Editor's Comment

Editor's Comment241 We are grateful to the considerable number of our readers who have sent notes of congratulations and comment on the publication of the first number of SAF, Spring 1973. All of us associated with the journal have been much heartened and encouraged by these responses, not only by those readers who offered tributes and good wishes, but also by those who sought to offer guidance and suggestions for the future. We welcome all communications from our readers and pledge to respond in good humor to all queries and remarks. The editor of SAF was pleased to participate in the Sixth Pennsylvania State University Conference on Bibliography which took place Nov. 29 through Dec. 1. Several of the papers read at the conference will be appearingin SAF, includingPhilip Young (Penn State) on Hemingway, Joseph Katz (South Carolina) on American Realism, Roger Stein (SUNY, Binghamton) on early American fiction, Lewis Leary (North Carolina) on Mark Twain, Burton R. PoIHn (CUNY) on Poe, and G. Thomas Tanselle (Wisconsin) on Melville. The conference was directed by Professor Harrison T. Meserole (Penn State) who, along with his numerous other professional activities, serves as an Advisory Editor for SAF. SAF will sponsor a section at the annual MLA Convention in Chicago, a program entitled "Studies in American Fiction: Stephen Crane, Henry James, Mark Twain." The session will consist of three papers: Jane Nelson (Northeastern) on James' "The Jolly Corner," Chadwick Hansen (Minnesota) on Twain's Connecricuf Yankee, and James Nagel (Northeastern) on Stephen Crane and Impressionism. The section will meet Saturday, Dec. 29, 8:45-10:00, in PDR 7 of thePalmer House. Anyone wishingto attend the meeting should write in advance to the editor. Our readers will be interested in the formation of several new journals and annuals relating to American fiction. MidAmerica I, an annual sponsored by the lively and important Society for theStudy of Midwestern Literature, was published in the Autumn of 1973. For information write to the editor, David D. Anderson, 240 Ernst Bessey Hall, Michigan State University. C. D. Sheraw is theeditorof Studies in Contemporary Satire: A Creative and Critical Journal which published its first number in June of 1973. For information write to the editor at the Department of English, Alliance College, Cambridge Springs, Pa. 16403. Essays in Literature, a semi-annual devoted to the study of British, American and Modern European literature, is edited by John E. Hallwas of the English Department, Western Illinois U., Macomb, 111. 61455. It is our pleasant duty to here record our gratitude to several Northeastern University students who have made valuable contributions to journal activities. Leslie Bram, SAF Graduate Assistant, has assisted daily in the cause of efficiency and good order. In addition, Janine Smallwood and Leslie Satter have assisted in many matters, large and small, and their efforts have been deeply appreciated. J.N. ...