LOUIS BECKE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 258, 22 March 1913, Page 2 (Supplement)

LOUIS BECKE

HOW HE WAS " DISCOVERED." Hays the Sydney Sun:—The former Bulletin editor, Mr. J. P. Archibald, was always an unconsciously hard worker, and in the old fighting days of the paper he stuck to his guns with such pertinacity that the men associated with him often feared a break-down in his health. One week-end Editor Archibald was so knocked out that Jack Seantlebury, Victory Daley and some other friends fairly '"kidnapped" him for a couple of days' rest and bathing at Coogee. The party stayed at the Coogee Hotel, and on the Saturday night Seantlebury and Daley dropped into one of the side rooms, where a bronze-faced inan of 30 or so was holding a crowd of listeners in rapt attention with stirring stories of South Sea life. The two listened for some, time, and were similarly caught by the vividness and vitality of the yarns. They called out to Archibald to come in. Archibald came ajgng, and formed another of the 'listening group. After a while he enquired of the story-teller where he came from, and what lie was doing in Sydney. The stranger said that his name was Becke, that he had been many years in the South Seas, and that he had just come to Sydney, and had taken a job at the hotel. "Have you written anything?" asked Archibald. Becke replied modestly that he had never tried, and that he didn't think he could. "Well," said Archibald, with that keen perception characteristic of the old Bulletin "chief" in recognising promising writers. "I'm sure you can." "Could you leave here to-night and come out to my house as tny guest for a week or so?" Archibald added, also mentioning wbo be was and the Bulletin.

Beeke said he was paid up for the week, and graciously accepted the strange and unexpected invitation. The week-end party broke up suddenly, as Archibald immediately called for a cab, and took his "discovery" straight away to his private house, in another suburb. On the Sunday Recke set to work to put some of his experiences into writing, under the guidance of the great journalist, who knew he had lighted on an undiscovered genius. The next week's T!nlletin contained the first of Piecke's thrilling South Sea stories, which made his name in Australia, and laid the foundation for the world-wide fame that greeted him in after years.