St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-12-04

MJfA@s vi ing to the city,
NTN.N l sent an article
to one of the
largest dailies. 1t was accepted, and
paid for-handsomely. That settled
the matter. | had talent. could step
into position in no time-if chose. L
would &C to New York, write one OF
those things every week. and take
post graduate course in Greek at the
same time. My relatives delnurred.
They said:
You stay here and see if you can
write one of those articles every week.
After you have half dozen. distribute
them around among the dailies, and
thus get little surplus fund"
1t is just such caution as this that has
kept many clever girl from brilliant
literary career. told my relatives this,
and it silenced them, even my brother
in-law.
wore my best travelling cloak and
small, black hat. and veil that wrin-
killed. up under my chin. when took the
train for the city. looked as though i
had no end of money. But l had not. l
carried only 81 with me. My brother
in-law had loaned it to me. When he
helped me on the train he said:
Don't hesitate to send home for
money. And remember that you are
always welcome here. You don't have
to carve your fortune in that dirty, big
city. You know that"
smiled, and thought how the time
would come when | could loan, my
brother-in-law seventy times 81 and, say
to him: ''Charlie, when you need help,
ask me-" g
On arriving at the Grand Central de-
pot | took a ear and reflected, afterI
was in it, where should go to get a
room. spent rs cents riding around
on street cars rejecting about room.
This is the exact truth. 1t will belnee-
essary to believe everything in these
disclosures if any benefit is to be de-
riv ed fro III them.
Had | been willing to room I'M the
dwelling place of clairvoyants, bYpno-
fists and such seance peODle | could
have found room at moderate prices
Immediately. AS it was | hunted until
O'Clock in the afternoon, when | found
thrd-story room on Twenty.
second street, near Sixth avenue
The weeks rent was one-half of
my 81. But meant to settle myself as
quickly as possible. Nothing is ever
gained by living like Chinaman. l
had only a small satchel with me, so the
| loftliy paid in advance. But | saw
that would shortly be out OF money.
After had paid her the landlady bright
ened up and asked me if | wanted to
take my meals there, too. l told her,
haughtily, that | did not. My hours
would be uncertain, and l would be
compelled to lunch and dine in various
places. l then conceded that she could
send me up rolls and coffee every MORN
ing at $3.50.
She said: THAT will be % cents each
morning"
wished that | had kept still. Coffee
and rolls at q restaurant would be 10
cents. Still, who ever heard of a writer
that did not take his coffee and rolls in
his room? From the start | must sur
round myself with all the accessories of
a newspaper person. Fifteen cents a
day, more or less. would be nothing after
| got to work. Then [ went out to a
! restaurant 2 o'clock dinner, quite sump-
tuous, and with it bill to match. 1t
| cost me my first sharp pang to settle
| that bill.
Here was the situation at home:
Mother was living OH borrowed money,
| as both her tenement houses were va
can't. How long they would remain va
! cant heaven only knew. 1t might de-
| pend on the Mckinley bill, or the Dem
| Ocratic platform, or imperfect plumb
| ing. don't know. But did not wish
to ask her to help me; nor would ask
| that Skeptical brother-in-law.
| | wrote an article that evening. Iput
in all the jokes and epigrams that
| could muster. 1t was short and witty,
and on topic of absorbing interest. No
| editor could have the shadow of an eX-
| 70. ,af, ~
had been we'll paid for, this was certain
| to be. | wrote mother note, and told
| her of my days proceedings. | asked
her if she would send ME dollar or two
to keep things going for day or so
longer. Then overhauled my satchel
| and translated Plato until bedtime. |
| wanted to freShen up my Greek prepar-
atory to entering for lectures some
where. | could hardly wait for the
morning to come, that l might submit
| my manuscript.
But when morning did come | was
compelled to lie abed and wait for those
expensive rolls and coffee. What
wanted to do was to arise at a. m. and
slip out of the house to restaurant.
But the street door would be locked. !
| should have to disturb everybody to let
| me out; and, once being seen, | should
have to come back and get what had
| ordered, anyway. Tne cold chills ran
| over me as L thought of the landlady
catching me trying to sneak out of the
rolls and coffee. lay there in torment
until the serving maid appeared. and
L did not enjoy my breakfast, as
every one may know. 1t was re,
| freshing to escape, finally. iand
begin TO search for a typewriter. IeAll
manuscripts must be in typewriting or
the editors will not read them. l have
heard this many times. Mine locked sc
| interesting. after being copied. that
boldly resolved to submit it in person.
In order to make spick aud span ap.
! pearance before the editor of a great
city daily l bought a new pair of gloves,
marked down" to SO cents: | had left
Is cents.
On the lower floor of the newspaper
building l received my instructions how
to find the city editor. | was elevated
to the office floor, and paraded down g
long hall. Il was so excited that | nearly
fell into the little room where the ed
itor himself sat, large as life. He was
talking to a young lady who held book
| of illustrations before him. He turned
inquiringly to me. l carried my manu-
script loosely i'll my hand, in full view
have seen book agents who carried
their paraphernaiia concealed about
their person, and who wore a guileles:
expression, as though they were merely
calling to leave an invitation to tea.
do not like that plan. My errand wa:
to submit an article for publication; anC
everybody might read who ran.
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