In 1931, after a thirty year career, it was erroneously reported that he had become so disillusioned with trying to earn a living at writing he had turned to chicken farming. Earlier he had told a reporter, who wanted advice on becoming a magazine writer, that he could probably make a better living raising chickens. He had also at one time advised some aspiring young writers to instead think about trying to learn the grocery business or maybe practice to be a radio announcer.