The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-04-12
THE NIGHT OWL BROOD.
Narrowing but Fascinating Life Of the Ed
itor, the Reporter and the Typographer
in a Metropolitan Newspaper
Office,

to drone and dream, the night to learn and
ramble." The majority Of mankind fulfill
ing natures law, spend the hours Of darkness
in needed rest; but there are a class Of per
sons whose varied duties enforce night work
"a labor at once enervating and demorallz-
ing both physically and mentally, yet abso-
lntely necessary. 1t is rather a remarkable
fact that to a majority Of the unfortunate
wretches Who perform this nocturnal labor,
there is a sort of infatuation for it, increas-
ing rather than otherwise as time goes on.
There is, to be sure, a .rifie advance in wages
to the night workman, though not sufficient
to pay him for the energy expended and the
certain premature relaxation of energy OF
both mind and body. Of all these nocturnal
laborers, there are none whose abilities are
more moderated, or who receive less credit
for the amount and character Of labor per-
formed, than the printer. "Give dog q
bad name, etc." applies unfortunately
to the type as well as to any other class. 10
say a man is a printer is to tacitlY acknowl-
edge his habitual drunkenness, a proclivity
for debauchery Of all kinds and a natural
prediction for tramping, equalled by no
other class. AT least, such seems to be the
general impression. But how few there are
who judge them harshly, know the duties,
trials and temptations of the one who above
all others makes possible the before break
fast paper. There is, and perhaps always
will be, a general condemnation Of the morn
ing printer without any general knowledge
of his peculiar manners and mode of living.
The morning printer lives in a circle exclu-
sively his own, acknowledging or owning
no acquaintance beyond his colleagues in
nightly toll. His lsbors %confine him until 8,
4 or 5 o'clock in the morning, and by the
time the busy world begins to stir, his peace
full slumbers, not marred by the rumble of
the early carts or peal of matin bells, extend
TO MIDDAY OR BEYOND
From midday until night, hours that should
be spent in needed recreation, must be spent
in distributing type in his cases, preparatory
for the nights work. There is no opportu-
nity for the exercise of social qualities Or
making permanent acquaintance, saving the
one or more ''nights off" which the typo may
be disposed to take. Working Shy the piece"
his wages depending On the amount of labor
performed, vacation hours are few and far
between. Is it to be wondered at, being
barred from good influences and social priv
ileges, that a social glass and a genial COM
panion for an hour lead to habits demoraliz-
snm onI MOTHS aivarninr from moral rpnfi,
tude? But all printers are not drundards.
While it is surprising to find one who has
not tasted the cup which cheers and inebri-
ates, yet there are not q few who are as
sober, honest and respectable as any class OF
people. Neither are they ignoramuses, nor
does mere mechanical ability constitute the
good type-setter or printer. i 1 typographi.
cal ranks will be found men of learning, cul.
ture and education, with a knowledge OF
person and things unsurpassed, possessed OF
a general fund Of information and the news
Of the day almost incredible to the unin.
formed. Horace Greeley, William Lloyd
Garrison, and many others Of note in journ.
alistic circles, were once printers, and alto.
SCGuCl pIOUdUiC JAdl IuCy oil WCAO OCfOtOSs
of the flowing bowl, possessed of no greater
ability or natural talent than scores Of their
contemporaries. Yet the world applands
and upholds their names in reverence anC
honor, while the rank from which they have
arisen is held in contempt and derision
The printer is loyal to his clan, generous te
the last penny he possesses, and sympathetic
for a brother typo in distress to the fulles
extent. Maintaining the equality Of capita
and labor, he generally unites with the typo
graphical union, which assures him employ
ment at the highest wages wherever he may
60. Woe be unto the unfortunate who may
work in a non-union. This rafting is The
only offense a printer will never forgive. A
frat" bears that name and corresponding
contempt wherever he may be, no matter
what his ability or social quality.
FL NIGHTLY ROUTINE.
AT z O'Clock the foreman, the grand super
visor of all that pertains to the typographica
department, takes his seat at his desk, AM
begins cutting copy into s'takes'-that is
pieces ten or twenty lines in ~length-num
bering them properly, so that in emptyinI
the type upon the hand galleys after eacl
take is set up no confusion can resultant
right here. in this cutting of copy, lies tn
great mystery which the amateur correspon
dent has never been able to unraVel. Her
is the germ Of those never ending and we
nigh frantic appeals to all writer's to writ