An editor is not an incompetent ass because he rejects for his adventure magazine a story that later is snapped up by the _Century_ or _Atlantic_, although authors are apt to chortle gleefully over such a contretemps; nor is there any truth in the oft repeated rumors--propagated by the failures--of a cabal to suppress budding genius, and a clique of editors to guard the Olympian heights from all but those bearing the stamp of approval of their masters. As a matter of fact if an author after real and conscientious effort fails to sell it is either because his stuff does not measure up to standard or because he is persistently peddling to the wrong market. You can’t sell the finest line of fancy flower pots to a fish dealer. It is this latter point that should be stressed especially. Far too many really able authors fail to understand the value of a thorough knowledge of the market. Most of them haven’t even a general knowledge of it; do not think of it at all. To them a magazine is a magazine. Their attitude is “You publish stories, Why not mine?” and they send a beautifully written and wholly plotless character sketch to a publication using only rapid fire adventure stuff and a charming little New England pastoral to one of the magazines devoted wholly to sex topics, and then wonder why they come back. Perhaps speaking broadly it is this ignorance of market that accounts for at least a large percentage of the rejections that afflict authors (aside from the vast army of amateurs, novices and hopeless incompetents) whose work is really good. ELLIOT BALESTIER. _Argosy-Allstory Weekly._ THE FRANK A. MUNSEY CO., 280 Broadway, New York City. THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY It really would not serve your purpose if I were to write you about my principles of accepting stories. They are too capricious, and would only tend to lower the feelings of respect which you are inculcating in your readers. Quite seriously, my selection is made according to the whim of one individual. ELLERY SEDGWICK. _The Atlantic Monthly._ 8 Arlington Street, Boston, Mass. THE CENTURY MAGAZINE When you ask me what kind of stories we want for _The Century_, I am puzzled about answering, for the truth is we like almost all kinds, provided they are done with distinction. I think I may speak for the editorial staff when I say that distinction is the mark at which we are aiming. _The Century_ is a family magazine, edited for the mature members of the family. Every one who reads the magazine knows that we welcome new writers. Indeed, it is a day of rejoicing when the mail yields a story of real promise by an unknown writer. We do not want war stories, for the public is tired of war-fiction; nor “machine-made” stories, the cheap clap-trap that has nothing to recommend it but facility.