Up to that time this functionary had been a rather solemn, inaccessible high priest; he sat secluded in his sanctuary, and weeded out from the mass of manuscripts dumped upon his desk the particular selections which seemed to be most suited to his purpose.

To solicit contributions would have seemed an entirely undignified proceeding; in all cases contributors must come to him.

According to Page, however, "an editor must know men and be out among men." His system of "making up" the magazine at first somewhat astounded his associates.

A month or two in advance of publication day he would draw up his table of contents.

This, in its preliminary stage, amounted to nothing except a list of the main subjects which he aspired to handle in that number.