Posted 3/20/2004 01:12:00 PM by Douglas

Great article on American Bad-ass, William Faulkner.

Faulkner did not like having his reading interrupted, and the sale of stamps fell alarmingly; by way of explanation, Faulkner told his family that he was not prepared to keep getting up to wait on people at the window and having to be beholden to any son-of-a-bitch who had the two cents to buy a stamp.

When he died, piles of letters, packages, and manuscripts sent by admirers were found, none of which he had opened. In fact, the only letters he did open were letters from publishers, and then only very cautiously: he would make a tiny slit in the envelope and then shake it to see if a check appeared. If it didn't, then the letter would simply join all those other things that can wait forever.

Ain't that the truth? Thankfully, he never had to deal with tele-marketers.

"You know, a woman should know only how to do three things." He paused, then concluded: "Tell the truth, ride a horse, and sign a check."

Personally, I don't think that list is all inclusive.