Shows precocity at six years of age. Writes poem entitled, “To a Little Mouse,” beginning, “Last night I heard a noise in my scrap-basket.” His mother likes poem and shows it to Aunt Susie.
At fourteen years of age, encouraged by former success, writes short essay entitled, “The Woods in Winter,” beginning, “I whistled to my dog Don and he raced and romped as we set out together.” Sends this to St. Nicholas Magazine and wins silver badge.
At eighteen years of age, encouraged by success, writes sonnet entitled, “To——” and sends it to newspaper column. Columnist rewrites thirteen lines and publishes it on dull day.
Encouraged by success, at twenty-four years of age writes whimsical article on “Sex Above 138th Street,” which he sends to popular magazine. The article refers incidentally to seventeen-year locusts. Editor of magazine marks it Use When Timely and publishes it sixteen years later when the locusts appear.
At forty, encouraged by success, accepts invitation to have lunch with editor of the popular magazine. Editor orders exotic dishes and mentions an opening “on the staff!”
Encouraged by success, dies of nervous indigestion right after lunch, leaving an illegitimate son who grows up in obscurity and writes the great American novel.
1926