While thus engaged an idea struck him.

It was this: Could not he write something which would be accepted for publication in the "Standard"?
It was his great ambition to learn to write for the press, and he felt that he was old enough to commence.
"If I don't succeed the first time, I can try again," he reflected.
The more he thought of it, the more he liked the plan.

It is very possible that he was influenced by the example of Franklin, who, while yet a boy in his teens, contributed articles to his brother's paper though at the time the authorship was not suspected.

Finally he decided to commence writing as soon as he could think of a suitable subject.

This he found was not easy.