The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1906-04-12

They can be used to good advantage |
in hundreds of different ways, of which
most people do not even have an idea. |
Who for instance, knows what it
means to enlarge on cable dispatches |
It is done in this way: Say the EN-
peror of Austria appoints new cabi-
net, and the Associated Press has
furnished the names of the new ap-
pointees only. Then the enlarger
takes it in hand, writes special cable
message, dated Vienna, and addressed
to the paper for which he intends it,
and in this message he gives a short
biographical sketch of the new minis
ters; how and in what former positions
they have distinguished themselves,
etc., etc. To know such things is his
business. If he does not know about
this or that particular person, he just
omits him; for under no circumstances
would it be advisable for him to make
a statement which is not substantially
correct. That would surely be the end
of his career as an enlarger. This is q
very profitable branch for the well-in-
formed "free lance" especially at the
beginning of a war; or even at the
mere rumOr of war. For then it is
very important for all large papers to
positions Of the expected belligerents,
how long it will take them to mobilize,
where the different brigades, divisions
and army corps are in garrison; by
whom they are commanded, and about
the military abilities, ETC., of these
commanders; how long it will take those
troops to get to the hostile frontier;
about the military equipment, trans
portation facilities, and great many
other things. If a person has such in
formation to fmpart, and is known as
being reliable, he will have no trouble
to dispose of the information at good
price. 1t is of value to the papers,
cannot be learned from books of refer
ence only, and would cost the papers
much more if they would cable for it.
Only man with very good memory
and great experience can do this kind
of work, and that is the reason why
this class of writer's is exceedingly linn.
l tied
Unless person is naturally adapted
for it, or has specialty-and there
are many others besides the ones just
described-he has little chance to sue
ceed as a writer; at least not one in &
hundred makes it paying success
The Frank A. Munsey combine received
in 1894 no less than thirty-one thou
sand manuscripts, of which they &C
cepted about two hundred and forty
: therefore less than one IN q hundred
and twenty-five. That does not lool
| very encouraging. You all have heart
J, about those thousands of young mel
; and women who are stagestruck ant
, think they possess histrionic talent
, Very, very few ever attain more thai
: mediocrity. 1t is the same with ou
|, writers. Every college graduate trie
! at least once in his life to get an articl
t in the papers. know a well-educate,
l young lady who has written over fort
; short stories, each Of which has mad
0 the rounds Of the magazines and othe
: periodicals without being accepted
: Now she does not write any more, bu
t exercises her energies on househol
: duties. The very few people who hav
q made real success Of writing const
t tute comparatively small minorit!
/ while most of those others who &c
things published occasionally, barrel
4 make a living. Humor, however. is /
! great demand. More 80 now than eve
) before, and it commands high pric
& because good humorists are very scare
a Humor is q gift, which cannot /
!. learned and cannot be forced. It mu
= come naturally, or it is not good humo
,e Every person who writes for public
y tion, should be guided by certai
,r customary procedure This hol,
n good for literary societies also. He
N are few general principles: New
70 try to write on q subject that you a
er not familiar with, and do not imagil
n- that you can supply from books of re
ii erence what is wanting in yourse
f. Such books may be, Of great value
IL you in refreshing your memory,
i'd compilations, and in furnishing Of 9
e. amples; otherwise they should not