Weekly Trinity journal., 1875-10-02
THE PILGRIM PRINTER.


to become known to fame. From this
place he went to Yreka and thence north,
it appears, rs far as Portland Witness
the style in which he is done by one of
the bright angels who hover about the
sanctum of the San Francisco Morning
Ledger:
Last night lIazlett, known everywhere
as the "Pilgrim Pint" came up the
Ledger stairs, and walked into the com
posing room just as naturally rs if hehnd
never worked anywhere else all his life.
As soon as he crossed the threshold, he
was welcomed from all sides, for every
body knew him 10y sight or reputation.
Without taking the slightest notice of the
chatf thrown at him from the eases, he
shullled up toward the center Of the room
and leaned against a composing stone,
looking about him like Marus inspecting
the ruins OF Carthage.
To him well-regulated printing Office
where mon work Systematically for wages
is an abomination and disgrace lie
would scurn to be subservicnt to n mas
ter. He never took orders from any body.
When he strikes place that suits him he
tackles n column Of type, and begins to
distribute it. When he doesn't like his |
work or his company, he throws ON his /
coat, and walks of, scorning to ask for |
pay. An old, dngy printing office, with |
worn and blackencd cases, battered type, |
and cracked composing stones, suits him
best, whore the galleys are all ~hrunk out
of shape, the chascs all indcnted, the
quoins all smashed, and the loreman's
mallet beaten down almost to the handle.
Cobwebs on the wall give him genuine
delight, and big breaks in the ceiling,
denoting the long absence of plaster, are
wcll-sprngs Of pcusumblo emotion. An
expression Of intense disgust shudowcd
his features rs he looked about the office,
and saw that it was not over month old.
The newnesa OF the racks made him
shudder; ;he mir of cleanliness purnlyzed
him. When he saw the printers around
him taking orders from one man, he cast
Il sad look over the place, such rs Napo-
leon mi ght have thrown at the galley
slaves Of Toulon. IIe concealed his con
tempt rs best he could, not desiring to
wound their feelings and when hc snccrcd
he did 1t 50 softly that few noticed it.
"Whero did ye hail from last ?" asked
the foreman.
Portland"
"How'd ye come down ?"
Steamer"
"Throwin' OF on the old route ?"
" Yes"
1t had been usual for the Pilgrim TO
walk instead Of ride, bat the quiet snr-
casm was lost ON him. Thinking lac had |
IL history reporter invited him down in
IL bee@ saloon just below, and ordered the
liquids. lie drank couple of bottles of
beer without saying II word and then be-
gan to drum on the table with his l<nuck-
les and think.
Been round much lately ?" queried
the reporter.
Yes"
"All over, suppose"
" Everywhere between the two oceans.
Let's have another BOTTLE" aud swngug |
his foot to one side, he sent n stream Of
tobacco juice on the floor that scattered |
the sawdust for square yard.
"Bccn everywhere; worked for every
body"
"Of course, you have worked for
Greeley ?"
"Oh, yes years ago, before he died.
But here comes the beer help yourself.
Never liked Greeley much his copy was
like Chinese, aud his swearing worse.
They've got another man there now.
Hi, names Reid and they call him " The
Powerful Mind" He writes palmer
than Greeley, but not half so sensible.
Haven't been in the Office since they built
the Tall Tower. The place amt what it
used to be-"
Been in Cincinnati, / suppose ?"
"Oh, yes I've stuck type for Murat |
Halstcad. That mans crazy /; believes /
in imitation. One day | was scttn' up (
one of his rag money editorials, aud | /
thought it would be in keeping with the F.
general gait of business to space out the
matter with two-em quads, and double
lead it all the way down. At that rate |
snatched up column OF type in mighty
short order. Says he, What's this p
That's your initiation editorial says /.
Do you expect to be paid by the thous- /
and for this p says he. do, says !, /
: if you pay me on an imitation basis,
must set up my matter to match, SO l
stretched it out. You git column Of
matter, 50 what's the odds p Git out
Of my office, says he, and 50 after teach
ing him wholesome lesson in finance, | !
went over 10 work for Deacon Smith, I
feelin' That | had done my duty"
Were you ever in Omaha ?"
ION, yes worked for Doc Miller, Of /
the Herdid. He'sa snorter cusses more |
than Horace Greeley, and writes his cd /
tolials on brown wrapping paper, with an
old dinner fork. | set up one or two lines /
for him once, and it took me the whole I
fore palt Of the week. Les have some t
more beer"
"Why don't you stay longer in a
place ?"
"WeIl, 1 like change, and I'm n little I
stuck after scenery. It's the change OF
air, view and climate that makes II mnn. /
Now suppose you have son and want to .
spend so, 600 on his education. You say
send him to college. l say buy him IL
railroad ticket, and start him travelling.