STARTING THE SPORT SET 



Norris is a strong man and served, I believe, two terms 

 of office as Mayor of Fulham. Then there was his 

 friend and fellow-director of the Fulham Club, Mr 

 Hall. Mr J. J. Bentley and Mr Ralph Cleaver, 

 the artist, were other directors. Mr S. Hill Wood, 

 race-horse owner, cricketer, and a man who has won 

 a Waterloo Cup, took a small financial interest, and 

 shares were taken up by others. 



It was pretty hard work running that show and 

 doing my regular duties at the Express, Evening 

 Standard, etc., but there was not a daily article at that 

 time in the latter paper. It was an extraordinary 

 office and staff. Having a lot of odd furniture myself, 

 my own room, which had formerly been Sievier's, was 

 sumptuous, and there were some most interesting 

 afternoons occasionally. The outer office was the 

 publishers' department, but at the back of the house 

 at Essex Street there was a perfect warren. I had 

 four rooms, one being a retiring sanctum, another the 

 secretary's office, and on the ground floor there was 

 the contributors' room, with some comfortable arm- 

 chairs and a big table at which the staff could do their 

 work, if any. 



Frank Otter was the first I treated with, and he 

 became the Paris correspondent. Such a find ! He 

 wrote the brightest stuff possible, and I shall always^ 

 regret that the Sport Set did not live, as the world has] 

 lost a lot of brilliant work in consequence. Mastei 

 Frank Otter, I can say, wanted a little sub-editing at 

 times, as some of his copy verged on the erotic ; never- 

 theless, I would always pick the envelope containing 

 his copy out before any other letter, as I knew that 

 meant amusement and brilliance. Frank was not 

 quick worker, for he told us when he made periodical 

 visits to the office that he had to " collect his ideas.'] 



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