The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1879-11-20
TRIALS OF AN EDITOR.
Depicted BY the DanbHry News Man In his
New Book, "lIr. Phillips Goneness."

New Book, '1Ir. Phillips Goneness."
II Tom Griggs looked for any light
ming OF the cloud when out Of the atmos-
phere Of his home and in that Of the Of
Gee, he was not gratiGed. 1t 10 more
than likely he had no such expectation.
II ia a remarkable fact in connection
with the conduct OF a country printing
office. that on the day when an eItraor
binary hnsnciRl effort is 10 be put forth
some mechanical or other trouble arises
A form pies or an important roller
melts, oil some one Of the meiger force
is UNEXPECTEDLY taken sick or drunk. A
short bank account, and one, il not all,
OF these contingencies, invariably con.
iunct on the day preceding publication.
People Of q superstitious turn are con
6dent there is something supernatural
about this. in the case OF Tom Griggs
it was the last.named misfortune. Ha-
%Eleton, being OF a frail and sickly cast,
and not expected TO live any great length
Of time, had gone off on a broad and
comprehensive drunk. This fact wal
communicated to Tom the moment he
entered the room, by Mr.. Phillips, IN
that helpless tone peculiar to the fore
man Of an Office when he is confronted
by an emergency. "a mighty poor look
for the paper he cheerfully added.
Mr.. Phillips spirit communicated it,
self TO Joe Goodwin and Lippy,' and
occasioned the former to audibly OBJ
serve, for the benefit of his employer,
Well be aday late, or I'm darnedp
Whereupon Master Vanderlip was led
to remark, for the behoof also Of the
detected editor, that, il the paper got
out at all that week, it would be mighty
lucky.
The editor sat down to his desk and
groaned inwardly, while he involunta-
riIy clasped his head in his hands. Then
he went at his books to make out bills
for collection. There was an array Of
~uueanceled figures in the columns that
were most graceful to the casual glance,
but apples Of ashes in the teeth Of him
who gave them a closer inspection. This
party was out OF town; or that one was
TO pay next month; or there was a coun-
ter account from SO aud go; or what's
his'name wouldn't pay any; and SO down
one column after another, until Tom
Griggs began to doubt il he could get
bills enough for the desired amount,
saying nothing at all Of what he might
collect on them. And while he was at
this labor his muddled brain was tossed
and convulsed by tbs cry Of copy and
the demands of visitors, and the que
ries Of Mr.. Phillips, who never before
so it seemed to his half distracted chief
was 80 densely helpless and ignorant
as to day. That nothing went right be-
came apparent before the day had far
gone. Correspondents disappointed,
sorts ran out, one galley was pied and
marvellous stupidity seemed to settle on
the eompositors. 1t seemed to the I'M
happy mar as il visitors we're never half
so numerous. There was a mar who hal
a farm TO sell and wanted fifty auction
bills. He didn't have copy for the bill,
not being used to such things; but he
knew tho printer could write it out ina
jiffy. Tom complied. Next were three
women-a committee appointed by g
church sosiety to get posters for q straw.
berry festival, and also TO get a noticein
the paper. They had the copy for the
poster-about enough for a small pam.
phlet-and seemed to show a determine.
ton to get it all on the bill in the big.
gest type in the office.
After a prolonged struggle with them
he succeeded in getting their consent to
reduce the amount Of matter. A full
half hour was used up with this party.
They were succeeded by a lank individ.
ual Of q dim religious aspect, and the
escorter of a p~ortmanteau. He dealt in
a line OF Autographs. Tom hastily but
firmly assured him that he did not want
to buy, at the same time cycling him
with intense dislike. The man said he
did not want him to buy anything; he
only wanted to show him some perfect
gems of art. Tom told him he didn't
have time TO look at them.
Perhaps some Of your employees
would like to avail themselves of this OPP
~portunity to secure a few rare copies
he pleasantly suggested.
Tom shuddered. The time Of every
man in the Office was precious.
Copy said MI. Phillips.
The editor of The GallowhiIl Gazette
felt that bis reason was leaving him,
There is no time TO attend to you,' he
savagely protested, glaring q the agent.
There is not a moment to spare here
all day to-day
The owner OF the gems caught up his
property and departed, very much at
loss to understand why a free and en-
lightened press should be cursed by a
boorish management.
The half-stunned editor immJ diately
after severally entertained the following
parties;
A man with q Western paper contain
ing a story Of a suicide which occurred
several months before, and had been
read by Mr.. Griggs some forty-odd
times. He wanted the paper saved after
the article had been used, and was some
"