Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-12-01
HOW o. HENRY CHOSE
HIS FAMOUS PEN NAME

Speaking of his start as an autnor'
O. Henry Sydney Porter said TO a
reporter: 81 went to New Orleans ana
took up literary work in earnest
sent stories to newspapers, weeklies
and magazines all over the country.
Reflections? Lordy. should say dio
have reflections. but never took them
to heart just stuck new stamps on
the stories and sent them out again.
And in their journeying to and fro all
the stories finally landed In Offices
where they found a welcome. | can
say that never wrote anything that.
sooner or later, hasn't been accepted.
"As for reflections. take The Eman'
cipation of Billy as good story as
l ever wrote. It was rejected no less
than thirteen times. But. like all the
rest, It finally landed.
at was during these New Orleans
days that l adopted my pen name OF
O. Henry. said to friend: I'm going
to send out some stuff. l don't know
II It amounts to much, so want to
get a literay alias. Help me pick out
a good one he suggested that we get
a newspaper and pick name from the
first list Of notables that we found In
It In the society columns We found
the account of q fashionable ball. Here
we have our notables,' said he. We
looked down the list, and my eye light.
ed on the name Henry. That'li do for
a last name said l. Now for first
name l want something short None
Of your three syllable names for me.
Why don't you use plain initial let
ter, then? asked my friend. Good.
said l. o is about the easiest letter
written. and o 1t is
"a newspaper once wrote and asked
me what the o stands for. ! replied.
o stands for Olivier, the French for
Oliver And several Of my stories &C,
cordingly appeared in that paper IN
der the name Olivier Henry.
AFTER drifting about the country ]
finally came to New York. Gilman
Hall, then the editor Of Ainslee's Mag
azine, wrote me saying that II I would
come to New York he would agree to
take $1,000 worth of stories annually
at the rate of 500 story. This was
at q time when my name had no mar
ket value.
"Yes; since l came to New York my
prices have gone up l now get $3.50
for q story that would have been
glad to get SIS for in my Pittsburgh
days.
Editors are Just like other mer-
chants-they want to buy at lowest
prices. A few years ago l was selling
stories to a certain magazine. at the
rate of 8 cents a word. | thought
there was chance that might get
more, so | boldly asked the editor for
10 cents a word. All right said he:
I'll pay it. He was just waiting to
be asked"
II get story thoroughly In mind be-
fore l sit down ut my writing table
Then l write 1t out quickly and with
out revising it mail 1t to the editor. In
this way am able to judge my stories
as the public judges them. I've seen
stories In print that wouldn't recog
niZe as my own.
"Yes, get dry spells. Sometimes !
can't turn out Il thing for three months
When one Of these spells comes on
quit trying to work and so out and see
something Of life. You can't write a
story that's got any life in 1t by sitting
at writing table and thinking. You've
got to get out into the streets, into the
crowds. talk with people and feel the
rush and throb Of real life-that's the
stimulant for story writer.
"When l first came to New York l
spent q great deal Of time knocking
around the streets. did things then
that l wouldn't think Of doing now. +
used to walk at all hours Of the day
and night along the river fronts.
through Hell's Kitchen. down the Bow
cry, dropping into all manner Of places
and talking with any one who would
hold converse with me. | have never
met any one yet from whom ] could
not lesrn something. He's had some
experiences that have not had: he
sees the world from his own viewpoint.
But whatever else you do don't fash
pencil and notebook. Either he will shut
I'D or he will become Hall Caine"