The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-10-16
Gave O. Henry
First Start Up
py o. o. M'1NTYRE.
d., Tho Kargas C'ltv star.

In tho Kaesas Guy Star,
NEW YORK William Johnston
rop,d blush at the statement that
No discovered o. Henry, but it was
.so other than Johnston who rayc
4 famous short story writer
r.s up" NJ the start " HIS literary
o,rcer Johnston is general ut,l-
nv editor" OF the New York world
and tie man selected by Tile elder
ppi.,zer TO fll every executive
'i In me old days the flrs, thing
,baf Johnston did on Monday
morning was 10 send note 20 O.
Uerry's bachelor quarters asking.
aWhcrc ls his weeks story" In
vsriahv there would come back
note saying Il am just sitting down
IN write it Can you send mu $50
by this messenger"
when o. Henry began writing
Johruon raid him 500 for a short
s,orv a. his death he was getting
80 900 After n few experiments
Iohra'an made II "A condition that
At least part Of the story should be
IN his hands before any money was
.s1yauced This accounts for the
, facf that many OF the beautifully
written lntroductions to these stories
M no direct connection with the
stories themselves. o. Henry was
PLAYING for time.
There Is no other newspaper editor
in New York who has had john
uon's wide experience In newspaper
bulliinE He has twice been Of
fercd the editorial management OF
-.
Chicago. and shortly before the
ato James Gordon Bennett died he
offered Johnston the management
Of tba New York Sunday Herald at
S25 COO q year.
Author OF Novels.
Johnston ls big physically ana
tally He is the author Of five pop
ular novels and the sixth is now
running scrially IN a newspaper
syndlgate and the seventh Is to be
issued In the spring. lie also tn
troduccd George McMGnus, the car
tog 0st TO New York.
H. Is loyal to his friends and in
different 20 enemies. Those who
az his fund OF genera! information.
He has the largest personal nc
ouaintsnce with public men in
America and he sits In the councils
OF the mighty sort OF unofficial
adviser whose advice Ia always CON-
s'dered sound He has been be-
hind the scenes IN many important
conferences whore great issues were
al stdke--nOt "a an editor, but as
keen straight thinker.
He has Travelled extensively I'm
Europe and Is the author Of one
volume Of history His life has over
been full yet lac always manages to
find time for his friends. and one
rarely calls at the New York World
and finds himself denied an audi
snce
Al Home Everywhere.
Johnston !s big physically and mem
lie is at home with artists, writer's
and business men. lie knows all
the intimate cafes off tho beaten
path. Once o. Henry, shortly before
his death, sent Johnston the follow
ing characteristic note: What you
say-iet's take an evening off and
strike the Cafe Francis for a light
reflection. / like to be walked up
suddenly by the music and look
across at the red-haired woman
eating smelts under an original by
Glackens"
In June, 1919. Johnston was sum
moned to the graduating exercises
AZ ile University OF Pittsburgh and
!aurelcd by his alma mater with
the degree OF doctor of literature.
There are 30 many william John
s;ons IN New York that Johnston is
known as Big Bill" The descrip-
uon fits him in every way.
lie Is leading figure in the
Dutch Treat club, composed Of 100
writers ana artists who h g
achieved things. lie Is in his early
toriies yet lac has a record that
tew busy men nave attained at 60.
lINln Cobb once snid OF his novel.
"Llmpy,' Someone might have
written a truer, swceter. more ap-
peadng, more convincing story of
boy, but no one ever has"