The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1872-04-19
The Experience Of Il Local
Reporter.

| OHc VI thc TcpoTtcTS vi the ULlca
Herald has written an entertaining
sketch of his newspaper career:
In turning over the pages of memory,
he says, find those relating my early
experience as reporter marked with
frequent exclamation points, printed in
colors and with jobbing type. When
l announced my determination to live
by my wits, my father, with delicate
appreciation, prophesied that I would
starve in two weeks. Owing to the
strength of my constitution, I did not ;
but l wish I had-and my friends wish
so too. When I secured place as re-
porter for the daily Buy1e Blast, of
Bentleyyille, the paternal voice as
sured me that I should see what
should see-and I did.
On the day on which my engage
mcnt commenced, I was sent to write
up great case Of highway robbery, in
a neighboring village. l interviewed
the robber, and he said his name was
John Smith, and told me all about it.
As he seemed to be as wicked as he
could be, l selected the blackest ink in
the office, and when the next days
paper appeared, John Smith stood out, q,
boldly, the blackest silhouette illustra-
tion Of total depravity that could be
printed with a pen. During the day a
stranger called to ask why l had put
his name in the paper he observed
that he had good mind to punch my
head, as he ever had to eat dinner, and
he looked like man to enjoy dinner.
Said he, "I'm John Smith" "Oh no,
you ain't,' replied. eyes I an" "
said he. I told him about the other
John, and he seemed a. little more
quiet, but he said, as he turned to 20,
Every one that knows me thinks it is
me-" "Well," l mused aloud, "you
should not lead life to subject you to
such suspicion" He turned to make
some remarks, but he missed me, and
only broke one or two pieces out of the
back of my chair. I went away then.
The next evening tried a 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 Bentleyvillc
said was fool, until l began to be-
lieve it was so, and they united in con-
demning alike the concert, and my
ability to write musical criticisms.
Then there was lecture, did not
like the lecture, and profting by my
experience l did not praise it. At the
same time, and eqnally Influenced by
experience, did not disparage it; ]
rather evaded an opinion. The lectur.
cr called around before night, with
quite thunder storm perched on hi
brow. He said l had damned him
with faint praise. He did not damn
me in that way he pursued the old
fashioned sulphurous method, and
thought that it was through long be-
fore he got through. He advised me-
to apprentice myself to blacksmith.
l related these incidents to the mana.
ger. He told me not to take any half
way ground. "If you hit man il
print hit him SO hard that he won''
want any more" That sounded we'll
and SO when the Bentlcyville singer
gave concert, which was in every re
fspect miserable failure, lust charged
right among them, cut right and left
My life was not void of incident fo
some days. The tenor called regularl,
at my house for week. Twas alway
out. The basso promenaded Mai
street with big stick. The soprano
brother made anxious inquiries afte
me. All the singers quit singing i
public, and church people left withou
'choirs, pointed me out to their chldre