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Show REED'S METHOD OF WORK. Would Postpone It to the Last Minut ! for Light Literature. Many stories are told illustrative cj Reed's methods of work. He was extremely ex-tremely fond of what is called "light literature" and would postpone work on a task he had before him to the last possible moment in order to finish fin-ish some story or romance. He always managed, to get up steam, however, how-ever, in time to complete his work. For weeks before his graduation from college he was buried in the treasures of fiction contained in a friend's library. The number of speakers for commencement day had been changed that year from fifteen to ten, and Reed was reminded of the fact by a college mate. "Time enough yet. Why I have five weeks!" he answered. "But the other fellows have been working five months!" "Never mind," he answered as he went on with his reading, "I'll have a place on the program." And he aid so, standing fifth on the list of commencement com-mencement orators. Next to fiction he was fondest of oratory. He was a student of parliamentary parlia-mentary law and of oratory long before be-fore he himself became an authority by the publication of the standard works, "Reed's Rules" and "Modern Eloquence." Another time Reed was asked to contribute an article to a magazine by a certain date. As usual, he put it off. Finally the last night of the allotted time arrived, and Reed sat down at his desk, intending to scribble off an apology for his inability and a refusal to write the article. Suddenly an idea occurred to him. He wrote feverishly until after 2 o'clock the next morning and finished the article in the one sitting. |