第66章 Meeting a Reverse or Two (1)

With the hitherto unreached magazine circulation of a million copies a month in sight, Edward Bok decided to give a broader scope to the periodical.He was determined to lay under contribution not only the most famous writers of the day, but also to seek out those well-known persons who usually did not contribute to the magazines; always keeping in mind the popular appeal of his material, but likewise aiming constantly to widen its scope and gradually to lift its standard.

Sailing again for England, he sought and secured the acquaintance of Rudyard Kipling, whose alert mind was at once keenly interested in what Bok was trying to do.He was willing to co-operate, with the result that Bok secured the author's new story, William the Conqueror.When Bok read the manuscript, he was delighted; he had for some time been reading Kipling's work with enthusiasm, and he saw at once that here was one of the author's best tales.

At that time, Frances E.Willard had brought her agitation for temperance prominently before the public, and Bok had promised to aid her by eliminating from his magazine, so far as possible, all scenes which represented alcoholic drinking.It was not an iron-clad rule, but, both from the principle fixed for his own life and in the interest of the thousands of young people who read his magazine, he believed it would be better to minimize all incidents portraying alcoholic drinking or drunkenness.Kipling's story depicted several such scenes; so when Bok sent the proofs he suggested that if Kipling could moderate some of these scenes, it would be more in line with the policy of the magazine.

Bok did not make a special point of the matter, leaving it to Kipling's judgment to decide how far he could make such changes and preserve the atmosphere of his story.

From this incident arose the widely published story that Bok cabled Kipling, asking permission to omit a certain drinking reference, and substitute something else, whereupon Kipling cabled back: "Substitute Mellin's Food." As a matter of fact (although it is a pity to kill such a clever story), no such cable was ever sent and no such reply ever received.As Kipling himself wrote to Bok: "No, I said nothing about Mellin's Food.I wish I had." An American author in London happened to hear of the correspondence between the editor and the author, it appealed to his sense of humor, and the published story was the result.

If it mattered, it is possible that Brander Matthews could accurately reveal the originator of the much-published yarn.

From Kipling's house Bok went to Tunbridge Wells to visit Mary Anderson, the one-time popular American actress, who had married Antonio de Navarro and retired from the stage.A goodly number of editors had tried to induce the retired actress to write, just as a number of managers had tried to induce her to return to the stage.All had failed.But Bok never accepted the failure of others as a final decision for himself;and after two or three visits, he persuaded Madame de Navarro to write her reminiscences, which he published with marked success in the magazine.

The editor was very desirous of securing something for his magazine that would delight children, and he hit upon the idea of trying to induce Lewis Carroll to write another Alice in Wonderland series.He was told by English friends that this would be difficult, since the author led a secluded life at Oxford and hardly ever admitted any one into his confidence.But Bok wanted to beard the lion in his den, and an Oxford graduate volunteered to introduce him to an Oxford don through whom, if it were at all possible, he could reach the author.The journey to Oxford was made, and Bok was introduced to the don, who turned out to be no less a person than the original possessor of the highly colored vocabulary of the "White Rabbit" of the Alice stories.

"Impossible," immediately declared the don."You couldn't persuade Dodgson to consider it." Bok, however, persisted, and it so happened that the don liked what he called "American perseverance.""Well, come along," he said."We'll beard the lion in his den, as you say, and see what happens.You know, of course, that it is the Reverend Charles L.Dodgson that we are going to see, and I must introduce you to that person, not to Lewis Carroll.He is a tutor in mathematics here, as you doubtless know; lives a rigidly secluded life; dislikes strangers;makes no friends; and yet withal is one of the most delightful men in the world if he wants to be."But as it happened upon this special occasion when Bok was introduced to him in his chambers in Tom Quad, Mr.Dodgson did not "want to be"delightful.There was no doubt that back of the studied reserve was a kindly, charming, gracious gentleman, but Bok's profession had been mentioned and the author was on rigid guard.

When Bok explained that one of the special reasons for his journey from America this summer was to see him, the Oxford mathematician sufficiently softened to ask the editor to sit down.

Bok then broached his mission.

"You are quite in error, Mr.Bok," was the Dodgson comment."You are not speaking to the person you think you are addressing."For a moment Bok was taken aback.Then he decided to go right to the point.

"Do I understand, Mr.Dodgson, that you are not 'Lewis Carroll'; that you did not write Alice in Wonderland?"For an answer the tutor rose, went into another room, and returned with a book which he handed to Bok."This is my book," he said simply.It was entitled An Elementary Treatise on Determinants, by C.L.Dodgson.When he looked up, Bok found the author's eyes riveted on him.

"Yes," said Bok."I know, Mr.Dodgson.If I remember correctly, this is the same book of which you sent a copy to Her Majesty, Queen Victoria, when she wrote to you for a personal copy of your Alice."Dodgson made no comment.The face was absolutely without expression save a kindly compassion intended to convey to the editor that he was making a terrible mistake.