The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-07-13
GETTING THE NEWS
Bv FRED c. KELLY

Probably no one ever got a job on a
newspaper by a less customary method
than Ben F. Allen.
Allen is today an able political writer
and Washington representative Of a
great Ohio newspaper. He is big, not
only professionally but physicaIly-so big
and self-possessed in manner that one
cannot think of him as lacking a job.
Yet he once had such dire difficulties
getting himself connected with a news
paper that he was almost discouraged
into giving up the effort and taking a
place in a bank or a shoe store
When he finished college. Allen was
intent on writing for the press He be-
lieved he had a message, or something
like that. and that the place for him
was in the world of Journalism But
his trouble was that he could not ma
any city editor who shared his faith in
his own abilities There was one paper
in particular on which he had set his
heart. II was the paper that had been
AT the breakfast table in his own home
ever since he could remember, and
would readily have sold his soul for a
place on the stan of that journal He
went eight or nine different times to see
the city editor. and each time was re-
bufYed. The city editor thought Allen
looked too much college" Not being a
college man himself. the city editor was
annoyed BY the sight of stalwart young
men who looked as II they might know
a great deal about football formations.
Besides. his stan was full
However. the assistant city editor. who
had been sitting near by listening to
Aliens offers of his services, felt sorry
for the young applicant. The assistant
city editor was John VI. Siddall. now
associate editor of the American Maya
zine. and even then a man of unusual
resourcefulness. He followed Allen out
Of the city room one day. called him to
one side, and whispered to him that he
would guarantee to get him a Job II he
would only follow instructions. Allen
said he would do anything.
We'll. your part may be little irk-
some and tedious" Siddall warned him,
but it will be worth trying. Now listen.
Every afternoon at / O'Clock the city
editor gives out the assignments to MEM
bers Of his stan. They report here
promptly at that hour. / want you to
report promptly at that hour. too-only
not here at the ONCE. You are TO re-
port at that cigar store over yonder
across the street. The others report
here and you report there. That ought
to be simple enough"
But what am to do at the cigar
store?' inquired Allen.
Nothing whatever" replied SiddaIl.
Just report on the dot and remain there
for two or three hours every afternoon"
What's the joke, anyhow Allen
asked him.
Quit asking questions now" admon-
ished Siddall. and do what tell YOU"
Siddall seemed so much in earnest
about IL that Allen took a chance on
following out the scheme. and day
after day he might have been seen in
front of that cigar store smoking large
black cigars. and pacing to and fro.
nervously, like a woman waiting for
a train. 1t was a discouraging task
he had let himself in on. and at the
end of the second week he was about
to give 1t UP. but he happened to meet
Siddall on the street. and the latter
urged him to stick right along.
And be sure" added Siddail, ito
show up there promptly at l p. m"
On the twentieth day of Aliens aft
ernoon appointments with Destiny
happened.
When Siddall walked into his ONCE |
to go to work, he found the city editor |
with a woebegone face. looking for all |
the world like a cab horse with a Sc
cret sorrow. |
We're up against It," remarked the |
city editor. lugubriously.
How asked Siddall.
"Oh, nothing" said the city editor. !
only that I've got the heaviest assign |
ment book we've had in months. and |