UNUSUAL VOCATION

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1932, Page 8

UNUSUAL VOCATION

PAID TO INSULT PEOPLE

AN AMERICAN “RIBBER,”

- , ! ' LONDON, July 1. He makes a great deal ot money insulting people. He is aii American, and he recently stayed in London—hut not doing any more insulting for the time being. Officially, lie is known as a “ribber,” and here is how he described his profession to a pressman: “I’m about the biggest ‘ribber’ in Los Angeles. There -were two others. They were knocked about in the performance of their professional duties, and have retired from-business. I am employed by club secretaries and such people. They pay me a fee to go to a banquet or a club, and steadily insult people as they arrive. “When -I get', my in an 'so annoyed that he is about to knock me down, someone explains that I’m a ‘r.bber,’ and' we shake hands, Thfin I start on another victim. It’s great fun for 1 ' the onlookers. “Sometimes I am paid as much as £IOO for u single performance at a big banquet. At an ordinary club sff"ir, I would work for £SO for the night.” On o»e occasion be was employed as Bobbie Jones’s caddie in the series o : f short go’f films Jones, made in Hollywood Just when everything was ready and Jones was facing the cameras, the “ribber”-walked up to him. “You’re using the wrong club,” he said. Jones nearly' collapsed. “And, anyway; .what do you know about the game?” fhe ‘ribber” queried. Bobby’s golf wo’d .-all to pieces for the rest of the &ay. “Only . America could'stand our trade.” the “ribber”. explained. ‘(Meanwhile, you’re a rotten interviewer.-. And-what do you/know•-about-newspapers anyway?” •' “Have a drink?” said the pressman. “Sure,” said the “ribber”—and-was left’ to pay for it himself. That is the way to treat “r'bbers” in London.