The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-01-10

hadn't been as successful as usual.
lie was sure it wasn't the fault Of
the toast, but of the delivery, be-.
cause he was learning to read and
recltc like other men. He want
ed to know if l couldn't give him
lessons, teaching how he used to
do. That was impossible and I
told him so. No civilized human
being except himself had ever done
as he had done.
"Womcn as rule don't care
much about their delivery. They
say, and | expect they are quite
right, that the members Of their
xclubs never listen to the speeches
and papers read at their meetings.
They either sit and whisper or they
think about outside affairs. They
do the thing for the sake of the re-
putation it gives them and to see
their name in the papers of the re-
ports Of the meetings. If one of my
speeches is printed in a magazine,
a paper or an anuua1 | require an
extra payment.
"Womcn never object to this.
They seem quite satisfied with the
reputation Of having produced
something worth printing. Men
are not SO easily satisfied. They
think one payment ought to suffice
unless they get some money re-
turns for the printed article. Even
then they will haggle about it. Of
course, I always have one argu-
mcnt to bring them to their senses.
| always ask: What would your
friends and the public say if I
should insert as all advertisement
my affidavit claiming that article as
the product of my brain and re-
search? 7 don't have to ask that
question often, however, I am
thankful to say. People as rule
are willing to stand by their bar
gains.
"NcXt to the Christmas season
the graduation season is the bust
est for me. | couldn't begin to tell
YOU how many graduation speeches
| have written in my time. At
least half my orders for such
speeches come from the parents of
the boy Or girl to be graduated.
When 7 remind them that boys and
girls are not supposed to get assist
ance i'll such work it docs no good,
only distrcsscS them.
"Nly methods arc very simple.
To begin with I came to New York
with the intention Of writing for
the papers. 7 didn't make much Of
a success, and seeing this opening
L determined to step in the breach
and try my hand at working up a
business. Realizing the necessity
Of a convenient locality I rented
this studio. From some half dozen
customers, most Of them club wo-
men, my business has grown until
now | am '""d to employ two re-
gular assistal,, and am already
drcading the day whc. another will
have to be broken in. Onc assist
ant does my office work, while the
other spends all her time in the
libraries. | have to have material
to build up articles and speeches on
and it is her business to get as
much as the libraries can give.
"Couldn't J. make as much mon
cy as magazine or newspaper
writer? | certainly don't believe I
could make half as much. There is
a great difference between speak
ing and reading. A speech or arti-
Gle that would pass muster and cv-
eli be considered clever when well
spoken might prove both flat and
Improbable reading. There is
nothing original Mn my work-a
few jokes, not always new: a few
Facts, historical or to suit the sub
jcct under discussion, clothed in
good English. Any well educated
woman willing to give her time
and mind to it might do as we'll. Tt
is lack Of time among the people
who are rushing about in their cf-
forts to keep TIP with everything
more than anything else that puts
money in my pockets. The ma
jority Of the men and women
whose speeches and toasts I sup-
! ply could do just as we'll thcnscl-
vcS if they onlv had the time 10