The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-20
In Search Of Realism.

, Christmas special" remarked the proprie-
tor. Something that the Mirror lot will
never thing of, or, If they did wouldn't
have the nerve to carry out"
We're ready for anything" Charlie
| Carroll announced. with a ferVor that pro-
nounced his willingness to 60 through fire
| and water for the Courier" and its chief,
and to do anything to take the shine out
| of the Mirror"
The chief smiled at the enthusiasm of
the young journalist. He had entered the
room with an idea for a special in his
mind, which he had thought of intrusting
10 Baxter as the senior, but he altered his
decision and determined that he would
give il TO Carroll.
I've thought of a special" he said,
which will be the very thing, and which
they'd never strike in a thousand years.
It's not an easy or pleasant job, but it's
| realism, and we shall be right in front of
them this time"
Bravo sir" calculated Carroll.
And I've selected you for the job, Car
roll"
The young mans face fairly beamed,
! and they all drew their chairs closer to
| the chief while he propounded the pro-
posal for the special which was to make
: the Mirror dull with envy.
Have you ever been hungry" he
/ asked looking toward Carroll.
! Occasionally. I've generally got pref
| ~ good appetite"
II mean very hungry-starving in
| fact?''
THANK God, no." he. answered, fer
vently.
We'll, that's the idea for the special.
| want you to put yourself into the position
| of an absolutely starving man for a fun
| twenty-foUr hours. I want you to realize
what II is to be an outcast in the streets
OF London wi hout penny In your peck
ct without a friend without a shelter for
| your head, and then to come back to the
| office and write the special ! know what
| you can write, as 1t is, from imagination
: but l want the real thing this time.
! There's something that the Mirror won't
/ think OF and couldn't do If they did, and
I Wen have the article of the season."
/ And a humping subscription list, too"
added Carroll.
~ think what I shall be able to write, "
Carroll said slowly, will draw the
money out of anyone. People are gener-
GUS but they don't understand or they'd
be ten times more generous. They couldn't
help IT, They're always ready to give in
a stolid, automatic Christmas way, but l
don't want that When they read my spe-
cial l want them To feel utterly miserable
until they've sent of a check to the
Courier fund"
do it." -, ,.
I can do IT, Wen show the Mirror what
realism Is, and we'll make the people
who've got money feel wretched until
they've helped TO raise the biggest
Christmas Iund LONDON ever seen.
It was the morning of the Path of De
cember. cold bleak. and grey. The sky
bore a dull leaden uniformity of henviness
that foretnld fail Of snow. II looked IKE
what folks called "a good old-fashioned
winter" when from the windows on
/ Christmas morning those who lived be-
yond the smoke-line of London could gaze
/ out upon the open country covered with
mantle of white.
An old-fashiOned winter: Just the thing
! for those who were well TO do, who were
! warmly clad, and who had enough to eat,
| but an od-fashiuned winter indeed for
| those who were ohd-fashioned enough to
| feel cold and 10 realize hunger.
Such was the morning upon which
| Charles Carroll commenced the task he
| had undertaken for the Daily Courier
For a whole day-lndeed, from his sup
| per before midnight on the previous even
( ing. until the first stroke of the hour that
| ushered in Christmas Day. he was 10 go
| without food or shelter, he was to walk
the streets the same as any outcast be-
gar, but different from any beggar for Ne
was not TO geek aims or accept hospitality.
II was ascruel task IN cruel weather, and
vet a task not undertaken with the flip
| pant idea OF winning an absurd wager, but
| task TO attain realism and to add power
| to a pen that already was one OF the most
| brilliant in London.
All the conditions leid down by thu chief
had been vigorously observed. he was 10