The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-24
CALLING ON THE sDIroB.
A Plucky Gotham Woman's Advice
to Her Sister Writers.

Would you believe it, if l were to tell you
that a handsome, wel-ftting sealskir
jacket and a pair Of Bernhardt-Suedt
gloves and very becoming bonnet helped
q brave little woman to market her manu-.
scripts in New York And now sht
seldom has any of her wares declined
She is not near as intellectual, or classical
does not speak several languages les
many OF her sister women do, but she
has ''gumption," and q gifted lecturer saw.
with that a woman will succeed in most ot
her undertakings. Bah has that gift Co
perfection, and because she is so clever she
is accused OF being man, when she is the
most wOmanly wOmanI know Of; but. as
she wishes TO remain a mystery. l will not
crafty vain curiosity. This plucky little
woman whom know mas had dozens Of her
wiser sisters to cens TO her asking her aid
in securing the editors ear. They all say.
when l go to an editors office he has
placard swinging to aud fro with these
words: Very busy day. and never a sight
OF an EDITORS face do l see." Shall l tell
you little professional secret? Ella Wheeler
Wilcox knows il, Jennie June would advise
its use, Juliette Gordon follows it. The
secret is truly masonic, and | may be
scslped for betraying it, for il was whispered
to me by the plucky little woman who goes
about doing good to every creature that
comes in her way, and it has inspired
me to help some Of those
very helpless women along in
this uphill business OF selling what
they write, for the press. Literature is the
fashionable fad Of the day; from the OBJ
scure girl to the dainty and luxurious child
OF wealth comes this great desire to WELD
the pen. Don't you see how the editors are
trying to get an article upon most any in
teresting topic from the Princess of Wales
to Mrs. Mckee in tGe white houseq Mrs.
Gladstone col
Grand Old Man. Lords and ladies are i'm
portuned at so many thousands line to tell
of their home lives
I'm wandering from my subject I was
TO tell the women who have to write for q
living the secret of success. HASN'T it been
asserted often that women writers as a rule
were the worst dressed women in the world7
Foster Coates says: NOW, to be perfectlv>
frank, however, women who make living
by their pens are as a rule pretty well
dressed" Well, women have gotten a
wrong idea into their heads that when they
go TO an editors office they must look their
worst-aImost as If they were pensioners
Tor aims. l met three OF the brightest
women ever knew just after they had
made round OF visits to editorial rooms in
New Y ork, and instead of having on a hes
coming costume, they were attired it
seemed especially for the occasion-to look
blue stockingly and intellectual-a shabby
worn black dress, with gray veil round
and round bonnet or hat hiding their
pretty foreheads and hair; gloves out ct the
fingers, not Sign of orimp or curl, and
they held a roll Of MSS" in their hands.
and with tears in their eyes each one sep
arately) told of her unsuccessful ventures
While l sat looking on, trying to solve
the problem, in came my plucky
woman, bright es May morning. She
had on a dark blue broadcloth gown. A
handsome seal jacket and mufP, suede gloves,
dainty little shoe peeping out, becoming
bonnet with light fluffy ourls on the fore
head. She was too busy and too wise to
spend much time on DRESS but she had
learned thing or two in Gotham, and that
was never to go as a supplicaut to an editor.
she came In and found these friends dis
Outraged, and in true feminine, whole
souled manner went to work to encourage
them; so she delivered lecture intended
only for our ears, think; still, | will give
you the benefit of it. Editors and the world
at large have the right to differ with my
nttle woman, but here is what she sad:
1T won't do, my sister workers, l
made the mistake Of putting on my s6ao-
best clothes. l thought it looked bookish,
IKE genius; so filed my arms with my
MSS and went forth to plead for a place
IN literature. 1 didn't get to see a single
editor; they wouldn't zee me l pat on my
thlnklng cap. | remembered something
4'4A9 l. % IL ot1lt4 years GEgs L uEeS53u uD.
nave been treated like a princess ever
ance-and have right To feel glad-for
you all know that | am now able to educate
my boys, who are with me In New York,
ana that | get a s., 500 salary. To
oe sure | have to work day In
aud day out, but it is con
genial work, and | love it. Now.
there you sit, three as handsome and intel
lectual women as know-bu5 my dcars,
VINO would turn their heads TO look at such
pad!y dressed womens All your good,
s'EIsh clothes are in your trunk. Why,
know a confederate officers widow
mere who says that she believes
Sne owes the handsome living she
geVs In journalism to a sealskin cloak
mat touched the hem of her dress. A
Wealthy cousin made her wear is,
ana she gained a hearing from an
edltoF. She said she felt all the time
mat she had talent and pluck and per-
Severence, If she could only lay her plans
Detore practical newspaper man. I do
aoI need WRITER'S says the editor They
Sau De FOUND anywhere. What do need is
!ouhg men and women Of originality and
Meas OF progress who can soc ahead. A
sooa Idea is better than letter of intro
nu Try to get up some original,
unique Idea that will create o STIR that Is
'ue only way TO succeed nOwadays.'"
sDont you soe what the editor says is true
VI my plucky little womaul She thought
.ae problem out and "made herself attrac-
i've, She knew she had brains-she be-
WW9yeu she could succeed -- and. as Ella
Vi VI neeler Wilcox said, she made herself
passing to the eye first. DO you believe
SIllng toan editor will do as well says an
nl1lrer. l do not. If you haze tact,
Soulal manners, plenty Of common sense,
,muling to be useful, the courage t. express
S Iur opinions, modest womanly desire 20
sntlesse, you can make friends Of editors
snaI VIII be real friends. Why, even the
tanner of debating and writing a letter
'naJ accompanies INNS. has untold weight
- think, SAID our lecturer for we we're
ullnElng IN all the exhiarating talk she
saYe US, twas SO refreshing) that there are
many that the editors Will do no good to
1 see Hear what Mr.. Box, the fortunate
yyoIlng editor, says, and he looks
ven and wisely into taingj: Ed
ts and publishers never like to
I've I've seedy-looklng people around
eaelr establishments, except in the case
Vi rare genius. He is speaking Of what
writer OF average ability can expect 20
lake by his writings and what is required
I IO expected Of him or her il they succeed.
t tLte says they must know people, must meet
'ueLn' must be seen around, must dress well