Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-03-01
Some Fccentriciiies of Reporters
L.. a.. rrrilr.rn

chicago IrlDhhe. .
A few DAYS ago promised to tell you
something more about reporters. lou
lave learned already what easy times
they have, but often those who nave
the best chances in this world do not
seem to appreciate the fact, and some
times a reporter gets this way and thinks
his salary ought 10 be raised. SO he
speaks 10 the editor about It. Edltors
are very liberal men. Many OF them do
not think any more OF dollar than
some men do OF their lives. but they
know that If the reporters were paiu 10
much thew would save their money ana
buy the paper, and then the editors
would be like the Chinese-they would
have to 20. SO in self-protectlon they
are obliged to keep the salaries OF the
reporters at 5000 or 5000 year.
They hate 10 do this, but sell preserya,,
ton is the first law Of editors as well
as of nature. Many editors preserve
themselves 50 well that the reporters
never buy them out. But editors are
kind-hearted. SIR. Dana, OF the New
York Sun, once heard that horse when
had been very fast, but which every
BODY thought PLAYED out, vas going 10
be sold al auction by his master. SO hs
went around and bought tine poor horse
for $1,000. The next summer he put
him in a bic race, Gust for fun, every
BODY said. There were great many
noted horses in this race, and men bet
large sums Of money on them, Mr..
Dana's horse only bringing II IN sou
pools. But he won the race anu all the
money that was bet. This Is called
"paralvzing the pool box" SO you see
that the fairies are kind TO those who 90
good Some good stories are told ABOUT
reporters. Once young man who hao
graduated at Harvard College, anu was
a splendid scholar in baseball and row,
ing, came 10 large western city and
hired out TO be reporter. The next
dav the editor sent him TO an inquest.
He came back to the office at night with
enough manuscript TO MAKE DOCK.
The editor gave this to an experienced
reporter and said, Cut that stun down
TO a stckful." After while he went
over 10 where the experienced reporter
was sitting and said, GLOW did that new
duck mansge with the inquest "Oh,
said the experienced reporter, he got
evervthing-except the verdict Ana
then the other reporters That were slt'
ting around laughed heartily, but the
editor only let drop few words oil
tropical warmth, and discharged TIE
new reporter, who was very much sur,
prised to see that the paper continued
to come out regularly after he had lett II
10 it's fate. New reporters always tel
everybody that they are journalists,
but the old ones call them deck'hands.
New reporters always think they know
everything, but in some offices 1t IS
customary 10 put dish oil salt on new
reporters desk This is delicate way
OF telling him that he IS too fresh.
Reporters never live 10 hurt anybodys
FEELINGS. Oncc an editor in Cincinnati
hired 2 reporter in Chicago to DO some
work for his paper. After a While the
reporter forgot to send anything about
an important matter, which made the
editor very angry. So he sent dispatch
20 the reporter sayiug: you are dis
charged. Why did you set left on that
murder? Answer When the reporter
read tkis ne laughed to himself and
said: IL wonder ii that old plum
thinks he can get the best OF me-? 80
he wrote the longest kind OF an answer,
expIaining all about the matter, and
closed by saying Ia was glad he was
discharged, because he dlsliked TO be-
connected with u paper that allowed
itself to get scooped. 1t took 1850
words 10 say this, aud, as it was sent by
telegraph, the Cincinnati editor had a
pretty big bill to pay. But 1t taught
him never to ask Tor explanations by
telegraph again, and that Chicago
reporters were pretty liable 10 keep mp
with tie procession.