The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-04
SHORT STORIES
OF o. HENRY

From the New York Press.
The late 20. Henry Sydney Porter
worked on the Houston Post In Texas
for year, aud it was in New Orleans
he adopted his pen name. He and sew
ell al friends went to a Mardi Gras ball
In the southern city, and Porter scanned
the list of those present. He marked all
the Henris with a pencil and found there
were more of them than of any other
nahme. Then he read the list for the next
popular name and found it was Oliver.
When he decided on the name, he first
thought it should be Oliver Henri, BUT
ultimately decided on o. Henry. That
was II years ago.
He was of reserved temperament and
did not like to have many acquaintance.
He found one day friend had written
story for a magazine and heard il was
accepted. Forthwith he said: If he can
do that, l certainly am able to do it, His
first story was paid for, but Porter said
he never saw, it in print In years that
followed magazine editors were glad TO
pay Porter In advance for his work, and
he received an average of % cents a word.
All his work was done on common yell
low paper and in pencil. When he was
touching the paper with the pencil, then
suddenly his ideals formed and he would
write with great rapdity. Griffith said
the author had been known to turn out
four short stories, averaging 5000 words,
in one week.
He was reckless in spending money, and
frequently gave elevator boys and bell
boys IS and $40 notes.
But he wasn't easy despite his fin
ancial regardlessness. His friends recent
ly narrated an incident showing the
mans shrewdness. A magazine noted,
for SLOW pay" they said, contracted
with him for a three-part story, for which
he was to receive $780, He got $500
advance before starting the work. and
when he turned In the second installment
(none Of it has been printed yeti got $500
more. and asked for the third $500 as an
advance before finishing the tale. The
editor, in an effort to save money, ap-
parently declared that, after all, the
story didn't appear to be worth more
than $1000-this when he had the two in-
stallments in his office.
"All right" said o. Henry. II won't
write the third one then" And he didn't
He laughed at the editor We'll them,
said the latter, "I'll run the two parts
and then lot our readers have guessing
contest as to how the story ends-and
put up, perhaps, $500 prize to the win
ner." For moment the author thought
he was outwitted. Then he said: go
ahead-and I'll win the prize" He in
tended to win 1t, too.
Only few days ago the editor of one
of the big magazines was handed a note
in his sanctum, by a messenger who
waited for an answer. The editor read it.
laughed, and said: TITS sgd Porter-up
to his old tricks. The note was to the
effect: PLEASE send me s25. I invited a
20 Itx,A -..I .~l~A l.-rl
pay. From the looks of him I don't think
he willard I can't o. Henry" The
money was sent. The writer could have
anything he wanted-and almost any price
for his stories-so well was he liked and
SO great the demand for his work.
Mr.. Hall, who. when editor of Ainslee's,
told o. Henry that II he would come to
New York he would pay him 1920 for
IL short stories per annum, said yester-
day that the humorist's regular price at
the time of his death was % cents a word.
He was careless about money though,
the editor added, and frequently they
would give him check for $1,000 and tell
him to write them a story. This means
that o. Henry was among the four Or
five highest paid writer's of his time.
He had brass bowl in his ROOM"
said Mr.. Hall Into which he used 10
pitch coins for the fun of the game. He
would get over on the other side of the
room and see how many coins he could
lord in the vessel. This gave him so
much enjoyment that the bowl was kept
pretty full, and whenever he felt the
need of funds he would help himself
from it,
Porter was interviewed only three times
In one instance, the interviewer said he
had to follow the author for Is days be-
fore he could make him tell anything
about himself, and then the details were
scant.
A within of the writer was to leave his
apartment at o'clock In the morning
and sit with the homeless ones In Mad
icon Sorare until dawn.