University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1911-03-24
O. Henry and His Slang

lynn to write short stories. Deciding
THAT he should havea pen-name, VIII
lam Sidney Porter picked up a news
paper one day and looked through
tts columns a little while. He found
"Henry" then prefxing the initial
10. Henry laid the paper down.
On account of i'll health, o. Henry
was sent to q Texas ranch while he
was still little more than boy. Con.
trary to general opinion. he was new.
er a cowboy or a sheepherder; he
merely spent his time on the ranch in
search of health. The pure air stimu-
lated him, and he grew strong. After
his experience on the ranch he work
ed on the Houston Post, Texas dai-
lly newspaper, where he at first re-
ceived SIS week. This was soon
raised to $25 week with the editors
prophecy: within five years you will
be earning 800 a week on a New
York newspaper" Subsequent events
more than bore out the spirit of the
editors prophecy.
Severing his connection with the
Post, o. Henry accompanied friend
to Central America. O. Henry said
that on the trip he was just knock.
ing around the Consul and refug-
gees" Upon his return to the Uni.
ted States, he worked for while as
drug-clerk in Texas, then went to
New Orleans, where he resumed his
writing. Growing tired of New Or
leans, he went to New York and set
himself to regular literary work.
One Of his first assignments was from
Ainslee's Magazine, which propos
ed to pay him 500 apiece for twelve
short stories. He had now estab-
lished himself as writer. There
after the price paid for his stories
gradually increased until at the time
OF his death. June 5, 1910. he seldom
received less than $1,000 for a story.
+ In his death America lost her
king of story-tellers. He had his own
particular field, as every writer must
have who rises above the common lev
el. He sough to portray the distin-
gushing characteristics of the aver.
age American. While his stories nee
essarily were built around certain
characters, he asserted that II ono
would rub out Twenty-third street and
substitute Maine street," remove the
Flatiron Building and put in it's place
''Town Hail." any of his plots might
well fit, any of the upstate towns.
o. Henry proposes two rules to be |
followed by those who seek to write |
stories:
1. Write stories that please yourself.
2. There is no second rule.
He said that if he were to give Sec
ond rule, it would be: Sell the story.
Some critics say that in twentyf
Tears time the fame of o. Henry along
with his works will have passed away.
They assert that the character of his
stories are particularly adapted to the
present day, but that the people of to-
morrow will not know them. They say
hat the slang in them, which is pres
mt day and changing creation. will
lestroy his stories.
This prophecy may come true; it is
,redible. The present day, though,
Inows o. Henry and appreciates him;
knows his works and values them.
'Beelzebub" Blithe, Johnnie Atwood
md Jimmie Valentine may not be act
lal beings, but we know them in 9TH III
RS. They are O. Henry's creations.
'ut they live. The changes twenty
ears may bring cannot be definitely
determined. but the present genera
ion likes to read about the bald moun-
ain that is "frequented only by infre-
uent frequenters." about Bad-Luck
learney and his bad luck with ba-
oons. bombs and submarines. Read
rs of today laugh at the editors OF
The Rose Of Dixie" as portrayed by
}. Henry, and there is something in
snsely human in the message borne
, the courier. saying: /:
Tell the guy his girl wants him."
In another story we read:
Il want to talk with you, BILL" ii
aid. when did you leave Oklahoma
Where is Reddy McCiil now? why are
on selling those impossible contrap-
ons on the street? How did your
fg Horn gold-mine pan out? How
ID you get SO badly sunburned
THAT will you drink
"A year ago." answered Kansas Bill
Putting up windmills
Arizona. For pin money to buy
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