Daily Republican., 1883-06-28
NEWSPAPER REPORTERS.

NEWSPAPER REPORTERS.
Their Many Duties and Resp0ns
; bil1ffes-What Becomes Of them
at Last.
Reporters are in some respects sing
lar beings, always pleasing some pc
sons and offending others. They hay
friends to-day, but few strokes of til
pencil, and they are enemies Tomorrow
The first reporter of whom we have an
mention was named Moses, ana if ther
had been newspapers published in hi
time, his services would no doubt hav
been eagerly sought after.
He was followed by host of other
on down to the present day. A reporte
is generally constructed the same a
other human beings, hut is governed b.
very few of the rules that infiuenc
them in their dealings with their fel
low man. Other men are guided b,
various desires: some wish to achiey
fame, Others wealth, while still other
are ambitious to climb the slipper,
ladder of politics. but as genera
thing nothing of this kind influence
the reporter he IS a news gatherer, ant
his whole time is ia -en up in securing
points and writing them up. He vii
miss his meals without grumbling, OF
forgo the refreshing benefit of nature.
sweet restorer balmy sleep, to obtain &
good item for the next issue of his pa
per, or scoop" the other "boys."
he is always apparently frank and
out spoken, but under this pleasing ex.
terror he frequently has good item
that he is guarding with jealous car.
from his brother cribes, and if an artist
wished to see an accurate picture of
disgust, he should look at him the next
day, when he picks up a rival paper
anu sees the item, of which he thought
ne was the sole possessor, published
with more minute details than he was
able to obtain.
His daily intercourse with persons of
all classes Of society is apt to make him
somewhat skeptical as to human virtue
and integrity, and this is not to be won
dered at, when 1t is taken into con-
slderat.on, that to him are revealed the
thousand and one little acts of selfish
ness, the greed, the contemplate and
often criminal motives which actuate
many with whom he is daily thrown in
contact. His view Of all these things is
purely professional, and he looks upon
himself as a third party, whose only
interest in the joys, or sorrows, or
grievances of his fellow man is to make
all out of it he can for his own paper.
But with it all he is possessed of con-
honor, and will not knowingly
publish an article that would tend to
snbvert Justice, or injure an innocent
party. He is possessed of many secrets,
some of which, if revealed, would some-
times seriously disturb family relations,
and could often tell persons more about
their next door neighbor or friend than
shey had even suspected in years of ac-
Illaintance.
Among his many accomplishments he
must be walking encyclopedia, and
eady to answer any question that may
,e asked him, or run the risk of bel Q |
behind the age. He must |
'e proof against temptation, and, if he
ver prays at all, instead of saying
lead us not into temptation he must
ay give us strength to resist tempta-
lon.' He is invited everywhere, but
10 matter where he may go, whether it
to funeral or welding, church
r theatre, a banquet or missionary
meeting, he goes on business, and is
bliged to have his note book handy to
axe down all he may see or hear.
IT he takes days recreation and
oes on an excursion, or visits another
ity, the inevitable note book must 90
long, and the points be carefully writ.
'n out after he returns home. The
rue newsgatherer must also be possess
ed of cheek hard enough for thirty
wo pound solid shot to hatten on. He
lust have sufficient assurance to en-
bic him to stop funeral procession
MT inquire the names of the pail bear
RS, or haul a tired, overworked me-
hanic, who happens to be Secretary of
society, out of bed at o'clock in the
forming to ask for a list of the recently [
ected officers. {
Does a man fall dead, he is among {
le first to visit the bereaved family, t
ld seldom leaves until he has a full
lstory of the deceased from the hour ,
his birth until the moment of disolu- !
on. In short, the reporter is required
do many things at which SO much =,
the gentleman as there is within him l.
ust revolt, but which stern necessity
mpels him to do.
The faithful reporters work is never
me he is sort of perpetual motion a
achine that is always on the go, and
ere is no danger of his ever rusting 4
L. 1t would be hard matter to tell
hat becomes of reporter it is very a
ldom that the death of one is heard Az
and when it is, it will generally be
and that he has embarked in some
her business. They never get rich,
: if they ever have spare dollar a
cir business brings them in contact c'
tn some case of want and suffering n
At appeals so strongly to their sym L
thies, that even if it takes the last Is
1t they have, they will relieve it as IL
as they are able. u
And yet the business has its enioy- W
'nts and fascinations, and the true re- p(
rter whose soul is in his work would pl
exchange it for any other on earth. co
an excitement on which he Oh
es and thrives, and he daily finds 9o
nself in a great school in which he III
luires valuable stores of knowledge. ne
q position lisa responsible one, and WI
one is cornpe ent to till it who under c''
es that responsibility. He has y
bic duty to perform, first to his
Der, then to his fellow man, and last,
by no means least, to himself and as
lily. 1t is probable the King of We
ly fully understood this, when he no
emily remarked to newspaper man op
o was interviewing him, that were thu
not King he would choose to be sea
Orter. wi
fe,
A Wash Out. hu
esterday afternoon the bed of the he
et near Front and French streets, ret
're there was IA recent excavation, gal
washed out by the heavy rain fall. lar
OuOrleSS eXCayatinp machine stand hat