Page:Marie Corelli - the writer and the woman (IA mariecorelliwrit00coat).pdf/341

 misunderstood on the matter, but her hearty good-*will to journalists is well-known to many of the craft who are proud to be within the pleasant circle of her intimate friends.

A section of the Press finds pleasure in accusing Miss Corelli of "self-advertisement." If it were at all true that she has any proclivities that way, she would surely accept the frequent and urgent offers made to her to lecture in the United States, on almost fabulous terms.

Again, a chance for "self-advertisement" offered itself to Miss Corelli in the invitation of Edinburgh, last year, to open the Home Industries Exhibition, in Waverley Market. People hoped for her coming, and urgent letters were sent to her assuring her that she would receive a splendid welcome. Miss Corelli, however, declined the tempting proposal, which, if the "advertising" accusations were in any way well-founded, seems a short-sighted waste of opportunity on her part. As a matter of fact, she seldom takes the chances of notoriety that are so frequently offered to her; but it would be easy to name a dozen or more periodicals which are glad to make advertisements for themselves out of some specially contrived attack upon her. The public, however, sees through this, and, understand