The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-26
TIE DAILY
SHORT STORY
METHODS
BY HELEN GREGG.
fCopyright, 1917, by the Mcclure
Newsnaper Snydicate.)

" Newspaper Snydicate.)
xYF you ever expect to make go
as society editor" said the city
~ y editor, looking over the top Of
( kis horn spectacles and not taking the
y4rouhle to take the cigarette from the
Apiace where II adhered to his lower
,lip. you've got to learn the back-door
kmethod. Get the dramatic editor to
give you tickets for bum shows that
none Of rs want TO see, and hand them
out to the telephone operators in some
LOT the swell hotels. In return they will
sastten to conversations when the swell
danes in their places call any one up.
flfkid the ladies' maids In the dressing
lsfooms when you to go charity balls,
Hand get next to the hair-dressers and
manicure girls that are employed by
I9he society women who don't have
their own maids. OF course, the big
(abugs themselves won't take the trouble
no talk to you, and there was an en-
f3phasis OF TIE you" and was very be-
lsttiing to Clarice Daw, newly installed
5sas society editor OF the News.World.
Sometimes, in spite Of the city edi-
tors Judgment, the "big-bugs" did talk
ITO Clarice. II they ever mentioned her
|'(it all to each other 1t was to speak of
her rs q mice little thing" Very
|1pretty though she was, she managed
Eeyer to be striking when she attend
led society functions, and though more
lhan one husband or son would gladly
have talked to her instead of the more
Isligible women of their own set, Clar-
Ice knew too much to let them. She
preferred the.back door method Of get
ting news. II she were forced to con-
sult the "big bugs" at all she had
LEARNED that the oldish women when
approached with considerable but dis
rect flattery yielded up the facts she
Eanted to know better than any one
Disc. For Clarice had made the dis
epyery that there Is no one in the
world that Is SO flattered by the at.
fention Of young and pretty woman
as an old woman, especially when that
attention Is accompanied by complete
Sbliviousness of the existence Of that
aging ones husband or son.
On the occasion OF the big War Ben.
eft Bazaar that was to be given out
aN Col. Jones Drew's country estate
late in the autumn, Clarice was urged
to "do her durndest" by the city cdi-
tor. He promised to give the event
alli the space in the paper that he could,
THAT was, of course, provided there
As not another revolution in Russia
Ii a cabinet minister did not resign or
thmething of that sort. ITS to be the
biggest social event of the season." he
BID her, eand, besides, there is very
foed reason why we want to have
frew think the News World is the
fst sheet in town.
Jewell. I'm sure there is every reason
lhy he Should" protested Clarice
whose loyalty to the paper for which
he worked was complete.
Clarice circled hurried!y round the
Arge drawing.rooms where the varI.
Us booths had been set up and then
lamed through the protected gardens
3the old estate and down linden lanes
nd through hemlock groves anu in
nd out a Japanese garden, where the
hrious money-extracting schemes
tere established. She noted on the
my sheets of paper that she held in.
pnspicuously in her hand the gowns
the various distinguished women
hose faces had come to be very ia.
Liar to her. But, reflected Clarice,
Pwns wouldn't be enough for a first
kge story. She wished that fire
Hight break out in wing of the house