Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1872-06-27
The Experience of Local Reporter

One OF the reporters of the Utica Her.
aid has written an entertaining sketch
OF his newspaper career:
In turning over the pages OF memory
he says, find those relating to my errlv
experience as reporter marked with
frequent exclamation points, printed in
colors and with jobbing type. When |
announced NV determination to live by
my wits, nv father, with delicate appre-
citation, Prophesied that | would starve
in two weeks. Owing to the strength
ot my constitution, did not but wish
| had-and NV friends wish - too
When secured place "a reporter for
the daily Bugle Blast, of Bentleyvillc.
the paterual voice assured me that !
should see what | should sce-and did
On the day on which my engagement
commenced, was sent TO write NJ
great case of highway robbery. in Il
neighboring village. | interviewed tLe
robber, and he said his name was John
Smith. and told me all about il. As he
seemed 10 be as wicked as he could he, |
selected the blacke>t ink in the Office,
and when the next days paper appear
ed, John Smith stood out, boldly, the
blacke.t silhouette illustration Of total
dcpravity that could be printed with
pea. During the dah stranger called
| to ask why had put his name in .hc
! paper; he observed that lie had good
mind To punch my head, a, he ever had
to cut dinner, Il he looked like 4 man
| To enjoy dinner. said he, I'm John
| Smith" Oh. no, YOU amt, | replied.
| Yes | am. said he | told him about
! the other John, and he seemed little
more quiet, but he said, a. lie turned to
| go, Every one that knows me thinks it
| j. me- Well | unused aloud, YOU
should not lead lie to subject YOU 10
such suspicion. lie turned to make
some remarks, but ne missed me, and
only broke one or two pieces out OF the
back of my chair. | went away then.
The next morning | tried concert.
| The leading vocalist was famed the
world over for her talent as singer,
and hazarded an opinion in print that
she sung well. There was vocal music
in my vicinity for several days. Every
singer met belonging in Bentlevville
said was fool, until | began to be-
lieve it was so, and they united i'll con-
demning alike the concert, and my aDl-
ity 10 write musical criticisms.
Then there was lecture. | did not
like that lecture. and protting by my
experience 1 uiu not praise II. AL the
same time, and equally influenced BY
experience, did not disparage it:
rather evaded AN opinion. The lecturer
called around before night with quite a
thunder storm perched on his brow. He
said had damned him with faint praise.
He did not damn me in that way; he
pursued the old-fashioned sulphurous
method, and thought that 1t was thor
ough long before he got through. He
advised me to apprentice myself to ii
blacksmith.
related these incidents TO the mana
ger. He told me not to take any half.
way ground. " YOU hit man in print
hit him SO hard that he won't want any
more That sounded well, and SO when
the Bentville singers gave concert
which was in every respect a miserable
failure, l. just charged right among them
and cut right and left. My life was moi
id OF incident for some days. The
tenor called regularly at my house for q
week. I was always out. The basse
: promenaded Nam street with a bi,
; stica. The sopranos brother made anx
ious inquiries after me. All the singer