“I am a professional public speaker, not one who bugles around to the boys for the reward of a meal.”

A firm line between vocation and unpaid after-dinner ornament · Typed letter on lecture fees

• Dignity
• Profession
• Work

“Successfully entertaining talks are my merchandise.”

A platform poet treating spoken entertainment as honest trade · Typed letter on lecture fees

• Professionalism
• Speech
• Work

“Evidently you are under the impression that I do this work for the fun I get out of hearing me.”

Dry professional humour about being asked to lecture for nothing · Typed letter declining an unpaid speaking invitation

• Humour
• Profession
• Work