H. L. (HENRY LOUIS) MENCKEN - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 09/25/1931 CO-SIGNED BY: GEORGE JEAN NATHAN - HFSID 286539

H.L. MENCKEN and GEORGE JEAN NATHAN
Mencken's TLS rejecting an article for his magazine written by a lawyer because it is too "cautious and judicious." He sent the TLS to fellow editor George Jean Nathan, who has added a handwritten note and forwarded it to the author of the article.
Typed Letter Signed: "HLM". 1 page 8½x5½. Signed on personal letterhead, Baltimore, Maryland, 1931 September 25. To a George. In Full: "Dear George: Taylor has an excellent idea here and he writes very well, but I suspect that the very fact that he is a good lawyer spoils the thing for magazine purpose. What I mean is that his approach is a little too cautious and judicial for our purposes. If we discussed the matter at all, we ought to rub it into the judges rather more vigorously. Thus I fear that I had better not take the article. It is certainly very well done. I trust you to deal with Taylor politely. The temperature down here has dropped to 12 below zero. I am walking around naked to enjoy the novelty of being cool. Yours," At bottom is an autograph note added by Nathan: "Dear Martin, Herewith Mencken's comment. Politely and affectionately - George". American literary critic, humorous journalist and essayist HENRY LOUIS MENCKEN (1880-1956) gained national recognition as the reigning critic of manners and politics from the mid-1920s. He helped launch the careers of Theodore Dreiser and Sinclair Lewis and published manuscripts by Eugene O'Neill and Dorothy Parker. Mencken, who had co-founded and edited "American Mercury" from 1923-1933, also contributed to such publications as the Baltimore Sun, The Smart Set, Chicago Tribune, New York American and Evening Mail. He was known for his critical ideas on Democracy, fundamental Christianity and The American South. Mencken openly attacked ignorance, intolerance and frauds. He recommended Ayn Rand's first novel We the Living for publication and she listed him as her favorite columnist. In 1919 he wrote The American Language a study of how the English language is spoken in the United States. In 1940, he began his autobiographical trilogy with Happy Days. Drama critic and editor GEORGE JEAN NATHAN (1882-1958) published several collections of his critical essays on theater. The learned, cynical Nathan made a natural partner for nationally prominent Baltimore Sun journalist H. L. Mencken; together they co-edited The Smart Set (from 1914) and co-founded The American Mercury in 1924. By the time he wrote this letter, Nathan was no longer involved in the Mercury, but he has forwarded an article for consideration, and then sent Mencken's explanation for rejecting it on to the author. Nathan, who had a reputation as a ladies man, was the model for waspish theater critic Addison DeWitt, who squires starlet Marilyn Monroe in the film All About Eve.Toned and creased. 1 horizontal fold crease through center. Torn at edges of fold crease. Edges ragged and corners chipped. Pencil markings (unknown hand) throughout document.