The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-07-23
He Learned 10 be Reporter.

He came up the four pair OF stairs, sat
urday morning, and as soon as he had
recovered his breath he wanted to
know il the Free Press would like to en-
gage another reporter. He said he hadn't
had much experience, but he said it in a
tone which was meant to convey the idea
that he knew his business. He was tall
and thin, had on plug hat which
looked as if it had been run over by a
drove of mules, his collar had sweat
through, and his bandanna handkerchief
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 COM
mand attention, and his tones were re-
spectful. In reply he was told that there
was always room at the top of the pro-
fession, Just as Daniel Webster told a
young lawyer once upon a time. He
said he thought four stories high was
about as near the top of the profession as
fellow could get, but his joke was too
old to laugh at. He didn't want much
pay, he said, his object being to identify
himself with some growing journal, and
let the feeting years bring him wealth
laurels He was only nineteen years
old, and he had plenty of time. He said
he could sit up three nights running, in
gratiate himself into the affections of the
police in one brief hour, and knew the
captains of the ferrybOats would love him
on sight. He could report anything, he
said, from dog fight to a regatta, and
and he wrote a lightning hand. He was
used to religious meetings and knew all
about medical conventions, and would 60
for woman suffrage or become a granger,
just as the paper desired. He preferred,
he said, to work all day and night; but, if
the Office had a rule requiring man to
sleep three or four hours out of twenty
four, he would obey.
He promised much more, and his
tones grew more serious as he talked. He
was being consumed by burning am
bition to WELD lead pencil, and ice
water had no effect on him. He
was cup" in grammar, posted on the
poets, and as for history he could repeat
every important event from the hour the
boy stood on the burning deck down to
Josh Billings fight with the Fat Con-
tributor." He had brought along few
specimens of what he could do-faint
efforts scratched off with chain-light-
ming velocity. He handed one over. Ii
read:
"MURDER !!!--About 10 o'clock last
mite the cry of murder was heard on one
of our name streets, and as usual the
police was not in site. The cries was re.
peeted sevral times, being enuff to curdle
the blood of the bravest men that ever
lived. Our new reporter at once"
The item was quietly handed back to
him, and he was informed that Detroit
was not his home. His talents were toe
much for the town---too many years in
advance of it. They couldn't appre
ciate him here, but in Chicago--nearel
the setting sun---they were standing
around on the corners looking for such
men.
"You hain't foolin', stranger?' he
asked, his face expressing the graves
anxiety.
No---he could depend on it. 1t was {
solemn thing to fool with young MAJ
just starting out in life, and it was also
against office rules.
And Chicago is---isw
"Just two hundred and eighty-foul
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 "Pm very much obleeged t.
you, and if don't walk it in four days
tits because the railroad bed gives out.
----Detr0H Free Press.