The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-09-17
Seeing the Responsible Editor.
New Orleans Picayune. !

New Orleans Picayune.
That very clever story, "The Tyrant-
eler of Calviras," Just now going the
rounds, recalls an incident which took
place in the New Orleans Picayune Office
many years ago, when George Washing
ton Reeder was very small, not over 4
feet 6 inches in height, and singularly
youthful in appearance, and given to a
pompOus, overwhelming, elaborate polite
ness, WHICH, in connection with his di-
minutive stature and magnificent cos
tune, generally reminded one Of a
benevolent but highly diplomatic tomtit.
Apart from his journalistic pursuits,
Reeder had quite name in the theatrical
line, being dilettante comedian of con-
siderable merit. Everybody liked him,
laughed kindly at his little peculiarities,
and respected the brave and chivalrous
spirit which they had found to be among
his characteristics.
To see Reeder in the editorial room re-
ceiving an irate party, and particularly
one of the rougher species, was privilege
to be eternally grateful for. His micro
scopic size, his gorgeous toilet, his pro-
fuse courtesy, and his grandiloquent ad-
dress were simply amusing. Callers with
welldefined injuries, but limited intellect,
went away in the firm conviction that
Reeder thought them the purest, loftiest,
and most prosecuted of mortals. Enter
ing the Picay,tne Office with the rooted
purpose of mangling and bruising the
managers of their complications, they
would retire believing that Reeder was
too angelic for this world, and that his
references to them were only made after
bitter struggle with remorseless duty
and at the expense of a bleeding heart.
He was perfectly ready to fight, how
ever, whenever the case demanded it;
and thereby hangs tale.
One day an enormous, rough, ferocious-
looking man entered the Office and in
quired for the editor. Much to his sor-
row, Reeder had to say that the editor
was absent.
"Pm sorry O. that" said the big man,
sitting down and depositing large,
NANCY carpet-bag near his chair. 81
stopped over one day just to see him. I'm
from Texas, you know, and / saw some
thing about Texas in this mornings
Picdyune that sorter riles me. was GO
ing home, but l thought I'd like to see
that editor before l went, 50 as / could
tell the boys what passed. want to see
him alone for about two minutes-thats
all. And here the visitors voice grew
plaintive and his fingers played with the
hilt ofa Colts army revolver which hung
in full view from his belt.
81 regret extremely, sir, that the edit
or happens to be out just now. feel
sure from the impression you make on
me, that he would esteem it a privilege
to meet you. He would like to take back
to Texas his assurance of friendship and
admiration. Couldn't you, my dear sir,
couldn't you call a little later.
"Well, l guess l will come again, long
as Pm here till tomorrow anyhow. You
see, it would make things easier like if l
was to meet the editor"
About six o'clock in the afternoon he
returned. Nobody but Reeder happened
to be in.
$50 sorry, my dear sir, but the editor
has not yet appeared. Pray be seated,
sir, and permit me to enjoy the accident
which made us acquainted.
"NOw, think this rather hard case,"
said the brawny Texan, who said he was
beginning to get impatient. Here's q
paper that pitches into Texas, and, so to
speak, '.bullrags the Texans and, when /
call to see about it, there's no one in.
Whese l live things are different. If
paper makes any unpleasant remarks
about a gentleman, we always know what
to do. We just walk around to the Office,
and the editors there, ready to give it to
us any way we want it. But here you
have other fashions. You 60 for Texas
like blazes in the morning; and when |
call-being the only Texan in town-to
chaw up the editor little and swap bull
lets with him in genteel way, l can't
find my man. don't like it. Ifa paper
banters fellows this sort of way, it ought
to have responsible man"
"Pardon me-" said Reeder, stepping
daintily into the middle fthe room, with
one hand thrust into his bosom and face
literally beaming with good nature. Par
don me thousand times. quite mis-
understood you. supposed you wanted
to see the chief editor only. If it is a
responsible man you're seeking, that's an
other thing"
Certainly. That's all / want; a re-
sponsible man-somebody / can rassel
about this article. That's what I've been
saying all the time"
"Behold him George Washington
Reeder, at your service sir. I'm the re-
sponsible man of this paper, sir"
The astonished giant looked at Reeder,
and then at his pistol, which was nearly
as large as Reeder, and his face became a
battle-ground where surprise, disappoint-
ment, disgust and amusement struggled
for predOminance. Then he stuck the
pistol back into the case, picked up his
carpet-bag, and, cycling Reeder all over
with disparaging regard, blurted out the
exclamation:
Jerusalem y.
And left, swindled and an injured
man.