"Typewriter," commonly used as a generic name for the machine that prints, as well as for the person who operates it, should have its double meaning curtailed. The young lady of pleasing face and amiable deportment, whose deft fingers hover over the keys of a senseless machine, is entitled to something more appropriate in the way of a professional title.
Let it be "typist," after the English fashion; and instead of saying "the typist typewrote the letter," why not say she "typed" it?
An editor once returned a manuscript with a note like this:
Dear Sir:—Put it into narrative form.
Yours truly, "The Editor."I did so. A week later came this:
"Dear Sir:—A little mystery would help. We like your style very much. Yours truly, "The Editor."
I put in the mystery. A week later,—
"Dear Sir:—You send us good verse. Why not turn the marked paragraphs into verse, with strong influence on story? Well written. "Yours truly, etc."
It was a good idea. The verse was acceptable. It was so acceptable that the editor sent back the story and a check for $5 in payment for the verse—which was all he kept!
Dear Sir:—Put it into narrative form.
Yours truly, "The Editor."
"Dear Sir:—A little mystery would help. We like your style very much. Yours truly, "The Editor."
"Dear Sir:—You send us good verse. Why not turn the marked paragraphs into verse, with strong influence on story? Well written. "Yours truly, etc."
[XIV]
FRESH FIELDS
AND PASTURES NEW