The angry author triumphantly wrote to Page, explaining how she had caught him and denouncing the whole editorial tribe as humbugs.

"Dear Madam," Page immediately wrote in reply, "when I break an egg at breakfast, I do not have to eat the whole of it to find out that it is bad." Page's treatment of authors, however, was by no means so acrimonious as this little note might imply.

Indeed, the urbanity and consideration shown in his correspondence with writers had long been a tradition in American letters.

The remark of O.Henry in this regard promises to become immortal: "Page could reject a story with a letter that was so complimentary," he said, "and make everybody feel so happy that you could take it to a bank and borrow money on it." Another anecdote reminiscent of his editorial days was his retort to S.S.McClure, the editor of _McClure's Magazine_.
"Page," said Mr.McClure, "there are only three great editors in the United States." "Who's the third one, Sam ?" asked Page.
Plenty of stories, illustrating Page's quickness and aptness in retort, have gathered about his name in England.

Many of them indicate a mere spirit of boyish fun.