Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-03-05
Trials of an EdItor,s substitute.

Trials of an Editors Substitute.
The editor of the Cigare is obliged to leave
Paris for four and twenty hours; the sub editor
selects this precise moment for being i'll, and NJ.
Aristide Gruan the Nestor of the staff, is absent
canvassing provincial constituency in his own
and the liberal interest So the editor sees moth
ing for it but to ask NJ. Timoleon Tartne, before
starting kindly TO discharge his functions for
single day; and NJ. Tartine, who would have
undertaken the command of the army Of the
Loire at five minutes notice, consents with
pleasure. However, the editor feels some slight
misgivings: not that he mstrustS NJ. Tartine's
head, but he knows his heart-M Tartine is
prone to enthusiasm. Wherefore in getting
into the train, the director of the Cigare points
out to his crhoniqueur, who,has come to see him
off, that after all there Will not be much to do,
that he has given the main directions for the
next number, and that the principal thing will
be to watch that nothing creeps INTO the leaders
or the notes likely to hurt the feelings OF Gen.
de Ladmiraut, an awkward person to offend by
reason of the state of siege. NJ. Iartlne prOmi-
SEES. Then the editor conveys counter-warning
against iEsidious government secretaries who
prowl about seeking admission for semi-offcial
in influential papers; but at this M.
Tartne protests with so much warmth that he
would recognize a government secretary even
disguised under a bears skin, and perceive the
drift of his prose though il were cOuched in
Sanskrit or Carribee and the editor feels reas-
peared, and NJ, Tartine walks out of the station
with four-and-twenty hours kiugship of the
most popular organ in Paris.
Having about sixteen hours to gpare before
he need commence his duties-fOr this is eve
ming and the Cigare does not appear till five on
the morrow-M. Tartine goes and dimes, and
thence to the play; and, being of communicative
mood he tells what friends he meets that it is
he who for the nonce rules the destinies of the
Cieare. The result of this is that by midnight
the report has been flashed down the whole line
of boulevardS and into every newspaper Office
of the capital that NJ. Tartine has been intrusted
with post which he will fill, not for day-lor
rumor is fond of additions-but for a month,
some even say six weeks; and at eleven O'Clock
the next day, when he comes down to the office,
NJ. Tartine finds a whole throng of affectionate
friends who, knowing his benevolent DISPOSE
ton, shake him by the hand, offer him their as
sistance, and meanwhile would be much obliged
if he would render them some little services
which they will explain if he will Just give them
each five minutes in private. Truth TO say NJ.
Tartne has slept as sonndly as did the great
Condo on the eve of Recroy Intrepidity is his
characteristic. He accepted the functions dele
gated to him, expecting nothing and fearing
nothing; and the levee of suitors takes him a lit
tie aback. Nevertheless, he rallies on recognize
ing in one a popular novelist, in the other
fluent debater, in a third an enterprizing money
man, aud he calamity leads the way into the
editors room, whittier the novelist follows him,
shutting the door to exclude the other two. He
has not much to ask has the man of fiction; he
simply wants the Cigare TO announce asnoyel of
his that is coming out. cob certainly, with
pleasure" saws NJ. Tartine; what's the title%
ooh there's not much in the titlelp answers the
author, modestly. dts Les Chevaliers du Bou-
dor; but the scope of these works often needs
to be explained 10 the public beforehand, so
that they may not go away with wrong impress
sions. This is a realistic study of life. Per-
haps something in this style would do" and
he draws a paper from his pocket 81
didn't write the paragraph myself, it
was friend did it. Thank you |
know | may rely upon you; good morn
ing" and he VaniSheS, leaving NJ. Tartine to
read; "It is with immense satisfaction that we
announce a new work from the pen of NJ. A.,
the gifted author of les Petches Roses, lie
Scdlddle de Ia Rue x, and other delightful
books. Anything more piquant in style, more
interesting in plot, or more thoroughly artistic
in conception than this new novel, into which
NJ. A has thrown all his infinitely realistic
powers of description, his" eyes, but STAY"
cries NJ. Tartine, "ths reads like an advertise
ment," however, lie has no time to move, for
the door opens again, and in rusheS the fluent
DICTATOR, distancing the money man by head.
