G. B. SHAW'S LATEST.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 223, 13 June 1908, Page 12

G. B. SHAW'S LATEST.

- Mr./ Bernard Shaw _ has been grossly insulted. Tho proprietors of "Collier's Weekly" (of Now York)'printed a story of his some months ago, and, in addition to the •ordinary -payment-, they, awarded Mr. Shaw £200 as a bonus, because his story was consideired'.tbe best,received during tlio quarter in whioh-it-oppeared.-' ; This was too •much -for Mr. Shaw's' Socialistic soul (says the,.'.' Daily Express"), and he.wrote the.following.fierce letter:— "Sir,—What do you mean by this unspeakable on tragi? You send me a cheque for a thousand dollars, and inform mo that it. is a bonus offered by Messrs. P. F. Collior : and Son for story received during liho'"quaffer'*rri"r^ : hich my contribution appeared. May I ask .what Messrs. P. F. Collier'and Son ;expeetcd my story to bo?. "If it-were not the best they could gist for the price.:they were.-prepared to pay they ; had no right to. insert'it at nil. If it was the best, what right have they, to stamp their

other contributors publicly as inferior when they have taken steps to secure the result beforehand by paying a special price to a special writer? "And what right havo they to assume that I want to be paid twice over for my work; or that I ani in the habit of accepting bonuses and competing for prizes? "■Waiving all these, quostions for a moment, I have another one to put to .you. How do Messrs. P. F. Collier and Son know that my story was the be3t thoy received during the quarter? Are they posterity? Are they the Verdict of History? Have they even the very doubtful qualification of boing professional critics? "I had better break this lettor off lost I should be bctrayod' into expressing myself as strongly as I feel. "I return the cheque. If you should see fit to use it for the purpose of erecting a tombstone to Messrs. P. F. Collier and Son I shall bo happy to contribute the epitaph, in which I shall do my best to do justice to their monstrous presumption. "G. BERNARD SHAW." The editor of "Collier's Weekly" retorts humorously that the award was a mistake. The "responsible" readers were out of town, and the sportiiig editor; who is a devotee of football, a vegetarian, ■ a Socialist, a misanthrope,. a misogynist—in sliort, a true disciple of G.B.S.—inpde the award. Ho has been discharged !'.'■■