The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-06-18
He Yearned to be a Reporter.

He came up the four pair of stairs Sat
urdaV morning, and as soon as he had re-
covered his breath he wanted to know If
the Free Press would like to engage anOth-
er reporter. He said he hadn't had much
experience, but he said il in tone which
meant to convey the idea that he knew his
business. He was tall and thin, had on
plug hat which looked rs if it had been
run over bv a drove of mules, his collar
had sweat through and mis- bandana hand
kerchief was remarkable for the many
crevasses in it. His boots were red with
old age, and his pants were stuffed into
the tops. Nevertheless, his face was one
to command attention, and his tones were
respectful. In reply he was told that
there was always room ut the top OF the
profession, lust as Daniel Webster told
young lawyer once upon time. He said
he thought four stories high was about as
near the top of a profession rs fellow
could get, but his joke was too old 10
laugh at lie didn't want much pay, he
said, his object being TO identify himself
with some growing journal and let the
fleeting years bring him wealth and laurels:
He was but nineteen years old, and he had
plenty of time. He said he could sit up
three nights running, ingratiate himself
into the affections of the police in one
brief hour, and he knew the tiremen and
the captains of the ferry-bOats would love
him on sight. He could report anything,
he said. frem a dOg-fight to a regatta, and
he wrote a lightning hand. He was used
to religious meetings, knew all about
medical conventions, and would 90 for
woman suffrage or become Granger,
Just as the paper desired. He preferred, he
said. to work all day and all night but If
the office had a rule requiring man TO
sleep three or four hours out of the twenty
four, he would obey.
He promised much more, and his tones
grew more serious as he talked. He was
being consumed by a burning ambi-
ton to WELD lead-pencil, and tire-water
had no effect upon him. He was cup" in
grammar, posted i'm poets, and as for his
tory, he could repeat every important
event from the hour the boy stood on the
burning deck down to Eli Perkins fight
with the ''Fat Contributor" He had
brought along a few specimens of what he
could dO-faint efforts scratched oil with
chain-lightning velocity. He handed one
over. 1t read:
Observation-Disclosures ten o'clock last mite the
cry of murder was herd on one Of our name
streets and as usual the police was not in site
| The cries was repeeted sevrgl times, being enun
TO curdle the blood of the brayest man that ever
| lived. our new reporter at once"
The item was quietly handed back 10
him. and he was informed that Detroit was
not his home. His talents were too much
| for the tOwn-tOO many years in advance
of it. They couldn't appreciate him here.
Out in Chicago-nearer the setting sun
they were standing round on the corners
| looking for such men.
you hain't toOlin'. stranger" he
asked, his face expressing the gravest
anxiety.
No, he could depend on it. 1t was
solemn thing to fool with young man
Just starting out in life, and it was also
against Office rules.
.And Chicago is-is-T
"Just two hundred and eighty-four
miles west of Detroit"
Goodbye, stranger" he continued, as
he rose up and picked up his bundle and
put the end of his big cane under the strap:
''I'm very much obleeged to you, and If
[ don't walk it in four days it's because
the railroad-bed gives out. ."-DeirOt Free
! Press