The sun., 1918-10-06
By CONSTANCE MURRAY GREENE

CALLED at FUNK u NagnallS on the
l. hottest afternoon Of the hottest day
ever recorded in New York to see DR..
Frank Vizetelly, which was dangerous
thing to do. l approached the two little
office boys, Scylla and Charybdis of all
New York offices, in the properly cringing
manner, and they consented TO ego down
and see" if he would admit me. After a
long, warm wait they returned and led
me through devious passages, like unto
the new subway, where were books and
books, piles of the Literary Digesr, more
books, and finally DR.. Vizetelly,
He says he is going TO write book on
where photographers are put. got the
impression that he is so guarded in case
of attack by the people who disapprove of
the dictionaries that he and Funk g. Wag-
nails bring out ever and anon. / suggest
ed this explanation, but it seems they get
IN anyway, New York labyrinths being as
nothing to a Greek scholar who has
threaded the paths to the MinOtaur.
He's Something to All Men.
If you look DR.. Vizetelly up in Who's
Who, you win see that he is an author,
editor and photographer, and if you are
Al.
pregnable combination. If he were only
an author he wouldn't have time to be as
pleasant as he is; if he were only an edi-
tor he wouldn't dare to be; and if he were
only photographer he couldn't be with
apologies to all other .lexicographers).
Being all three makes him most delight
full person to see, even when the tempera-
ture is wavering around 104.
Although he has edited more diction-
aries and encyclopedias than any man
living, he has done things more remark
able than that, and it makes him little
impatient with the rest of us sometimes.
People tell me they can't do things be-
cause they don't knoU about them, haven't
the facts to back them up. Do you sup
pose my mind retains one millionth part
OF the facts for which am responsible7
If 1t did | would be raving maniacl To
tell the truth, person can do about any,
thing he wants to if he studies hard
enough and goes at it with enough conf
dence.
Norma, Where Art Thou?
'Years ago, just after / was married, I
lost a position temporarily where 1 had
every reason to think would be retained.
/ was down and OUT as they say, and
couldn't wait until some one needed the
kind of work l was accustomed TO, SO l
decided to select the first thing nv eve
fell on. 1t happened to be writing fash
ions for Chicago newspaper, but l did
it! l supplied all the fashion notes, mil
hnery and dress, for that paper under the
name Of Norma for long time"
1t is not possible TO appreciate the hui
NOR of this unless one has seen DIR. VIE
telly. He stands feet in his socks, has
a round, rich voice and looks remarkably
like Buffalo Bill, only handsomer. Those
women who followed the dictates of "Nor-
ma" would have sued the paper if they
had seen her.
talking about ones work is much more
Interesting than talking about ones SELF"
he says, "for the latter inevitably reminds
one of the egotism of humanity. No man
can work in the field of English lexi-
geography for over thirty years without
bubbling over on his subject" And he
proceeded to do it thus:
Old Slang and New Spelling.
81 am constantly struck by the truth of
the adage, There is nothing new under
the SUM- Much of orr modern slang for