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Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library© 1997 By the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia. All rights reserved.
Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Processed by: Special Collections Department Staff
Collection is open to research.
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Edward Payson Roe Collection, Accession 7922-a, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library
Deposit [ 17 Dec 1963 ] 14 Nov 1966
Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities
[Encloses [manuscript ?]; indicates his willingness to cut it if it is too long; invites him to visit; writes that he will soon send a check for $20.]
[Sends autograph in response to request for [Squire's] collection of "Knights of the Quill."]
[Thanks him for "interesting volume."]
[Expresses thanks for being honored by Wood's Society.]
[Outlines a story of a war refugee family based on Memoirs of the War of the Revolution in the Southern Dept. of the United States ; indicates his desire to produce what the editors want and to cooperate in every way; hopes for sufficient remuneration as he is financially pressed.]
[Approves circular and hopes to hear from McClure about his sister's [ Mary Abigail Roe ] story as well as his own.]
[Writes that, because of the volume of other work, he must know when the requested piece would be required and what he would receive for it before making a commitment.]
[Writes that Current , which had been publishing a story of his, failed; fears he will suffer financial loss as a result; states that failure has impelled him to write " Significant Hummingbirds , " which he describes, to recoup losses; offers to sell it for $200.]
[Writes that, although he has had another offer for [" Significant Hummingbirds "], he has awaited McClure's response; sends the manuscript and points out its timeliness, because much criticism is being expressed of "wearing little birds."]
[Excuses his delay in replying because he was on a mountain excursion with [Henry Mills] Alden ; accepts the rejection of his story and will try again.]
[Writes that he will meet McClure in December to discuss requests; states he is reluctant to take on new commitments because of promised work; hopes to begin war stories shortly; explains that he must write when the mood strikes rather than promise "a certain length and at a certain time"; writes he must complete work for Harper's [Monthly] . ]
[Explains the illness of his child prevented their planned meeting; requests a letter stating the type of work desired; states he will do his best but cannot meet demands as to length and completion date.]
[States that he is writing a book which will provide more income that short stories; writes he will communicate with McClure when he has more time for stories.]
[Discusses a short story, which he has almost completed; writes he will submit it to [ Youth's Companion ], his first attempt having been rejected; comments on a story which recently appeared in their publication which affected him deeply.]
[Discusses observance of the Sabbath and the role of Sunday newspapers; believes Sunday should be set apart from the rest of the week and publications should emphasize literature and articles leading to "higher thoughts . . . and better living" rather than business and crime.]
[Expresses understanding of an editor's right to choose his material and accepts the rejection of his story, which he has submitted elsewhere; writes that he is "mulish enough" to try again.]
[Writes that he has returned from Charleston with material for a story; states he will leave in 2 weeks for Santa Barbara, California with his family; expects the railroad companies and Santa Barbara to profit from his literary work; hopes for financial concessions; explains that, having "endorsed for a relative and lost everything," he is in financial difficulty.]
[Accepts, on behalf of his friend, whatever seems fair for the manuscript and photographs; believes the article will be an attractive feature in Wright's magazine.]
[Offers for publication a love story, " A Queen of Spades , " for which he asks $300 to be paid as soon as possible; reserves the right to publish in book form at a later date.]