The Sidney herald., 1957-02-14
When You Retire
Robert Peterson
RETIRE. WRITES
TO CELEBRITIES
Robert Peterson

Folks interested in unusual re.
tirement careers should meet Mrs
Ethel Marcoux, II, of Somerville
Mass. When this lively great
grandmother retired two years age
from her job as cafeteria manager
in a local high school, the thought
of becoming a public speaker was
farthest from her mind. But the
world is full of surprises and to-
day she's a popular lecturer on
the subject, MY Adventures in
Autograph Hunting"
Shortly after retiring she caSu-
ally mentioned to a friend that she
had just received a nice note from
Mamie Eisenhower. The note had
come in response to a letter she
had sent expressing her admira-
ton for the First Lady. Her friend
was considerably impressed and
she persuaded Mrs. Marcoux to
prepare a talk on her hobby for
a local club.
Mrs. Marcoux knew nothing
about public speaking, but she
buckled down gamely to the task
Of preparing a talk. She obtained
factual information on the lives
of several of the colorful subjects
in her autograph collection, and
she pieced her material together
into an Informative and entertain
ing talk. She went to her first
speaking engagement with consid-
cradle trepidation, but she was
well-prepared and her talk proved
a huge success. Her phone was
soon ringing with requests for
her services.
Il have more requests to speak
than | can fill" says Mrs. Mar
coux happily. Audiences seem to
love my talks because | talk about
some of the most famous people
Of our time and of my personal
experiences in contracting them"
She has been pleased and sur
prised at the response which these
celebrated persons have made to
her letters. Il don't feel it's right"
she firmly, ito bother we'll
known people by just writing
them for no particular reason.
But If your purpose in writing is
to express your sincere admiration
and interest in them, l think they
are genuinely gratified to hear
from you"
Her collection includes letters
and autographs from a startling
array of colorful personalities,
from Presidents of the
States down to Chief Crazy
Bull - the grand nephew of the
AIMED Sioux Indian chief Sitting
Bull. AS her collection includes
personalities from the world of
music, television, stage,
movies, politics, religion, and art
he is in the unique position of
subject material that can
meet the specific interests of al
most any group.
Mrs. Marcoux firmly agrees with
'etirement. specialists who recon-
mend that hobbies be developed
earlier years and then be car
led over and given increasing
ttention in the retirement years.
she has collected letters and auto
.raphs of famous people ever
ince she was a young woman, and
he hopes to give increasing time
0 her hobby now that she has
more leisure time. |,
Take a tip from Mrs. Marcoux. J
Although autographs may not be
our cup of tea, bear in mind that ]
early any hobby offers lecturing c
disabilities. Why not develop a q
.vely and entertaining talk about e
our hobby and then drop a few S
ints to the program chairman of s
club in your locality? AS any {
rogram chairman will tell you,
here's an astonishing shortage of
good speakers. II you can d
peak well and IL you have some Il
ling Informative and entertaining T.
say, it's quite possible that lee
iring al become a stimulating g
vocation for you in your retire Il
Ient years. In
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