The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-05
ABOUT INTERVIEWING.
HOW OPINIONS OF WELL KNOWN
PEOPLE ARE SECURED.

|
to Succeed in Leading the Subject to a
Frank Expression.
An interviewer must be prepared to go
| anywhere and at a moments notice
was after well known theatrical manager
once, and he gave me just twenty minutes
| from the time of the receipt of his tele-
! gram-to get from Fleet street to Kings
| Cross. He then wanted me to accompany
! him to Edinburgh and talk to him in the
| train.
On another occasion had to travel with
! the same gentleman to Paris-the only
| time he could give ne. am afraid did
/ not impress him much with my travelling
abilities. | am iearfully bad sailor, and
all the time we were crossing" TO Dleppe
couldn't ask him single question. He
cruelty remarked Il was wasting time"
Patience with the interviewer Is indeed
virtue. You must know little bit about
everything-you must know just when to
ask Il question and the very moment when
to stop. ! have had to chat with subject
for couple of hours on his pet hobby be-
fore daring 20 come TO the point. One
gentleman treated me to a good two hours
on amateur gardening, whereas l had Wis
tied him for the purpose of eliclting his
opinion on burning question of the day.
Another took down we'll nigh every book
In his library, and waded through bundles
of letters from a relation who had gone to
America twelve years previously and had
never since been heard of. Ny visit was
on subject of totally different charac-
ter.
/ well remember when first started in
terviewing. was two-and-twenty, but /
! looked about eighteen. 1t was with
popular dramatist. Twas ushered into his
drawing room. He entered. | knew ex-
actly what he thought as soon as he saw
me. 1t was something like this: "Well,
this fellows youngster to come to talk to
me-" Immediately | started talking about
his plays of ten years ago, took them year
after year until l came to his very latest
production at the Adelphi theater. With
this threw in little limitations of the vari
GUS actors taking part. After half an
hours chat like this he suddenly shouted:
Here, have cigarp'
That was just what l wanted-not the
cigar, but his assurance that he was will
ing TO smoke one with me.
"And now we'll come to business, Mr..
Z" said. 1t resulted in a capital in
terview and first class supper
A LOST OPPORTUNITY.
1t was at the Agricultural hall that
met Blondin. His wife was with him, and
the lady who afterward became my wife
was with me. Mrs. Blondin, now dead,
was an exceedingly kindhearted woman
and took my sweetheart under her charge
while l was chatting with the hero OF
Niagara. | will tell this little anecdote,
for | am just wondering whether it is al
ways well to be accompanied by any one
who is intimately interested in your future
welfare.
Blondin and | had a capital chat, and as
it was nearing 10 O'Clock, he said as he was
preparing to start for the rope:
''Pll tell you what I'll do. I'll carry you
across the rope tonightm
Here was a chance for mel Here was an
opportunity to get up in the worldl
My sweetheart looked at me anxiously.
She looked terribly frightened. She got
hold of my arm without word and-well,
l refused that Offer / shall never forget
the look of relief that came over her face.
When l took my article on Blondin to the
editor of the paper in which it was to ap-
pear, told him of Blondin's invitation.
You did it," he cried. l told him no.
He assured me / lad missed the finest
chance l ever had, and believe him.
Another word of advice to would be in
reviewers You must "know" your man
as soon as you see him. You must, as it
were. be able to read" him through and
realize his characteristics at the outset.
You will be agreeably disappointed some
times. You will invariably fiud that rumor
speaks wrong of man. Report will sim
gle him out peculiarly disagreeable
individual, but you will often find him the
most affable of men. But then-and here
is more advice-you must know how to
humor him. Pin your faith to a good
cigar. A cigar works wonders. Never
offer one; wait for the invite to smoke.
SUCCESS IN STRANGE PLACES.