Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1870-08-31
HOW, MR.. WEED USED TO WORK.
IF. B. IT, writing on labor on morn
ING paper relate the following.

| IF. B. IT, writing on labor on morn
ing paper relate the following:
met Mr.. Thurlow weed day or two
since in the Office Of one of or leading
papers, and l alluded to Mr.. James Uar-
per, and mentioned his views as to the
way for working,nan 20 acquire independ-
ence. Mr. Weed reflected moment
and replied at was most emphatically
the rule of james Harper's whole life to
study, not how. Etae he could work, but
how much Mr. Harper and l learned
our trade more than fifty years ago, of
Mr.. Seymour, then the leading printer of
the city. He was our master, and was
one of the best men that God ever made.
He resided at No as John street, and
lived directly opposite the place of busi-
ness, James and 1 were partners. The
advantage of having good partner,
where you worked month after month
/ together at the same press, must be ap-
parent Often. after we had done a
goods days work, James Harper would
say, ''Turlow, let's break the back of
another token-ust break its back" l
would generally reluctantly consent just
to break the hack of the token, but
James would beguile me, or laugh at
my complaints, and never let me off un-
til the token was completed, fair and
/ square. 1t was custom with us in
Summer to do fair half days work
before the other men and boys got their
breakfast. James and | would meet by
appointment, in the gray of the mornie 20
and 60 down to John street. We got
the key of the Office by tapping on the
window, and Mr. Seymour would take it
from under his pillow and hand it to one
of us through an opening in the blind.
A pressman," continued Mr.. Weed, "who
could do % Or even 20 per cent, more
work than usual was always sure of
situation, james Harper, Tom Kennedy
Qong since dead and taade the largest
bills in the vicinity. We often earned
as much as Sl4 per week-liberal wages
when you remember that good board
could be obtained for $40 per month.
/
As Mr.. Weed uttered these words his
eyes lit up with the fires that illuminated
them in his youth, and there was that ex-
preston moment about his face that
showed he was for an instant living over
again what were probably the pleasantest
days of his varied and Successful life.
In abiding to these giants among u.s.
let US ask: Does the modern system of
labor, under the supposed ameliorat;ons
of eight hour law, trades unions, and
constant strikes, promise to bring up any
representatives from the ranks of the
toiling millions, like the leg innate fruits
of the old industries, as represented by
Thurlow Weed, James Harper, and their
eoequals and associates, "seif made men,
Contrast the bitter spirit of antagonism
that now prevails Between the employed
and Thurlow Weeds utterance, with
deep emotion i'll his voice, speaking of his
master, who had been dead scores of years
as zone of the best men God ever made
1t is something for the youth of the
country thrown upon the world with no
resources but their hands aud brains
to figure to themselves James Harper and
Thurlow Weed, tall athletic six feet high
splendid young men, of the best Ameri-
can type, shaking cf slcep ere dawn, aud
hurrying to their business ." .-