"My dear NJ. Tartine, look at thisl' he eacu-
lates, displaying yesterdays Cigdre; "here is
the parliamentary report, and, to BEGIN with,
my speech, as you observe, is most humiliating-
ly curtailed; but | shouldn't complain if it were
not for this passage. See, | have discussion
with member of the left, a radical, and you
give him the best of it, for after his joke at me
"a miserable small joke-yOu add, hilarity on
all the benches, just as if had made no re-
partee" "But did you make oneP asks NJ.
Tartne "Why, of course" answers the fluent
debator; "at least if hadn't you know, it
ought to come to the same thing; for if the
Cigare, an orderly journal, gives the palm to
men of that sort-red republicans, communal
lists and destroyers of sOcietY-what are we to
expect2 think, perhaps" there paper is ex-
tracted from the waistcoat,) of you would
kindly insert this little MOTEL didn't write it
myself; it was friend who did it. Thanks |
know | can confde in your courtesy. Good
morning." And he, too, disappears, yielding
his place to The money man, who enters Just as
NJ. TaTtine has read this much: "By printers
error in our yesterdays impression, the brilliant
witticsm by which NJ. B., the eloquent
member for -, utterly pulyerized NJ. c.,
the radical deputy who interrupted him, was
omitted. NJ. c. said---" Pardon me,
my dear NJ. Tartine," interposes the money
man, 81 am aware how valuable your time IS
! shall not be minute. Here is the Cigare's
money article of yesterday. Do you see
these lines2 They may prove the death
of the Oystershel joint stock utili-
cation company in which the savings
of thousands are invested; and | am CON
thoughts" Nothing" assents NJ. Tartiue.
"WelI, but look groans the money man, "You
say these is depression on our shares. Only
think of the immensely of the undertaking on
which we are embarked Picture TO yourself the
millions upon millions of oyster-shells that
formerly lay about idle, but which now, through
our instrumentality, may be the means of pour
ing gold into the homes of the penurious. Ours
is no mere speculation; it is a practical enter
prise; and surely journal like the Cigare
ought TO encourage it. Oil know what you
were going to reply; but even supposing it to
be true that the shares were depressed, will the
saying so in your paper tend 10 make them go
up again? Remember, that it is in the interest
of our shareholders-Our trusting shareholders
mot In my own, that am urging this, and"
(here some fumbling in the pocket, 81 think If
you were to intercalate this in your next money
article, i would spare you pang or two OF re-
morse should our company ever unhappily col
lapse which, mind, anu certain it never will. :"
YES, but-one momentp calculated NJ Tar
tine. Yes, as many moments as you like" an
swers the money man, "and If Won like / will
| explain you all the workings Of our company.
have thougbtlllly brought the prospectuses
| with me-" And he sits down.
II takes halt an hour by the clock before NJ
| Tartine can dispose Of the money man, who has
/ piled hgures with an energy OF lung which
| drives his nearer stark desperate He is com.
| PEELED 70 surrender at discretion, and the money
| man luen Wukcs MS aHaOlc DOW, YOwlug that
conversation with NJ, Iartine Is quite a pleasure
aud profit. He is scarcely gone when the office.
boy enters, to say there are three more gentle
men waiting to see the editor, and two ladies
and at the same moment comes the pnnter-a
French printer, brisk, discursive, and by alter.
nate fits respondent and oyer-sangune--to say
that there Is no copy in band, that bali the pa,
per ought 10 be made up by this time, and that
everything viii 20 certainty be late. "Bu
what am ] 10 do7' calculated NJ. Tartine IN
frenzy; "a can't write the whole paper" Blu
has Monsieur read bis lettersP inquiries The
printer "What lcitersP asks NJ. lartine
and here his eye lights Tor the FIRST time on
some three scores OF unopened envelopes ar
ranged symmetrically before him, Tel
| everybody that ! am busyp he TOars it
( the ofice-boy, "let not a soul come in" "Bui
the gentlemen and the two adiesP demonstrates
the boy. "Let them be - let them como to
morrow when am not here" yells NJ. Tartinei
ana ieYershly he breaks open the envelopes In