Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-11-24
PUZZLES ESOFAPRINTING OFFICE
A New Devils Experience.

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A New Devils Experience.
'T.ooking as sharp as he could
Joshua walked up stairs, aud found
himself in the composing-room q
the establishment. A number o.
men and boys, decorated will
aprons with large bibs, were play
ing mysterious game with hun
drcds and thousands of small pieces
of lead, which they clicked with
marvellous rapidity, but without
any apparent meaning, against M
instrument they held in their hands.
He looked in vain for the swords
which he had heard printers were
allowed to wear, and he was cover
cd with confusion at finding himself
in the midst Of so large an assem-
blage, who one and all appeared as
if they were playing on number OF
pianos without any tune in them.
Going up to a youth whose head,
covered with profusion Of red
hair, looked as if it were in y blaze,
Joshua asked to whom he should
give the proof. 'To Snooks,' was
the prompt reply. For which piece
of information he received a slap on
the side of his head from some per-
son in authority, who, taking the
proof from Joshua, directed him to
sweep up the room. While per-
forming this task he surveyed the
scene before him. There were Six
teen men and four boys at work.
All the men had the same dissipa-
ted look that he had observed upon
the countenance of the master.
Their faces, otherwise, were very
clean; but the tips of the right hand
fore finger AID thumb of each hand
were black with dirt, caused by the
types which they pick up with those
cxtremities from the boxes before
them. Not word was spoken cx-
cept what appeared to have refer
encc to the business, and the con-
vcrsation proceeded somewhat in
this wise: One of the workmen,
walking to a slab of iron placed in
the middle of tho room, took there.
from a sheet OF manuscript, and,
looking at it ncgligently, shouted:
"Numbcr thrccn"
"Anoihcr voice at the end Of the
room cried out:
"Awlul collision!'
"Joshna stepped in the midst of
his sweeping and waited for the
shock. But as none came, he pro
ceedcd with his work, and thought
that the second speaker was crazy.
In the meantime the dialogue con-
timed.
'Spcakcr number one: END
break
''Spcakcr number two: 'All
right! with growl.
"Speaker number one: what
type:'
"Speakcr number two, with an
other growl: 'Minionv
cat the word 'Minion,' which
Joshua considered was a term eX-
pressive of anything but respect, he
expected speaker number one would
walk up to speaker number two and
punch his head. Instead of which
the insinutted individual went into
his corner again and recommended
playing his tuneless piano in the
mcekcst possible manner. The
overscer then going to a part Of the
room where long rows Of type were
placed in detached pieces and said:
"'Ilow Ion. will this Dreadful
Suicide he before it's tinlshcd?'
"'Donc in five minutes, sir was
the reply, in u cheerful voice.
"'M hos on the Inquest?' asked
the overscer.
"'l am, Sir
"'Bc quick and get it finished;
you've been long enough over it.
Now, then, how long is this Chan
Gerry Court to remain open?'
"'Close it up in two minutes,
SIR
"And Joshua gazed with kind
Of wonder at the individual who
spoke, rs if it was as easy to close
the Court Of Chancery as to close
his hand.
cit was the day on which the pa
per was sent to press; the publish
ing hour was three O'Clock in the
afternoon; and as the work was be-
hind hand everybody was very
busy. In the centre Of the room
was large iron slab, and at one
time the hammering and beating on
this slab were terrific. Two or
three excited individuals, with
mallets and iron sticks in their
hands, advanced toward the type,
VIII .ch was laid upon the slab, with
the apparent intention OF smashing
it to pieces. They commenced tc
do this with such extraordinary
earnestness that Joshua was on the
point Of rushing down stairs to the
master to inform him that his prop
erty was being wantonly destroyed