Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-05-11
TWO SPECIMENS OF MANY THAT AT
FLICr NEWSPAPER OFFICES.

lie walked into one OF the RECORD U MON
editorial rooms where several knights of plum
bago were busy. It was midnight. He was
a rather well-dressed and neat-looking chap,
with just faint suspicion of seediness about
his attire. With the politest of bows he
walked up to an editorial desk:
Excuse me; l want to talk to you a
minute
'All right go it-one minute"
I'm no hummer; I'm"
"Who said you were?"
"Well, that's so. I'm not going to hit you
for any money either"
'Oh glad to hear that"
"Well, Pm printer. I've got broke. I'm
hard up. I'll be frank with you; l want
four bits"
Thought you weren't going to strike me
for money!"
"Well, only for that; not for whisky
money, | assure you"
You are a printer"
eyes"
"Why didn't you go into the composing
room ?"
Thought you'd be likely to have more
money in here"
"What, in the middle of the week."
| NSFeT bDOuSHb VI bldb, ny COfe. DuI
can't you do it,"
"Can do anything in the world easier
You don't say so? Well, FL tell you
exactly what I'll do with you"
Don't"
Eyes, will. See here; I've got brand
new undershirt-"
whats that?"
"Brand new-never wore it in my life, nor
any other fellow; cost me dollar and half,
and I'll let you have it for fifty cents; there,
now"
COB, I've got stock of undershirts now
too many, will sell goa some."
you don't mean it ?"
''But do"
"Well, I'll see the foreman"
| "Do"
'And you don't want the undershirt?"
Perfectly certain"
He went out to the foreman's crib, but
that gentleman had no use for an undershirt-
he was accustomed to do without 'em-and
presently the genteel tramp passed the door
on his way back, and with an expressive
smile, full of humor, pasted all over his
comedy features he glanced over at his ed
itorial antagonist and gave parting shot:
"Well, guess it's no go with you fellows
this time. Good night"
The second specimen came in the
day time. He labored up the stair
way wheeling like a high pressure
stern-wheeler. He went straight into the
reporters room and asked for Mr.. y. That
individual responded. The newcomer was
short-very short. A hay rope belted pair
of dilapidated pantaloons to his waist. His
boots were covered with the dust of ages and
the mold of time, and one was constructed on
the ventilating principle. He had but the
rag of shirt over his bosom, and wore a
| -foila6 obort- cd r,ctu- hrnuyn coat
His gray beard was like stubble in field.
His nose was adorned with deep, half
healed-up cut, from one nostril across the end
to the other, and the nasal organ had an am
bilious turn toward pair of red and swollen
eyes above, that were half hidden beneath a
soiled forehead, struggled over by coarse and
uncombed hair, escaping from beneath the
rim of a hat that had seen its better and its
best days in the long ago. His odoriferous
breath staggered the reporter as he wheezily
asked:
care you mister X %
"1hat is my name"
" | want to speak to you-private.'
sob, want your name suppressed from the
police report? No use can't do it."
No, sir; you're mistaken, and that's so.
No, I'm not han'some-Pm ware o. that
not handsome; but I'm printer, and 1 want
to see you private"
"Never mind; these gentlemen are my
friends"
"All right. IS L said, I'm not ham some,
but"
you've told us that once"
&c But I'm printer"
"Well?"
81 want to work few type"
Thought you were printer
I'm that, but I'm not handsome"
"What do you mean then by working a
few type?"
"Oh see here now, want t. speak t. you
private.
No. If you want work go out and see
the foreman"
where's he?
"a printer ought to know"
They sent me up here to you."
"Wel, we can't give you workout how
much can you set ?"
"Oh, good deal-lots."
"Well, You go out and see the foreman"
| He rolled out and wandered as far as the
washstands and, without venturing to tsee
the foreman, wheeled, and the breeze of bad
whisky waited through the doorway gave
warning of his approach.
"Say, Mr.. Y, want t. speak t. you pri-
vate"
"Well, WELL" and the bored allowed the
bore to lead him out.
w" Aooh ere, CouuueAtlai, nain nu
printer; not id bit o'it. no, sir: that racket
won't work, but l do want quarter offul
bad do now can't you?"-
"See here, my friend, do you see that
fight of steps,"
"Yesum."
"Well, there's door opposite the foot,
and room beyond, where the heads of buns
like you that have had their necks broken
from being pitched down stairs are ranged on
a shelf-now you git"
Without a word, he clambered down stairs,
but turned at the foot and with reproachful
glance from his bleared eyes gave the usual
parting shot:
"Looke here, sir some day when you
all"