Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-11-10
AGAINST HIS WILL.
The editor Mas disguised and no won

expected by its subscribers; it was
even obliged to print copious extracts
from other publications. thing only
to be done as a last resource by any
paper of spirit! Yet at this particular
time a celebrity, Il real celebrity, came
for few days stay to Oakhampton, and
refused to be interviewed
Why he came was mystery, but thut
he had come was r. fact, though from the
EDITORS point of view he might just as
we'll have stayed away. The celebrity's
unobliging disposition on the subject Of
interviewing had preceded him; he was
perhaps the only man of note in two
continents who had not submitted to
the ordeal. In moments of self-depre-
citation he was won to say that that was
,, his greatest claim to distinction; but
even this reputation had not daunted
the hopes of our editor, who felt con-
Ninced that the surliest dissemination
must give way before the charm and tact
i Of the most valuable member of the
| Scrutator's staff. But the tact, the
charm, had no opportunity Of producing
! their usual effect; they might as we'll
have been noneXistent. Celebrity, from
| the privacy of a hotel sitting-room, sent
down curt message of absolute re-
fusal.
No wonder, then. Us we said before,
the editor was Disguised.
As he meditated on the provoking
ness of things in general and of the cell
ebrity in particular, he found his
i thoughts running into such eloquent
/ and well-rounded periods that he in
stinctively drew pen and paper toward
him and wrote an editorial. which, il the
celebrity had read it, would have made
him feel very small indeed.
The article clearly proved that what
the Public demanded it must have (for
the public spelt with a capital P was as
sacred to the editor as Humanity (spelt
| with capital I) is to the followers of
| Auguste Comte. The individual as such
exists not for his own sake, but for the
sake of the Public in one case, or of
4 Humanity in the other. The article
further demonstrated that celebrities
would not exist without Public. (How
could anyone become celebrated on a
desert island, for instance?) If, then,
it is to the Public that the celebrity owes
his being, and the Public manifestsa GU
riosity Us to the opinions on things in
general of any celebrity in particular,
the Public has right to know those
opinions, and how could it know them
better than through the columns of the
Scrutator?
But our editor was not always in this
4 II of A.. =.
was the most genial of men, and such
he looked that same evening as he sat
smoking his cigar on the gallery of a
handsome house in Clarence avenue.
His companion was his niece, young
girl with pretty face and figure, and
mischievous look in her dark eyes
which was particularly fascinating.
She was discoursing about the dearest
; wish of her heart-that she should be-
come regular writer for the Scru-
tator.
But her uncle pooh-poohed the idea;
she was too young, too inexperienced,
too pretty, and at any rate it was impos-
sible to become writer by simply talk.
ing about it. 'Why," continued he, edo
you not write something and show me
what you can do?"
] II have written several stories, as you
know, but you won't look at Them" re.
piled the girl.
"Oh, no, the Scrutator does not want
stories. Write me an article on some
subject which will interest the public
} "But, what subjects do interest the
public, uncle, dear? You only laugh al
me if I suggest one"
"Oh, come now-you can't expect 8
, poor editor to suggest subjects for yor
as well as read your articles. Make your
own choice. The world is all before yor
where to choose"
THAT'S just what bewilders me; it j:
Sc hard to choose. If only had some
thing definite to go npon-or if-(c coax
ingly)-you would just look at one OF
my stories"
But the editor vouchsafed no reply tc
this, SO his niece went on: "NIy firm
conviction is that I should make splen
cid interviewer. l should enjoy it, too
At college could always get the girls
10 tell me anything wanted to know
The editor laughed.
"Why not become a detective al
cnce?" said he.
Il wish could" sighed the girl. But
her uncle was not attending; he was
looking at a cyclist who was spinning
rapidly past the house.
"That's the mani" he exclaimed
"that's Camberton!"
ooh, that man!''-for Kittie knew al
about the editors grievance with tn,
celebrity-"he passes here every day
have met him several times latel,
when 1 have been out on my morning
ride. wondered who he was"
"Well. must go now" said her uncle
as he glanced at his watch "Goot
night, child" and then, as an after
thought: "Tell you what. Kittie, if 70,
can manage to interview Camberton II
do anything you like" and with u laugh
MS though he had made a tremendou.
joke, the editor departed. leaving Kitti,
to her thoughts, which, as the poet say!
of the thoughts Of youth, We're long
long thoughts"
Early next morning two cyclists nigh
have been seen wheeling up Clarence
avenue. The one in front was man
big and MISREPRESENTATION MAJ
whom to see was to remember. Tn
second cyclist was n young girl, VIII
kept always at about the same distanc
from the man in front.
After awhile the man turned frop