MY START IN JOURNALISM.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 241, 4 July 1908, Page 11

MY START IN JOURNALISM.

WHAT A PAIR OF GLOVES DID,

. Some fifteen years ago. (says, Mrs. Alec Tweedie in an English paper) I was going to pay a round of shooting and golfing visits with my husband, .who was very fond of all kinds', of sport:'- It occurred to me .it would be an interesting tiling to writo somo 'sporting articles, 1 for I invariably followed the guns. I therefore went down to the office of the "Queen," and sent my,card in to Miss Low, the editor, who received

me. ' „ i <■ '■ I. explained. my idea to her, and -as.it would be rin innovation for a. lady s paper to attempt' to write' anything in the i aturo of sport; she did not know how it' would be received, so sho asked a worthy captain, who was at that time tho.art editor of the paper, for his opinion: "Absurd,' lio exclaim'ed, without' a moment's hesitation; "perfectly absurd. A' woman can t write articles on sport." , Thoso, I: need hardly say, were the early days of women in journalism, and men—or, rather, most men—had a . strong prejudice against us, and a distinct disbelief -in our abilities. After this ultimatum, thero was nothing loft for- mo to do but to say goodbye and leave Miss Low's room. I'was going out, a .little crestfallen that my vlnn had so completely fallen through, when, as the captain opened the; door for me, he suddenly noticed my gloves, and said— • "Why do you wear those white gauntlet gloves? They look like the Horse Guards." "They aro .my driving gloves," .1 re-

P gloves!" he oxclaimcd. "What do you" 'm6aii? 'You didn't drive hero?" . " Certainly," I answered, "the phaeton is at tho door.',' ■ "You drove down Holborn at-this crowded hour' of .the day?" . "Yes," I mildly replied. He looked out of tho window, and saw the pair, of horses standing- in tho slreot below. By this time I was in the passago. Ho called "me back; scanned mo curiously, and, turning to Miss Low, said suddenly, Mid' without any preliminary cantcr— " Let her do' tho articles. A woman who can' drivo a pair along the crowdcd London streets in the. season ought to be able to i write a sporting article."- ■