Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-03-30
A PrOof-Reader from "Glasgi'' Makes Things
Lively.

From the San Francisco Mail
Great satisfastion was felt throughout the
Mail editorial rooms yesterday morning when
II well-worded neatly written letter was re-
ceIved, stating that the writer had heard that
We wanted a competent proof-reader, and Of
fercd his services. lie came around, and
WAS ut once engaged. He set to work with
great energy, and the writers felt n sense of
security by his presence. At IL o'clock Inst
night two printers entered the managing
editors room with their coats on, and an
nounced respectfully that they wished to
throw up their situations. When asked the
reason, each showed corrected proof No
further explanation was needed. No man
VIII" ever set II type had seen such eYtraor-
dlnary heroglyphics before on proof mar
gin. The editor walked forth and found
the young man who was ambitious to improve
the appearance of the Mail. He was obiter-
atng all signs OF type upon the sheets with
great rnpldlty and II soft pencil.
How ARE you getting on, Mr. McWhack-
en- 2 inquired the editor blandly.
''lirawly, sir, brawly. thank ye fur speer-
III, responded the gentleman briefly
'iem, have you read proof before, Mr..
McWhacken,"
Ma, man, ma man, but | ken aboot it."
''lhe devil you do"
''Shurely," and Mr. McWhacken scratched
his head us If annoyed that such tritling talk
should disturb his pleasant abors.
''Might l ask, inquired the ed. tor, ''whrre
you learned the art! Inquire within, ehs"
VA. ma, Just ifao Websters Dictionary"
with tins Mr.. McWhacken pulled from
his trousers pocket sheet of note pap,r
that threw light upon the mysterious mar
ginal markings. Webster, among other in
formation supposed to he useful, gives II
sample "i ienriully incorrect proof, enough
Typographical blunders to Justify the slnuph-
Ter OF IL whole Office iull OF printers. Then
the same IN corrected form appears with all
the marks necessary to inform the compost
tor of the changes desired No man hns
ever been known to use tho marks, us they
Resemble those IN practical use about ms
much ns fashion pnte does u forty-niner
Just ns the editor was gazing upon the AMI
mated Mr.. New hackrn with respectful nd
mirntIon, as the wearcr Of tho most extra
ordinary cheek out Of the devil y domains
a pale printer stepped up and inquired
where the proof-rcader WAS
Here's the genius, said the editor.
I'd like I" know, egad. went on the
printer, controlling his feelings pretty we'll,
"whnt III blaZes do you mean by marking IN
u IN labor, two 'lls i'll traveller two 'pg's
in wagon, and spelling alarm with 'u'?"
''Weel Ina man, an what for nu2 Dinna
ye ken hoo tne spell IN the Queens English?
Ha' ye the impotence tao be u compositor q
prented mayter an no ken the simplest
words"
''Blnst me and burn my case" cried the
printer, nj you can find them words sp,lt
III Wcbsters that way"
''Wayhsterr laughed Nr. McWhack en-.
'shurely no. Walkers as much sapeeryer to
Waybster us Scotland is to Ireland. Ava
WI We an do as yer tauld list
The look OF nmuzement which &c sttIed upou
the broad countenance of Mr.. McWhnckon |
when the editor told him, gently, that he was |