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112 A CLUB THAT IS DIFFERENT
"Mrs. M. did as requested and the designing Mrs. B. wrote her benefactress' name and address in the upper left-hand corner and straightway mailed the collection to a woman's magazine.
"One of the most surprised individuals that ever opened a letter was Mrs. M. when an acceptance for salad recipes accompanied by a check for three dollars slipped out of an envelope a month later."
"Tell me where you get your many ideas for little tot stuff," I.begged.
"Mostly from the bosom of my family," she answered mischievously. "A mother of four never lacks copy. I plan the story while dish washing and sweeping, tell it to the kiddies at the bedtime hour, and if it is properly received whip it into shape on my typewriter during the evening. You know we all saved our first earnings for typewriters — most of them second-hand."
The little woman looked thoughtful for a minute. " I think that is about all there is to the 'start.' You know the rest."
And that?
The beginning made by the sewing club has grown into a club of thirty-odd members, men and women varying in age from twentyone to sixty. The weekly meetings are held in the evening, the first and third being devoted to study, the second and fourth to the regular program.
Anyone who is willing to work is eligible for membership to the study class. A short-story course is taken each year. Last season Dr. Esenwein's text book was used, the year before "The Editor" course. The works of Pitkin, Cody, Hamilton, and other writers on the short-story have afforded much help to the class.
The officers of the club are a President, Recording and Manuscript Secretaries. The dues of twenty-five cents a year for each member are not sufficiently burdensome to make a treasurer necessary. The sum, however, covers postage, a subscription to a writers' magazine, and now and then a reference book for the club's library.
A candidate for membership must visit one or more meetings and submit an original manuscript. A secret committee appointed by the President decides upon the desirability of the applicant. If the decision is favorable the candidate's name is submitted to the vote of the club.
Four original MSS. and at least two written criticisms are required from each member during the year at such times as the MS. Secretary designates. If the author wishes a written criticism he must turn in his material to the MS. Secretary two weeks before the date for reading. The Secretary will send the story to the critic without the author's name. After the MS. has been read in club and a "round robin" criticism offered, the critic will give the written criticism.
No matter how severe the criticism may be, the writer feels that it is quite impersonal as the Secretary is the only one who knows his identity. A list of possible markets is included in the criticism.
Sales of MSS. are reported at each regular meeting. Each one of us feels an ownership in part in the MSS. produced by club members. We've heard them read, made suggestions, criticised them,