MISSING Re: synopsis of proposed People’s Journal story. 1 – Woman’s reasons for deserting children ‘not sufficiently compelling’2 – ‘With reference to your remark as to having a little more freedom in the People’s Journal, we do not want to handicap you in anyway but [133] we place great value on stories having the ring of plausibility. Consequently we should like you to be as natural as possible in your incidents avoiding anything which might be called super-fantastic or anything of the ultra sensational atmosphere such as was prominent in the early chapters of your story The Steel Clutch, and in an earlier reprint story which we bought from you and which you will recall dealt with the work of a Russian Secret Society in London’3 – ‘As the Journal is a domestic newspaper you must be careful to avoid sexual questions or anything suggesting immorality’4 – Story rather sad ‘We should like you to relieve it in some way’ but not by ‘any low comedy character’ perhaps an aunt or grandmother? Or strength of character of the husband?‘These are suggestions only and not meant to bind you or cramp the development of the story in any way [133] We know we can safely leave the matter in your hands’
Headed notepaper: Dundee Advertiser, Evening Telegraph and Post, The Happy Home, People's Journal, People's Friend, My Weekly, John Leng & Co. Ltd., 7 Bank Street, Dundee. Signed. Annotated. 'No. 10 of 'A Mother at Bay' is approved, and I shall be glad to have No. 11 at your earliest convenience. With regard to the first number of 'The Marriage Vow', we think this is quite on the right lines for us, and I shall be glad if you will proceed with the serial, letting us have the second instalment as soon as possible. You will of course keep in view to avoid anything objectionable as the story is for a woman's paper, and that you will keep the domestic interests as prominent as possible.'
Headed notepaper: Dundee Advertiser, Evening Telegraph and Post, The Happy Home, People's Journal, People's Friend, My Weekly, John Leng & Co. Ltd., 7 Bank Street, Dundee. Signed. 'I shall be in London on Monday next, 17th current, and shall be glad if you can call to see me at our London Office, 186 Fleet Street at 4pm on that day. I hope by that time to be in a position to report as to the 'People's Journal' serial and I shall be glad to discuss with you any other suggestions which you have.'
Headed notepaper: George Newnes Ltd, Book Department, 7-12 Southampton Street, London. Addressed to Herbert J. Allingham, 5 Broughton Road, Ealing. Acknowledges receipt of a letter and thanks for suggestion contained in it.
Headed notepaper: Dundee Advertiser, Evening Telegraph and Post, The Happy Home, People's Journal, People's Friend, My Weekly, John Leng & Co. Ltd., 7 Bank Street, Dundee. Signed. Annotated on verso. 'Instalment 12 of 'A Mother at Bay' is approved and I shall be glad to have instalment 13 at your earliest convenience.'
Headed notepaper: Dundee Advertiser, Evening Telegraph and Post, The Happy Home, People's Journal, People's Friend, My Weekly, John Leng & Co. Ltd., 7 Bank Street, Dundee. Signed. Re: enclosure of 'a synopsis of your proposed story ‘America Comes In’. We very much doubt whether there is enough in this to justify a serial story, but the whole thing might make a very readable long complete novel, and when I discussed matters with Mr. Allingham in London recently, I gathered from him that in the event of this or the other not suiting us as serials you would be willing to turn them to account as long completes. If you care to do this with the present one, I shall be glad to take it from you. It must not exceed 7,000 words and for stories of this character we pay from fifteen shillings to a guinea per 1,000, and I would pay you the latter price. We like your character of the young spirited unconventional Amnerican, and if you can complete the manuscript as suggested, you might keep him well to the front.'
Headed notepaper: Dundee Advertiser, Evening Telegraph and Post, The Happy Home, People's Journal, People's Friend, My Weekly, John Leng & Co. Ltd., 7 Bank Street, Dundee. Signed. 'Instalment 3 of 'She sinned for her children' to hand this morning is approved and I shall be glad to have instalment 4 at your earliest convenience.'
Headed notepaper: Dundee Advertiser, Evening Telegraph and Post, The Happy Home, People's Journal, People's Friend, My Weekly, John Leng & Co. Ltd., 7 Bank Street, Dundee. Signed. 'I have today written to Messrs Cotterill & Cromb agreeing to your terms of £50 for one serial use of 'Green-Eyed' on a four years' lease. I hope to receive by an early post the next instalments of 'The Marriage Vow' and 'She sinned for her Children' and I hope also to have for early consideration an idea from you for a story to follow 'She sinned for her Children'.
Headed notepaper: Cotterill & Cromb, Editors and authors agents, London. Addressed to Allingham at Glan-y-Mor, Seaview Avenue, West Mersea. 'We have much pleasure in enclosing cheque for £136:13:3 as per statement below.' Cheque from John Leng & Co in payment for following: - first British serial rights in 'A Mother At Bay', first British serial rights in 'She sinned for her Children' and one serial use on a four years' lease of 'Green-Eyed'.
