The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-11-13
Editing a Paper.
THE POSITIVE STYLE IN THE LOCAL
DEPARTMENT..
From the Detroit Free Press.I

From the Detroit Free Pressl
don't suppose that another man eve
| lived like that Ohio editor who lifted
me out of the back end of an omnibus
one night, led me up five pairs of stair!
and undertook to tell me how | was tt
assist in running the local department
Of the paper. You see," said he, lab.
hing at cockroach with the shears
"yOu want to be positive in what yor
say; folks here won't believe any OF
your suppose SOS and allegations. Say
| what you say in words that can't be dis
puted; or, If they are disputed, send
the fellow into the other room and I'll
tix him" He was great man for fun
he never laughed himself, but he had
high appreciation for humOr. He was
always wanting me 10 get off something
sharp on some one, no matter who, and
he ran me 50 much had to quit. FOl
instance he came down one morning ana
said: "NOw, Charles, get off hit OH
Julius. Caesar" Why. sir, the old
ater man ae' wepf ago. on NS m1ter o sGms
thing or I'll discharge you" As SIS a
year was an object to me then, handed
IN pr city biz item. "That's good,
that's positive" he replied, and in il
went. The paper hadn't been out al
hour before dozen were crOwding ir
after an explanation. "Is your name
Casar?n asked the old man of each il
turn. "No." "Well, then, who's run
ming this Cesar business7 Amt here
to disseminate knowledge? Don't d.
herr" And he finally threw another
sheet on the "DOints."
Now, ClIarIes," said he again, "get
off lick on George Washing gton-
something under lively head-line.'
" But he's been written up,n [ replied.
" No matter-get off fsOmething, or here's
my note Of hand for the balance due
you" AS his note of hand was rather a
good thing to keep, dug ont severe
thing under the head of BRUTAL Out
rage" There was a WashingtOnian
society in town, and half it's members
were rushing up stairs before the edi-
tiOn was half off. "Base wretch" shout
ed the president. "Calumniator of gen
ius,n squeaked the old maid secretary
" Vile rascal" hissed young man. with
his hair behind his ears. ''Gentlemer
and old maid," began the editor, as HI
It any Of you know more about GeOrg,
and run this Office" And they had to 60
away with their minds in an unsettled
state.
Another time, when he had run over
a whole volume of ancient history with
out finding one to hit, says he, "Get
off something on me-" That's just what
I wanted, and wrote: "We want wood
on subscription to this paper. Some of
our subscribers promised to pay for their
paper in wood more than ten years ago,
and it's about time they brought it in
We want wOOd-wOOd-woOd.' 1t was
in July, and there were thirteen loads
of wood in trout of the office before noon.
They got there about the same time, and |
thirteen farmers came up in body. |
" Gentlemen" said the old man, after |
they had stated their errand, "wood is !
wood wood is a noun is is verb, |
and wood is a noun again. The Oh |
jective case governs the requirements |
Of the adverb, which is the possessive |
Of thirteen loads, according to chapter |
Seventy-One, rule three" And every |
time they went to say anything about |
wood he got that off at them, until they |
Ill went down in body threatening to |
him at the first opportunity.
The last thing have any recollection
Df was getting off something" on the
mayor of the town. He went by old
Sykes one evening without nOdding
md had no sooner entered the office
han [ heard, "Go for Muggs; give it
% him hot; yank him all to pieces, and
cave his shattered remains hanging t.
he steeple of the court house." "But
le--," began, when Sykes came close
IN to me, breathing hard, and says he,
Young man, go for Mnggs. I hate tc
part with you, but Smith offers to fH|
lour situation for a dollar less" Sn
sat down to do up Mugs. Sykes was
going away, and he left me TO nv judg
nent. ] wrote an article that thought
would please the old man fer positiv-
less, and it went under triple heading
was just locking mp the paste pot ir
he burglar-proof safe TO keep it from
he rats, when I heard yelling on tht
treets, and the office door came in or
ne. | saw stars, comets, spots on thu
un, new moons, and "came to" in tht
'ext town, when I sent the following
Iispatch to the old man: eff you car
,av your board bill stav where you are
The press is ruined. The long primer
8 in Hardy's horse pond. The mailing
able, the hank, and the new job rack
vent over the dam last evening. Things
int as they was. We made big hit
N Mugs, and he retaliated powerfully.
have hired ont to q quiet old farmer
ere, and | think / shaD't pursue the
get-off' business any further" In
bout two months got a reply. Here
; all that was said Young man al
Ways be positive in your assertions"
4