but unless Vord is Wood, with Boston, 1 can’t place him. I have placed all the rest. I would enjoy the stories you publish about the Revolution better if the author would not make the hero a big, ignorant, slow-witted loon, and the heroine a small, dainty little article who is always making the hero toe the mark. But altogether 7HE Arcosy is the greatest magazine in the world. Boosting the Wright Stuff. Poor Mr. Greene! With him this month it seems to be a case of “ Off again, on again, gone again, Finnegan!” Here’s a reader, from the neighborhood of Philadelphia, where the scenes of his last story were laid, handing it out to the latter in no uncertain terms. I have in stock a two-part novelette by Richard- son Wright, which will appear in Feb- ruary and March, I will tell Francis G. C., of Merion, Pennsylvania. _ I cannot refrain from expressing my ap- preciation of what I consider to be without question the best short-story magazine pub- lished. THE Arcosy’s stories are of a decided- ly better plane than those of its competitors, if it may be said to have any competitors, and I look forward to its arrival every month with increasing pleasure. Mr. Terhune’s stories are excellent, and you can count me among the loyal champions of Hawkins, which I find decidedly entertaining by virtue of Mr. Franklin’s refreshing origi- nality. 1 am bound to admit that I consider “ Making 1 Fan of Him” very poor; it is in the first place technically inaccurate, and is of a decidedly amateurish character. “The Clutch of Siberia,” in the October number, was a corker; it had a ring of the accurate to it that made it instructive as well as intensely intéresting. Let’s have some more stuff from Mr. Wright. He Calls It a Dream. By a tight squeak I am enabled to print the first opinion received regarding our November book-length novel, from M. H. B., of New York City. The story, “ Breaking Into West Point,” is a dream. It is the finest story I have read in some time. I hope in the near future Captain Harrington will write another similar—by next January anyhow. | CO MICLOOKS CO