Identity area
Reference code
ALL/11/126
Title
Letter from Harold J Garrish to Herbert Allingham
Date(s)
- 26 Jun 1907 (Creation)
Level of description
Item
Extent and medium
1 piece, Typescript document
Context area
Name of creator
(1867-1936)
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Headed notepaper: Editorial Department, Chips, Comic Cuts, The Butterfly, Puck, The Jester, 2 Carmelite House, Carmelite Street, London EC. Signed.
‘I am very glad you were able to grasp my idea so well. “The Three Friends Together” is exactly the thing I have been trying to impress upon authors for some time past, but which you alone have been able to grasp. The absence of slang and any suggestion of overdoing it makes the story read very naturally and very interesting. You should proceed along these lines and should clear up your mysteries etc as you go along so as to simply have the three friends on their travels and adventures. One point that is excellent about your story is that there is no straining after effect. I should get them out of England as soon as you can and just dwell a little more on the characteristics of each. Work in funny replies and funny situations where you possibly can. In regard to chatper headings, just put a couple of lines of an interesting character as the heading, but do not number your chapters. If you will do this it will save me trouble. Perhaps it would be as well if you gave me a look up to discuss the future of the story, which I may tell you goes to press Monday next for The Jester. I have kept the first instalment in order to get it illustrated. I think if you go on as well as you have begun that your adventures abroad in forests, jungles, and at sea should prove very good reading and make a very successful story.’
[adds handwritten note]: ‘though of course the proof of popularity lies not with me by with our readers.’
‘I am very glad you were able to grasp my idea so well. “The Three Friends Together” is exactly the thing I have been trying to impress upon authors for some time past, but which you alone have been able to grasp. The absence of slang and any suggestion of overdoing it makes the story read very naturally and very interesting. You should proceed along these lines and should clear up your mysteries etc as you go along so as to simply have the three friends on their travels and adventures. One point that is excellent about your story is that there is no straining after effect. I should get them out of England as soon as you can and just dwell a little more on the characteristics of each. Work in funny replies and funny situations where you possibly can. In regard to chatper headings, just put a couple of lines of an interesting character as the heading, but do not number your chapters. If you will do this it will save me trouble. Perhaps it would be as well if you gave me a look up to discuss the future of the story, which I may tell you goes to press Monday next for The Jester. I have kept the first instalment in order to get it illustrated. I think if you go on as well as you have begun that your adventures abroad in forests, jungles, and at sea should prove very good reading and make a very successful story.’
[adds handwritten note]: ‘though of course the proof of popularity lies not with me by with our readers.’
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