The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-27

:. One of the fall books has an especial in
terest to northwesterners who take pride
in the sons and daughters of this section
and in their achievements In the larger
world. Miss Elizabeth L. Banks, author
Of, 1.-THE Autobiography of a Newspaper
Girl" belongs to the northwest, and she
never fails to proclaim it in it's proper
place. She was not only reared and edu-
Gated in this vicinity, but received on st.
Paul newspapers her Introduction to her
profession.
Miss Banks period Of newspaper activ-
ity in St. Paul was rather short one, but
as 1t was in the year 1889, when news
paper girls were something of a rarity,
her experiences differed considerably from
those of her successors. and it attracted
much more attention than it would now,
when nearly if not quite all curiosity in
regard to the beginner has been alayed.
However the INTEREST," in Miss Banks ca
reer, both in its beginnings and its subse-
quent development, was not merely by
force of circumstances, but by reason OF
her personality, which has the valuable
power of transmitting ordinary circum-
stances into experiences interesting to
herself and entertaining to others. The
combination of circumstances, personality,
and the gift of racy narration have united
to make her autobiography very bright
and entertaining.
Naturally the lively account of her
struggles successes and failures as a
newspaper girl would appeal strongly
to those of her craft or those aspiring to
follow in the steps OF her successes, II not
Of her experiences, but the interest is
really far wider than that, especially in
England, where Miss Banks work is far
more widely known than in America, and
where she has large personal clientele.
The book is one that will find a sympa-
thetic response in the hearts of all strug-
Cling wage earning women and those in
terested in and familiar with their prob
lens. It is also of particular interest to
all who would know how an American wo-
man has Jared in making place for her
self in the already OVercrOWded London
! literary markets. Even broader than that
is its appeal, for it will charm all who like
a bright, up-to-date woman's idea OF
things especially such things as relate to
| q wage earning career. 60 a
The autobiography, besides its many III
| teresting revelations, gives truthful and
| varied gIimpses into life behind the jour
| nalistic scenes in the west, the south.
New York and London. In this day OF
weighing in the balance the influence OF
| the press there are numerous bits worth
rejecting upon. Undoubtedly to the un-
! professional reader the most interesting
| features are Miss Banks account Of hel
| essay at sensational journalism in Eng
land and her philosophical justification o.
1t and her account of life in the offices o.
American yellow journals and her defense
of them. In both her experiences and he1
explanations she is in distinguished com
pany, for w. T. Stead holds similar 'dea:
and has worked by similar methods.
To SUNNI arize briefly the facts of Mis-!
Banks career, she was graduated from {
small Wisconsin college for women ant
left her farm home for st. Paul to take {
position as typewriter and cashier for {
wholesale house at a salary that JUS
about paid her expenses. Her first ven
ture in newspaper work was an article
on typewriter girls" which was printed
on the front page Of the DAILY Hustler.
Thereupon she promptly resigned and pre-
scented herself at the newspaper offic'
ready for permanent lob" Strang
OF say after refusing to &C
cept the editors advice to Civ
it up and go back to the store, she got ;
position. not as reporteI'. but as type
writer and secretary with the promis
that she should have an opportunity to tr
her hand at newspaper writing at od
times. = - s.
Miss Banks st. Paul newspaper ap
premiership was ended suddenly by tn