William Sydney Porter, better known as O. Henry
GUIDE: “Another important piece in the room is the original photograph over here. It was taken here in the house about eighteen ninety-five. The piano dates back to the eighteen sixties. His wife took lessons on it when she first moved to Austin.”
William Porter did not start his career as a successful writer. He worked at a pharmacy, farm, land office and bank. He also loved words and writing. The museum has special proof of Porter’s love of language -- his dictionary.
GUIDE: “Very, very well used. It’s said that he has read every word in that dictionary.”
Porter started a small publication called “The Rolling Stone.”
GUIDE: “We have a copy of the Rolling Stone magazine. He wasn’t being published early on, so he published himself.”
His funny stories, poems, and drawings were published in the magazine. But it was too costly to continue for long, so he closed the project after about one year.
Other troubles would lead the Porters to leave Austin. Porter was accused of financial wrongdoing at the bank and lost his job. Fearing a trial, he fled the country. But he returned because his wife was dying. After her death, he faced trial and was found guilty. He served three and a half years in a federal prison in Ohio.
William Porter would keep his time in prison a secret. But there was one good thing about it. It provided him with time to write. By the time of his release, he had published fourteen stories and was becoming well known as O. Henry.
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2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25