The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-11-19
Special Correspondence Of Pittsburgh Commercial
Warrington Letter Writers.,

W0oM108sO4 AsOo0F ~ WRntcEosA
The numberof correspoadents here is le.
gion, and what they don't know, is not worth
knowing. They are generally weathercocks
turning exactly with the Wind. They have to
be ready primed and cooked to tell at all times,
thugs they don't know anything about. When
the hour arrives to make up dispatch or
write letter, they must be ready. If there
is no news they must make some Il, order to
satisfy the people.
If there is Cabinet meeting the correspon-
dent is expected TO know al about what was
said and DONE Hhe don't know he must
guess. He hears that Seward was seen com-
ing away with his shirt collar open and very
long visage. This he construes to mean trou-
bic with England, and an enforcement of the
Monroe doctrine, and away goes despatch
to that effect. Wells was seen coming away
from the meeting hassghing 70 the Navy Yard.
with his grey beard standing out like bristles,
This is set down as q sure sign that Gideon
is awake, and that he is about to order al! the
National vessels to be put in order for sea at
once, away goes the teleE1n, and hundreds
of the old woman and children, all over the
country, swallow it down as gospel Nc
Cunoagh was seen coming away Aniling.
This means decision ofways and means for
return to ''specie payment" Stanton comes
away lookin8 8st1gAge a. bear ard locks him
self up in room. This shows that he has
quarreled with the President and been reques-
ted TO resign 10 make room for Ben Butler.
Some of the wide-awake correspondents arc
already at work on the lorecoming Presiden-
tial message. They are working on the plan
of Chevalier Wykof, who got the ga3deuer to
take the President nice bunch Of flowers,
aud while the President WAS examining them,
the said gardener looked over his shoulders
aud learned by heart ten lines which he sold
to said Wykoff
There is nothing hidden from the eyes of a
correspondent, He sees through mile stones,
key holes and stone walls. He knows and
remembers everybody. He Is visible every
where at the same time. Wherever there is
crowd, or murder, or fight or q grand
dinner' to somebOdy-there you will be sure
to find him.
There are varous grades of correspondents
here. The first represent newspapersa able 10
pay a handsome salary. He is generally a
man of education, pleasing address, and has
extensive acquaintance among Congressmen,
politicians, and people in general. He is pro
vided with hne Office and his expenses are
paid; he receives invitations TO all assenblages
and big dinners given by notables, from the
President down to the humble clerk. In re-
turn for these invitations, and in payment for
the wines onu eat6DfeS ne consumes, he Is
expected in his next dispatch or letter, to do
his ''big licks, and surpass in description all
h1s brother correspondents. If the thing is q
dry affair, he must make 1t q veto Ifone
of the big guns make speech full of hiecups,
he is expected to take out the hiccups. If FIRE
cracker goes of be must describe it as the
booming of o hundred FOUNDER. These are
the first class, to whom all the rest must look
up to as ''big things
The second class generally embraces the
young men holding clerkships in the various
departments. Most Of these write without
pay. Some Of these young men are Of fine
education, but sadly wasting their time rs
clerksThe majority of clerks write more or
less for their home newspaper
Almost any one able to read and write, and
endowed with a fair amount Of brains. will,
with little practice, make 4 to}erxble Wash.
ington correspondent. 1t is very simple and
easily learned, the largest part of it depending
generally on the use Of 8 pair of scissors on
the evening papers. The clipping, when
properly put together, with some additional
items and suggestions added here and there,
will make = tolcrable letter for people liring
miles away.