Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-01-26
terprise-or shall we say impudence-of

terprlse-0r shall we say lmpudence-0f
the reporters.
Capital stories are told of the differ
ent varieties of reporters, especially OF
those of the old school, which is now,
happily, passing away. There is the
frightfully eager reporter, who is always
on duty, never forgetting his mission. |
remember one of this class who was
reused from his slumbers one night by
disturbance on his doorstep. His
alarmed spouse compelled him to
| descend and see what the matter was,
and on opening the door he discov-
cred man stretched across the thresh-
hold in fit. MARY, Mary" cried he
to his better half, bring me my note
book and candle directly; here's para
graph; come to the doorl" Such eager
ness for work as this shows itself in diff
ferent forms. An enterprising English
reporter had heard that Lord Palmerston
was to be present at an archery meeting
in small country villagei in Hampshire,
and he accordingly posted down to the
place. Lord Palmerston's task was to
distribute prizes to some half q dozen
blushing young ladies, and the whole
company present didn't number much
above score. His Lordship performed
his task with unusual grace and good
humor, ] dare say giving the young la
dies paternal pats on the head, but
making only the most commonplace OBJ
servations. Our stenographer waited
anxiously in his place until, to his hor-
ror, he saw the proceedings brought to a
close without speech from the Premier.
This was more than he could stand. He
rushed from his corner to the noble
Lord, wha vas getting out of the room
as fast as he could. My Lord, / beg
your pardon, but really this won't dc" !"
"What do you mean, sir p was the re-
ply of the astonished statesman. why,
you've made no speech; I've come all
the way from London to report it, and ]
must have a speech of some sort. :"
Whereupon, it is said--and this story is
true one-that the good. tempered old
gentleman turned back, and detained the
retreating audience for twenty minutes,
while he gave them a genial dissertation
on the good qualities of English women
in general, and of Hampshire lasses in
particular. On another occasion, how
ever, he made up for this complaisance.
He was attending an agricultural dinner,
and saw large gathering of reporters,
for the times were critical, and speech
of his certain to be valuable. But he
made up his mind not to speak-no man
knew better vixen to hold his tongue
and accordingly he slyly sent down to
the gentlemen of the press slip of
paper on which, in his bold round hand,
were written the words: This fish
won't bite u
An American reporter of ST. Louisa
very genial fellow, by the wsy, and we'll
known all over the country among his
profession-was once sent by his paper
TO report a speech of Kossuth, at the
time the distinguished foreigner was Wis
iting St. Louis He (the reporter) went,
as he supposed, to the proper place where
the orator was to hold forth. There was
large crowd of Germans on hand, and
a great deal of enthusiasm. The meeting
had not begun. Before long, however,
the proceedings commenced with a
speech from q man who spoke in a
foreign tongue, and whom the reporter
supposed to be Kossuth, though he was
of course unable to report him. On going
back to the Office he found he had made
a very slight mistake as to the location
of the meeting. 1t appeared that the
meeting be attended was German de-
batting society, and the orator whom he
supposed to be Kossuth was an individual
named Wild, carpenter, who was
lust about TO open the debate of the eve
ming, which was: Is or is not lager
beer intoxicating
But the most enterprising reporter l
ever knew was gentleman who is now
an editor in New York, aad who, some
years ago, when a reporter las be says,
though / will not voucb for the correct
ness of the statemeni), reported two
meetings at once in front Of Tammany
Hali-one being held inside and the |
other outside. He was sitting about !
midway between both of them, and was,
possibly, half seas over" also.
The following is the feat of Western
reporter, hailing from Nevada: The |
editor received the following, as his first
manly effort: 1--WE ara informed that
the gentleman hoo stood on his head |
under q spile driver for porpos Of hav-
ing a tight pair of butes drove on,
afterwards found hisself in Chiny, |
perfectly nskud, without a cent in his
pocket. He writes that it is his inten-
shun of returning BY way Nv the Paris
exposition"
Not many years ago, 1t is said, when
two distinguished opera singers first came /
10 this country, an entorprising South
ern paper sent to the rooms prepared for
the distinguished guests four reporters,
relieving those who bad been aboard the
steamer. One devoted himself TO the
carpet and sofa; another to the bed, while
he fourth examined the chairs aud the
wall. The apartments were counted on
heir fingers, and we're found to be FIVE
10 number. II was found also that the
tide walls we're ornamented with green
md gold, while the ceilings we're painted
4 Ia feseo. Upon puncturing aud
slightly scratching the paper, It was
iound that former coat Of paper had
been removed TO make way for that on
he walls. The furniture was Of carved
covered with a rich satin
iamask, supposed to be worth from three
% Eve dollars per yard. One of the
,orps c1 ssnall piece Of the sofa cover
ng, aud Sscertained that the upholsterer