ADVICE TO AN EDITOR [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—Your correspondent W. R. C. (page 218) regrets that " Fleet Street peers . . . waste space and money on the autobiographies and opinions of murderers, crooks, actresses, footballers. . . ."
Some time ago I asked an old Fleet Street friend exactly how these " opinions " were obtained, because, said I, it was a matter of common knowledge that some of the persons airing their " views " in the popular Press were illiterate.
" This is the way," he replied. " It occurred to me the other day that the ' opinion ' on a certain subject of a very prominent footballer would make a feature. As usual; I instructed a staff man to write what was necessary, a galley- proof was pulled, and the writer was sent with it to the footballer. The journalist read it over to him, and said, ' Please put your name to that.' But 'ow much ? " Shall we say ten pounds ? " Wot? ' blustered the sportsman, Wy, the So-and-so 'as give me a 'undred quid for the same
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