Lost Childhood

Back to his editorial desk went Samuel Sidney McClure. He had not sat there since 1912, when he turned over the magazine that bears his name to Publisher Frederick L. Collins. The 13 years that had passed had been years of trouble for McClure's, aching years of middle age, of famine amidst plenty, of dieting and forced feeding at the hands of three rejuvenators in turn. Now the master was back, the earnest, wrinkled man with solicitude in his heart and a healing touch in his fingertips. The issue that the master planned and that appeared last week, he called "Vol. I, No. 1, New Series."

As he planned, Editor McClure recalled his golden days. He remembered how, at the beginning of the Century, he had gone abroad, obtained introductions to two young English men of letters, come home and published, before other U. S. magazines, the works of Rudyard Kipling and James M. Barrie. He remembered the spectacular series of articles he had asked Miss Ida M. Tarbell to write, on all the unpleasant things there were to be known about John D. Rockefeller and the Oil Trust. That series, in 1903, had put McClure's at the head of the monthly field.

"Miss Tarbell," mused Editor McClure. "Ah, yes. Why not herald this new era with another clarion note from Miss Tarbell? People will remember."

So the May issue contained the opening movements of a hymn -- not of hate, this time, but of praise -- for Judge Elbert H. Gary of the U. S. Steel Corporation. Tintypes, genealogy, ancestral anecdotes, places that the boy Elbert lived or visited, were presented as the start of "a contribution to the real understanding of our times ... a typical American life."

And how did Editor McClure happen to have returned to his desk? Where did he get the money? Every one knew that he was a wealthy man when he retired in 1912. But scores of trips to Europe consume money and Mr. McClure's books (My Autobiography, 1914; Obstacles to Peace, 1917) could hardly have brought in the purchase price of even the middle-aged McClure's.

Yes, an associate had been found, one Lewis E. Myers, manufacturer of children's educational toys. And the rejuvenated McClure' s contained as a new feature a department called The Little Magazine, personally conducted, with a Biblical text, by Editor S. S. McClure. Here, for the pleasure and edification of U. S. childhood, were little nature studies by St. Francis of Assisi, one Arthur Mee and the Editor; spring poetry, May songs and three hero stories. Farther on, Mr. Myers advertised his toys. Editor McClure had indeed restored to his magazine its lost childhood.

Prize Day

On prize day at school, the boys and girls wear their Sunday-go-to-meetings. They are very polite to one another as they march to their seats.

On Pulitzer Prize day, fortunately, there are no presentation scenes. Shortly beforehand, 12 journalists (the Advisory Board of the Pulitzer School of Journalism) and the President of Co lumbia University mull over reports made to them by juries* on the year's crop of plays, novels, verse, newspaper editorials, stories, cartoons. The 13 hold conference, then just send a list of winners to the newspapers for publication.

Thus the blushing, backslapping, handshaking and proud parental talk are widely distributed. Also the grumbling, astonishment, pique, of which there is bound to be much; for the awards have assumed major importance in U. S. journalism, letters and arts since the late Joseph Pulitzer established them to inspire elevation of tone and technique in these three.

The 1925 winners (for 1924 productions):

1) For most meritorious public service by a newspaper ($500) -- no award.

2) For best history of public service by the U.S. press ($1,000)-- no competition.

3) For best editorial ($500)-- to The Charleston [S. C.] News and Courier on The Plight of the South.

4) For best reporting work ($1,000) -- to James W. Mulroy and Alvin H. Goldstein of the Chicago Daily News for aid in solving the Franks murder.

5) For best cartoon ($500) -- to Rollin Kirby of The New York World for the cartoon Nen's from the Outside World.

6) For best U.S. novel ($4,000)-- to Edna Ferber, for So Big.

7) For best U.S. play ($1,000)-- to Sidney Howard, for They Know What They Wanted.

8) For best book on U. S. history ($2,000) -- to Frederic L. Paxson, for A History of the American Frontier.

9) For best U.S. biography ($1,000) -- to M. A. De Wolfe Homer, for Barrett Wendell and His Letters.

10) For best volume of verse ($1,000) -- to Edwin Arlington Robinson for The Man Who Died Twice.

11) Traveling scholarships ($1,500 each) -- to Daniel Robert Maue, William G. Worth ington, Richmond B. Williams.

12) Music scholarships ($1,500) - Douglas Moore and Leopold D. Mannes.

No award was announced in Art, pending a recommendation from the National Academy of Design.

*The jury on Journalism: members of the faculty of the Pulitzer School of Journalism, plus a representative of the American Society of Newspaper Editors. On Letters: members of the National Institute of Arts and Letters. On Art: members of the National Academy of Design.