Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1914-10-08
HOW O. HENRY CHOSE
HIS FAMOUS PEN NAME,

Speaking Of his start as an author,
o. Henry Sydney Porter said 10 Il
reporter: Il went to New Orleans and
took up literary work in earnest.
sent stories to newspapers, weeklics
and magazines all over the country.
Reflections? Lordy, | should say l did
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 Il 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
| ever wrote. 1t was rejected no less
than thirteen times. But. like all the
rest. it finally landed
1T was during these New Orleans
days that | adopted my pen name Of
O. Henry. | said to a friend: I'm going
to send out some stuff. l don't know
if it amounts to much. so | want to
get literary alias. Help me pick out
a good one. He suggested that we get
a newspaper and pick a name from the
first list of notables that we found in
it. In the society columns we found
the account of n fashionable ball. Here
we have our notables.' said he. We
looked down the list, and my eye light
ed on the name Henry. 'That'll do for
Il last name said |. Now for a 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 it is
"A newspaper once wrote and asked
me what the o stands for. | replied.
Oliver. And several of my stories ac-
cordingly appeared in that paper I'M
der the name Olivier Henry.
After drifting about the country
finally came to New York. Gilman
Hall, then the editor of Ainslees Mag
azine. wrote me saying that if | would
come to New York he would agree to
take $1,000 worth of stories annually
at the rate of 500 a story. This was
at a time when my name had no mar
ket value
Yes; since | came to New York my
prices have gone up. | now get 800
for IA story that | would have been
glad to get $50 for in my Pittsburgh
days.
Editors are just like other mer-
chants-they want to buy Mt lowest
prices. A few years ago | was selling
stories to a certain magazine at the
rate Of cents a word. | thought
there was a chance that | might get
more, SO l boldly asked the editor for
10 cents 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 at my writing table,
Then l write it out quickly and with
out revising it mail it to the editor. In
this way l am able to judge my stories
as the public judges them. I've seen
stories in print that ! wouldn't recO@
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 20 out and see
something of life You can't write
story that's got any life in it by sitting
at a writing table and thinking You've
got to get out into the streets. into the
crowds talk with people and feel tn"
rush and throb Of real life-that's the
stimuant for story writer.
when | first came to New York |
spent great deal Of time knocking
around the streets l 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 Helrs 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 learn something He's had some
experiences that have not had. he
sees the world from his own viewpoint
But whatever else you % don't fash g
PENCIL and notebook Either he wi. shut
W 81, he VIII become d Hall Ctine