Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-04-06
PROOF AGAINST SARCASM.
A Very Tough Case in a Texan
Composing Room.

Every time we went into the com
posing room during the last few weeks,
writes the editor OF the Texas Sittings,
we noticed a pale. hungry-looklng
young man making himself quite at
home. The ease with which he seemed
to read the type upside down and the
haven't-had-a. drink-since-yes yesterday
morning look in his bilious eye, indi-
Gated plainly that he was printer.
DE was also partial to splitting on the
stove, which was corroborative evi.
dence that he belonged to the craft,
but we knew that he did not belong to
the Siftings Office. The gentlemen
who take typographical liberties with
our manuscript are not of that
class.
The pale young man, whenever we
saw him, was either reading the type in
the forms, OF glancing over the proof
files. We became quite indignant, but
we said nothing until yesterday, when
our indignation eliminated as we no.
ticed him reading SEINE copy that we
had written only few moments before.
When he took the stump of o pen Ill
out of his pocket, and, after sucking
the point Of it, added an "e' to the
rear OF the word potato, we could re-
strain ourselves no longer. No, no,
we did not pick up mallet and Law
him low with dull thud on the brus
sells carpeted composing room floor
We tried sarcasm on him. Sarcasm
IS said to be powerful weapon. We
had been carrying that kind of con
cealed weapon on our person for some
time, and we thought this would be
a good chance to try Its effects. We
said to the foreman: why don't yeu
get a rocking chair for strangers to
sit on when they are revising our
copy" We spoke in loud voice, SO
that the pale young man would not
fail to hear. If he understood what
we said he succeeded in conceaIing his
emotions most admirably. The print
ers, however, seemed to enjoy our re
marks. We we're encouraged, and
tried again. IF we have written
anything that be doesn't like. don't
put it in the paper on that account. :"
We said this to the foreman, but at
the pale young man. The foreman
smiled and said he would try and
make him feel at home.
Ask him." we continued, IF he
wouldn't like to relieve us Of the bur.
den Of editing the paper, in considera,
ton Of a princely salary, to be paid
promptly every Saturday night"
We used our most powerful and
sneerful tone of voice in saying this.
but 1t seemed to have no effect on the
pale young man. He knocked down a
display advertisement as he reached
out for q fresh piece Of manuscript
literature.
IF our friend with the bilious eve
must have Siftings in installments, and
in advance, couldn't you find out
where he boards and send the proofs to
his hotel2 1t would save him the bother
OF walking up to the Office. If there
IS one thing we pride ourselves on
moro than another it is on being
accommodating 10 strangers, probably
he would like to drop into the busi,
ness ,0tilce and look over the books or
check the cash account. BY ali means
extend to him all the courtesy DOS,
sible." p''
We thought that surely would move
him, but he went on calmly and Sc
lTenely reading our article on "Tba
Punishment OF Crime" as If he had
not heard word we said, and vet we
were not three feet from him. and
talking as loud as we could.
We wanted to arouse his angry mas.
sions, but we're foiled. We we're
afraid that We would do something
Wlcked i we stayed there any Longer
so we left. Half an hour afterwsrd
when the foreman same into tbe edi'
torlal room, we asked him II he eonld
understand how the young man could
stand eli that scatbing sarcasm tbai
VIC had poured out 10 him.
Understand in" Then the 1ore.
man laughed loud and long n sbo1Id
say don't you know him?7