The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1896-12-10
Against His Will.


wonder!
1t was the dull season, and the Scru-
tator was compelled to resort to much
padding in order to fill the daily meas
ure expected by its subscribers; it was
even obliged to print copiOus extracts
from other publications. thing only
to be done as a last resort by any
paper of spirit! Yet as this particular
time a celebrity, a real celebrity, came
for a few days stay to Oakhampton,
n refused to be interviewed.
Why he came was Il mystery. but
that he had come was n fact, though
from the editors point of view he
might just as well have stayed away.
The celebrity's unobliging disposition
on the subject of interviewing had pre-
coded him; he was perhaps the only
man of note in two continents who had
not submitted to the ordeal. In mo-
ments of self-depreciation he was
wont to say that was his greatest
claim to distinction; but even his rep
utation had not daunted the hopes of
our editor, who felt convinced that the
SurlieSt d~isinclinatiOn must give way
before the charm and tact of the most
valuable member of the Scrutator's
staff. But the tact, the charm had no
opportunity of producing their usual
effect; they night as well have been
n~on-consistent. Celebrity, from the
privacy of a hotel sitting rom, sent
down a curt message of absolute re-
fusal.
No wonder, then, as we said before,
the editor was disguised.
AS he meditated on the provoking
ness of things in general and of the
celebrity in particular, he found his
thoughts running into such eloquent
and well rounded periods that he in
stinctively drew pen and paper toward
him and wrote an editorial, which. if
the celebrity had read il. would have
made him feel very small indeed.
The article clearly proved that what
the Public demanded it must have Qor
the Public spelt with a capital l. was
as sacred to the editor as humanity
spelt with a capital HI is to the fol-
overs of Augusta COmte. The indi-
vidual as such exists not for his own
sake, but for the sake of the Public iii
"S' Nsi''s Va vi ilNlllsllltlN III III ollltI.
The article further demonstrated that
celebrities would not exist without a
Public. How could any II become
celebrated on a deserted island, for in
stanceD If, then, it is to the Public
that the celebrity owes his being, and
he Public manifest a curiosity as to
the opinions on things in general or
any celebrity in particular, the Public
mas n RIGHT fn ny fhnrn nrntrinp- n,,l
how could it know them better than
through the columns of the Scutator?
But u editor was not always in
this displeased frame of mind. As a
rule he was the most genial Of men,
and such he looked that same evening
as he sat smoking his cigar on the gal
lery of a handsome house in Clarence
avenue. His companion was his niece.
a nice young girl, with a pretty face
and figure, and a mischievOus look in
her dark eyes which was particularly
fascinating. She was discOursing about
the dearest wish of her heart-that she
should become a regular writer for the
Scrutator.
But her uncle poo-poohed the idea:
she was too young, too inexperienced.
too pretty, and at any rate ii was i'm
possible to become a writer by simply
talking about it. why" continued he.
d you not write something and show
me what you can dO?"
Il have written several stories, as
you know, but you won't look at
them" replied the girl.
"Oh, No., the S%crutator 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 at
at me if l suggest one
'Oh, come nOW-yOu can't expect a
poor editor to suggest subjects for you
as well as read your articles. Make
your w choice. The world is all be-
fore you where to choose"
That's just what Dewilders me: ii
Is so hard to choose. If only | had
something definite to go upon-or if
(coaXingly) you would just look at one
of my stories.''
But the editor vouchs2 fed no reply
to this, so his niece went on: MY
firm conviction is that | should make
a splendid interviewer. | should en-
joy it. too. At college | could always
get the girls to tell me anything /
wanted to know"
The editor laughed.
"Why no become a detective at
onceT" 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 man. he exclaimed:
"that's Camberton,"
"Oh, that man. replied Kittie, for
She knew all about the editors griev-
ancc with the celebrity. "he passes
.icrc every day. | have met him sew
~ral times lately when have been ont
for my morning ride. l wondered who
he was"
"Well, ! must go now" said her un-
Gle as he plancnl at his watch ..Gnnl