Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-20
LEAVES PRESS
FOR PLATFORM
NAN WHO UNDERSTANDING "a
NOUS WILL GIVE WHOLE
TIME TO LEcTURlNa.
Ts.-!A4 ,iaat1;ea '=t.sasi;t
Strickland Gillian Sewers Connection
With Baltimore Sun and Gives
4 His Reasons in Character
istics Style.

that he might spread his Joy from the
lecture platform that has been after
his efforts so insistently that he could
not longer stand the pressure, Strick-
land Gillian Of "Finnigin'' feme, has
lef- the Baltimore Evening SUM- A
great many Ottumwans will remember
this humorist and 1t is very evident
that judging from his popularity here
and elsewhere, they will not even be
permitted to forget him, for Otttumwa
will find him from time to time, one Of
the humorous entertainers who will
spread his mission ofmirth from the
platform of the chautauqua and ly-
ceum stage. Even his breaking off
from the Baltimore Evening Sun,
which paper was supplied with col
umn of his humor regularly for long
time past, is made the occasion of
some Gillilanics. He tells Of his resig.
nation and introduces his successor in
the following extract from the Sun:
Finnigin Conc Agin. lsaa,,s., Z.
Did you notice the heading for this
department? It means just what it
says. This is my swan song. I got to
wondering If they'd let me quit. l
asked the boss. You'd be surprised to
know how quickly he gave his con-
sent. Not q straw was laid in my way.
Everybody made 1t as easy as possible
for me to quit
II have done great deal of good in
my life just this way. / have seen a
whole lot Of newspaper workers
stepped in gloom one day; and the
next, when my resignation Cor what
e~er it happened to be that time that
severed me) became common informa-
ton, everybody seemed to have taken
on new lease of life and hope.
Prefers Other Method.
II have even had managing editors
say to me-managing editors, mind
you, with whom l had never before
made hit-that my resignation was
clever thing. have even been asked
by them why | hadn't thought Of it. be-
fore. They have then comforted me
with the statement that the dullest per-
son has bright idea once in a while,
and we parted as the best of friends.
have done great things for newspa-
pers by resigning from them. Hod
Greeley, Charley Dana and Ben Frank
lin made their papers great by con-
Meeting with them. prefer the other
method. 1t is easier and a great deal
less expensive for the paper
II shall be missed Once week
shall be missed. 4 do not know who is
to take my place at the head Of the
column-not in the paper, but the col
umn of humanity lined.-up four, times
a month at the pay window. was
always first there. Others on the staff
persons, too, with families to
support, and who needed money
would wait impatiently until they saw
me appear before they would sign the
roll and take the long green from the
kindly hand of the guardian of the
Doodle bin. They soon learned that as
soon as the till was ready to open
would be there love to lead these lit
tie cash rushes. They have always
been great help to me. l have been
reprimanded in my short life, for al
most everything except for being late
at the grating on pay day. My batting
average at the currency lattice has
been 1000 season after season.
II did not leave this job with bub-
blings of merriment. The Joy is all in
the Office leave. have liked it. There
were even some pleasant features to
the job besides the pay Sometimes, in
the midst of writing an impassioned
whimsy, forgot pay day. But not for
long. could die drawing salary!
Lecture Season On.
But my winter lecture season be-
gins soon. In fact, it began five days
ago. must trek, gentle reader, all over
the states of Pennsylvania, New York,
New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan,
Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota,
South Dakota, Missouri, Nebraska,
Kansas, Oklahoma and part of Amer
lea. | must fill every night of the week
with Joy for other folks at SO much per
JOY. I shall, of course, become reeking
rich at it, but it will keep me busy
travelling, day and night, by steam,
trolley, buggy, automobile, etc. shall
sleep very seldom and very little.
shall eat sparingly Of much near food.
cannot be daily inspired with things
good enough for the Evening Sun read
ers, while going through such mental
and physical agony as that I would
soon be making noise like the lam
entation of Jeremiah. want this col
umn to be cheerful For no matter how
heavy my head and my stomach, my
A.