The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-02
FAULT FINDING FRIENDS.


A publisher, whose name is byword
for philanthropy, once told me plainly that
| should never succeed as a writer until
produced something worth reading, and
he added, ~ doubt if you have sufficient
cultivation to do itp remember swal-
lowing this bitter pill with tears. A still
frauker friend, business man, expressed
his opinion of the abominable pride that
could consider it dignilied to write rub
bish for nothing and yet despise honor
able business, adding that successful
business man could easily buy up all the
authors in creation and never miss the
money, which. as | was only hack and
could not even aspire to authorship, was
quite unnecessarily severe.
1t is to this caustic friend owe the fact
that | am today in comfortable circum-
stances, and that my children are highly
educated and entirely Independent of me.
He fell upon me with such severity that |
asked what he would have me do, and was
told, to my surprise, that he himself had
made his money mainly by his cleverness
rs an advertiser-a fact which Mt first made
no impression upon the except that of sur
prise that he should he interested in any.
thing so commonplace.
1t reminded me simply Of atrocious il.
Illustrations and odious types, but after all
there was something seductive in the idea
of making money and finally gave eur
to the suggestion that instead of killing
myself in producing bad articles, which
nobody wanted, | should try to produce
good advertisements, which my friend as
sured my everybody-at least everybody in
business-w would want.
SUCCESS AND MONEY.
have found much truth in his predic-
ton The modest card drew up at his
suggestion and sent TO the leading busi-
ness houses brought wonderfully prompt
replies asking me to call, aud all at once
comic element entered into my life, and
found my.ef quite suddenly in request,
and for such funny things, tool about
many of which knew absolutely nothing,
yet was expected, by the terms of my card,
to be prepared to give advice upon. In my
new undertaking called myself a descrip.
tive writer, and was prepared to put any.
thing and everything into such shape that
the public would he bound to want it. |
very soon had my hands full.
| should say there is nothing have not
written about, from soft soap to the circu-
laton Of the blood the latter on the under
standing that the article must satisfy Il
committee Of six gentlemen before should
be entitled to the thirty dollars asked for
it. ! read it to them with quaking heart,
and came out victor, much to my surprise
and theirs
Another time ! was offered ten dollars to
draw mp the form of will in which wo-
man could cut her husband off with dime
but, calling to carry out my instructions, !
found she had forgiven him and wouldn't
hurt his feelings byany such an item. All
wei i learned wisdom slowly but surely
The only thing could do YVES to make
suggestion could tell business man
what would be likely to bring him bust
ness. Is 1t any wonder, then, that was
listened to with respect, even when my
suggestions had little value.
At that time. ten years ago, trade Jour
nails were not rs plentiful as they are now.
| started one or two, and undertook Their
whole management, writing the articles
printing, publishing, even circulating
had much to learn, but the knowledge
gained soon paid in good coin of the Re
public, and six months from my new de
parture | was offered forty dollars a week
by firm of good standing to look after the
Advertising, Later on, when was free tc
work for others, this income was more
than doubled, and each fresh experience
gained was just so much stored up capital
"A Business Woman in New York Times