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Bennett CerfBennett Cerf
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Session:         Page of 1029

they all agreed, “You can't possibly do this,” for the very reasons that I had enumerated. When they said this, I got my back up although they had only echoed my own objections. I said to Norman, “Let me do three or four columns and see what happens.” Well, I started in 1942 or '43 and did it for fourteen solid years!

Q:

When would you write your columns?

Cerf:

At odd moments. You see, it was a column of bits and pieces so I didn't have to do it all at one time. I'd do a piece here and a piece there. If some anecdote came along, I'd write it up. Of course these columns became material for future books--all of them!

Q:

Yes.

Cerf:

For Tradewinds I invented the character of Mr. Bump, which I'd use about every three months. Mr. Bump was a publisher, myself as a matter of fact; and I'd put in some of my funny experiences and my gripes under the name of Mr. Bump.

The column caught on. Some publishers indeed raised hell, but they were publishers who hated me anyway.

Q:

When you left it, was it a mutual agreement?





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