Jefferson jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 1907-1926, 1913-12-18
BARRY Benefited.


pearance, low voiced and quiet
in manner, but there il CLEAN
in the eyes behind the eye
glasses that suggests the keen
observer. He is among those
younger writer's living and work
ing in New York, because they
like the varied life of the ire
mendous city and value its men
tai stimulation.
When asked to make some re
marks about himself, Mr.. Bene.
field said, in his gentle voice, i
don't think there's much to
say" But editors appear to
think otherwise. His name has
become "A familiar one in leading
magazines; some of his note
worthy short stories being The
Gift Of Rosey.' 'Xalli," Lilly,
Anarchist" The Tear Squce2.
err" Daughters or JOY The
Fisher in the Red Stream, and
Bach elor T. m ba merus."
Though Mr. Benefited was too
modest TO tell this, himself, the
publishers are keepining an eye
on him, in expectation Of his first
novel. Some of his stories have
a distinct Louisiana, flavor; and
when questioned on this point,
he replied:
II am really from Texas, just
across your border from Jetfer-
son, on Big Cypress bayou, which
in the anti-railroad days OF the
Southwest was the steamboat
head OF navigation for Northern
and Eastern Texas, the Indian
Territory and Southern Arkan-
sas: receiving cotton from them
for shipment to New Orleans ana
bringing back supplies for dis
tribution along the many wagon
routes radiatlng from it.
THE people, the topography
and the industries Of Northwest
Texas are about the same AZ
those just across the neighbOr. .
ing border; so that sometimes |
definitely name Louisiana in u
setting, and often ! imply it.
The minute you name Texas IN
| fiction, the average reader de.
mands that you unroll a moving
picture 'perarer and bring on
the ferocious vaudeville cowboys.
These are not in Northwest
Texas, and | know them not. "
Mr.. Benefited was educated in
the public school at Jefferson
and at She University Of Texas,
from which he was grad uated in
1902.
and then, Mr. Benefited ?" |
asked.
well, | had paid my way
through college chiefly with
money made teaching school in
odd seasons, aud had won the
fellowship in English at the uni.
yersity in my last year, so that
it was natural that the commit.
tee Of professors, looking out for
the graduates soon 80 be, should
schedule me for teaching, which
| loathed, they found me small
school principalship. | had %
week TO accept or decline. one
night in desperation, | sat down
and wrote letter to every big
paper in Texas and Louisiana
asking for "A job. Upon Rradua.
ton | went TO the Dallas (Texas)
News, with which remained for
more than a year.
Another reporter and my
self decided we would like to
work in New York, We came,
we spent our money on good
food, theater tickets and the
like, and then we began search.
ing for an open newspaper door.
1t seemed incredible to us that
among 50 many papers, there
should not be one door that would
open to us. And yet it was even
so.
After a year Of what | called
guerilla warfare for food and
clothing, | got on the paper |
liked best of all in New York
the Times; and again through
letter of application which | SAY
printed in the body Of an ed.
itorial before | received word 10
report for duty The editor
said that heaven only knew
whether | should be Of any use
30 the paper, but that the letter
was too complete and too brief
for refusal For several years +
did general reporting, every
thing from a paragraph weather
story toa presidential campaign.
IA couple OF years ago | took
three months leave of ahselca
from the Tunes 90 catch ap with
my sleep, ana went 10 the couu
try. firing of shopping, | be-
gan reading, firing of reading. ]
began writing | sold some cot
the stories, and 0t the end ol mv
quarter resigned from the
paper And here We are
Most tsslfptr ysrttft..r.t. ,..4.,...., 80.