Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1870-01-24
(" Strapped" Typos---A Sketch From
Real Life.

sions, or engaged in other pursuits in life some-
times fld themselves unfortunately, out OF
employment and devoid OF means of support.
As a class printers are of a rowing disposition,
and they not unfrequently quit good JOB to
run the chances of obtaining employment in
distant town or city. In this they sometimes
fail, and are compelled to travel further, some
times without money to pay their expenses.
Only few days since rather sccdy looking
typo appeared at the Government Printing
Office and stalked up to Colonel Otis, the fore
man of the office, with
a want to know if yoI can give me a job"
Foreman. Are you printcr?
Typo. Yes; lam.
Foreman. Where do you come from?
Typo. From anywherc-from everywhere
in the United States.
Foreman hurriedlyD But where did you
work last?
Typo. have Just come from Cheyenne, and
1 worked at Jefferson City, Terre Haute,
Springfield, Cincinnati, New York, Baltimore
and other places-I worked my passage. !
worked my passage. have seventy cents in
my pocket, and that is all. want work, aud
if you can't give it to me say so, and will
travel on for this old coat is getting develish
thin, and must get down South where the
climate will tally with the coat.
Colonel Otis gave the man stand at once.
Queer fellows are some Of those typos at the
Government Printing Office. 0uewas relating
his experience, and got it off in about this style,
much to the amusement of his brother crafts
men -
"I froze up in the North, you see =
Fellow-compositor How did you manage
to freeze up there in the summer time I?
Newly-arrived. Well, you see, way down
in Maine got out of work in the middle of the
summer, and could get nothing to do but chop
wood, and being out of money, was what we
call froze up" so started South, and /
" beat /" the farmers for my meals and the rail-
road for my travel.
Anohcr fellow-compositor What do you
mean when you say beat?"
Newly-arrived. Why, mean got what
wanted and didn't pay red " for it. !
stopped at one farmhouse and asked for some
thing to eat, and the old chap said yes he
would give me my breakfast if would cut
wood to get dinner with, and would give me
dinner, too, if would cut would to get supper
with. Well, you know I couldn't see that, old
cove, so Just shook him, and logged along
to the next farmhouse.
ACompositor You "shook him9 What
do you mean by that?
Newly-arrived. Why would not have
anything to do with him. Nary a cut for me,
for had been travelling away from that iusti-
tuition for some time, had lot Of trouble, Sc
curing passage on the cars but | a. got a: y
one conductor between New York aud Phila-
delpha
A compositor What do you mean by that
phrase, "Got at?'
Newly-arrved Well, you see, just got
ahead of him to his own satisfaction. When
we got pretty well along from New York the
conductor came to me with
"Your ticket, sir"
al have none, sir
You must pay your fare, then"
"I have no money, sir"
"Then you must be put off this car"
Yes, sir"
The car was brought to slow motion, was
led to the platform aud requested to jump, and
well, Jumped.
1t so happened that some defect was discoy-
cred about the locomotive, and it was some
time before the train got under way again
In the meantime | trudged onward about
mile and got to the next station just ahead Of
the train. When it came up jumped on and
resumed the very seat was elected from. By
and-by the conductor appeared again, and
when he saw me he was rather amazed, and
he ripped out an oath with the sharp
inquiry
Didn't | put You of this train just back
here ?"
"Yes, sirp
"And you got on again ?"
"Yes, sir"
" Do you want me to pitch you ofand break
your neck p
mo, Sir? ~
"Aint yoa dead beat?'
"Yes, sir
"Where are you going p
" TO Philadelphia, sir"
"WelI, what would you do if / were to put
you off again ?"
sGet on the next train sir"
" We'll If you are bound to 60 on these trains
to Philadelphia in that way. l may as well
take you myself"
PRINcELY GIFT BY A GERMAN BAROS.-The
German hospital Of New York has received