The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1885-11-21
A SCARF-PIN'S STORY,
In Which It Exposes an Editors
Weaknesses.

On the editors desk, Uttered with ex.
tracts, manuscripts, exchanges, notes,
writing paper and those other trihes
which give newspaper Office some
thing of its individuality, there stands a
round and sticky mucilage bottle with
rakish brush handle protruding from
its gum-lined mouth like the mast of a
pirate craft, which, by the way, it re-
sembles in more ways than one. Around
the base of this useful utensil there
crept a nimble and inquisitive roach.
Long acquaintance with newspaper of
fces-he had been in but one, but they
are all alike-had made him fearless.
The editor was busy at his work, and
minded him no more than he did the
predatory shears and the other mute
implements of the craft. Experience
had taught him that when the editor
was busy he paid no attention TO reaches,
and right he was. Few newspapers,
indeed, recompense an itor for the
time expended in killing reaches. He
knew this, did this wise little brown
backed, multi legged roach, and he
knew great deal more, for not ever a
roach can live in a newspaper Office
without learning something. Therefore,
when the fancy to travel and the op-
portunity in the shape of the towering
height of the mucilage brush were pre-
sented to him he marched in that direc-
ton with a bravery that only comes
with an immunity from danger long and
certain. Up the glutinous sides of the
bottle he slowly crawled, taking care
not to adhere too closely to the gluey
surface, and by dint of perseverance
and industry he was soon rewarded by
reaching the summit of The timber
Back of the bottle, facing the editor,
stands row of shelves, the depository
of odds and ends gathered from every
where and nowhere, piled in hapless
confusion. In this mass of disUl der
there lies a metal Scarf-pin, whose
head is fashioned in the image of a roach
"a queer, grotes 4ue, pop-eyed, whimsi-
cal, Japanese roach. 1t was this that
caught the insects eye.
What's that?n he remarked in sur
prise, for he fancied in his egotism that
he knew all there was, so easy is it
even for roach to initiate his superb
ors. IA
The scarf-pin made no reply. After
waiting a reasonable time for response
the little sightseer again observed, this
time in louder tone of voice:
Hello, you there! Who are you?"
Becoming impatient and not little
vexed at the evident want of manners
in his strange contemporary, the roach,
with alacrity, retraced his cps, and in
few minutes he had mounted to the
shelf where the scarf-pin lay.
''Well," declared the insect, with a
trace of pompousness becoming his long
residence in the office, '.Inever saw you
before. Been here long?"
No." responded the scarf-pin in a
hard, metallic voice. which was part of
his nature. mot very long"
We'll" replied the roach, who was
at heart disposed to be gentleman,
81 m glad to see you anyway, although
you weren't very cordial at first.''
No" answered the scarf-pin, apollo
ge ically, 81 can't move my neck very
easily, 1t is rather stiff, to tell the
truth.
mo wonder" continued the roach,
Hospitality, ''you have been exposed to
the draft. Come with me to my room
under the inkstand. 1t is very cosy
there
Cant" replied the pin stifiy. 81
can't move without being lifted.''
''Rheumatism?'
No. 1 don't suffer any pain. L
think it is an organic trouble.
''Ah!" mused the roach, knowingly,
as if it understood what organic
meant He had learned that silence is
often taken for wisdom, had this imi-
tative little rogue. "Well. you needn't
be afraid of him." continued the insect,
pointing with one of his feelers to the
busy editor. He doesn't amount to |
ANYTHING. You ought to know him
once, Why, do you know, he is a thief.
He doesn't half earn his money. l |
heard the proprietor say so to the edi-
tor n-chief just the other day. He cuts
out strips of paper and then writes
comments on them, which he thinks |
are funny. The proof-reader and 1
know better If you ever want to know
what an editor really amounts to just |
ash the proof-reader. He knows"
.'Eou read his work, do youP" in
quired the pin, with visible respect.
Not ], returned the roach, with an
sir of ennui. mingled with superior