Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-23

do the Job work upon them. They were COM
monty known as Franklin presses. We didn't
use rollers TO Ink them, as are used on presses
now, but balls made Of buckskin, stuffed with
raw cotton The pressman held one of these
balls In each hand, and with it linked the face of
the type before the impression was made 1t
was slow work, but we were better paid for
work then than now. For instance, we got % for
q 100 cards, which would cost but about IS cents
now. The press On which the National Journal
was printed was called Smith press. It would
print about $50 copies an hour. 1t was q morn
Ing paper. and it took about all day to print
1900 copies"
'Do you remember any great personages of
the time visiting the Officer" asked the reporter
'Yes," said Mr.. Waters, ''this building in its
day was the tristing Of the best intellect of
the nation. Henry Clay was frequently there.
He was a great friend of Col Force he used
to come to the office often to read proof Richard
Rush. who was Secretary of State used to come
there, and also George Bancroft. the historian,
who was friend Of Col Force. I remember
that used to go to Gen. Scott's house. the
house on Fl street, known rs the Chain build
ing | used to go there with prOof-sheets of
SCOTS Tactics which was being printed at the
Office. Col. Force was very intimate with and
was visited at his office in this building almost
daily by many distinguished men, including
those ! have named. Peleg Sprague, Mr.. Living
Ston, David Crockett and other prominent men
of that period.
"Col. Forces Instructions to his apprentices
was to follow copy, and If they went contrary to
those instructions he was apt to use the follow
ing words: Il say, say, what l say mean,
follow the copy If it goes out the window
''In speaking Of this building there are many
incidents that have occurred connected with it
which have no historical bearing, but which, in
themselves, may be of interest.
During the existence of the National Journal
1t at one time fell into the hands of q gentleman
by the name OF Prentice, who was. l think. a
stepson of Jesse Brown, of the Indian Queen
motel. now metropolitan hotel, situated on Penn
syivana avenue. near 9th street. After publish
ing the paper some time Mr.. Prentice became in-
detted to the COmpOsitOrS, and they. thinking
their money was doubtful. concluded to strike.
or quit work until paid Prentice Immediately
sent to Philadelphia for hands to supply their
places. and they went to work under protest by
the Typographical Society. but their stay was Of
short duration. for they were so intimidated by
the hands who had struck for their money that
they feared to be seen In the streets, and conse-
quently spent the most of their time in the
office, having their meals furnished them; but
their intimidation was increased one morning
when the hands who had struck marched into
the office in a body and one Of the strikers
named Wilson picked up the shears used by
printers to cut rule &C., and deliberately cut off
the skirt OF one of their coats hanging up. They
said no1npg. but that night they left. and in q
short time the striking hands received their
pay and the trouble ceased.
The Journal was published there some time
after Col. Force left. He sold it to Prentice,
and, think. Philip R. Fendall who was district
attorney here at one time. was the last one who
held the paper. Mr.. Fendall afterwards assO-
cated himself with the National Iateu,geacer.
Afterwards l went with Col Force to the cor
ner of 10th street, where the Post building Is.
He got the public archives to print, and built an
Office there for the purpose. There used to be
considerable money made then in printing. II
person got the congressional printing for one
Congress, and did not realize 100000, he
wasn't doing much. might also say that In the
old building The EVENING STAR paper sprung
into existence Il was originally started BY Mr.
Joseph Tate, on small folio sheet. Mr.. Tate
was afterwards. and, indeed, until his DEATH
boOkkeeper and general superintendent for
Messrs. Wallach & Hope. The first issue of THE
EVENING STAR, under the firm Of Wallach d
Hope, was from this building"
THE PRESENT
Since The EVENING STAR moved to It's new
quarters, nearly two years ago, the old building
has been devoted entirely to the auction Dusi-
ness of Mr.. Bowling. During its half century
OF existence the building has been enlarged by
additions In the rear, but its exterior appear
ance has not been materially changed. To ac-
commodate Mr.. DOwlng's business many altera-
lions have been made In the interior. There
seems to be q pathetic fitness in making an auc-
ton house Of a building about which are clus-
tered so many recOllectiOns of the past. An
auction room is constant reminder Of the mu-
tatiOns Of time. The old building opens it por-
tails Hospitality and offers resting place to the
waits and wanderers In the line of furniture and
other personal property-the floating debris from
wrecked fortunes, the drift that tells Of homes
broken up and families dispersed and scattered
over the face Of the earth.