Show WANTED PART OF LAST HOUR senator pettus story of the vanity of authors senator edmund W pettus of alabama is eighty two years old A man called at his law office in selma one day and wanted to read him a thirty two page abstract of a will senator pettus said I 1 am too old to listen to all that tell me in a few words the abstract s contents I 1 prefer to read it to you the man insisted ah said mr pettus you have the author s i anity you are like barthe the comedian barthe called on a dying man one day with a new comedy he unrolled it he said let me read this to you you will laugh but cons der said the other I 1 am a dying man barthe ignoring that objection smiled and cleared his throat to begin consider the victim resumed I 1 have only an hour to live but to read my comedy will occupy only a half hour said barthe |