St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-11-09
THE EDITORS LOVE AFFAIR.
How il all Came Out Through an
Observing Coo NrOach.

yiduality. there stands round and sticky
mucilage bottle with rakish brush handle
protruding from its gum-lined mouth ike
the mast of pirate craft, which, by the
way, it resembles in more ways than one
Around the base OF this useful utensil there
crept nimble and inquistlve roach. Long
acquaintance with newspaper ofnceS-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 tnah
he did the predatory shears and the other
mute indictments of the craft. EXptr ence
had taught him that when the editor was
busy he paid no attention to reaches. and
right he was. Few newspapers, indeed.
recOmDense an editor 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 even a roach can live in newspaper
Office without learning something. There
fore. when the fancy to travel and the OPP
portunity i'll the shape or the towering
height of the mucilage brush were presented
to him he marched in that direction with
bravery that only comes with an immunity
from danger long and certain. Up the glu-
tinouS 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 everywhere
and nowhere piled in hapless confusion.
In this mass of disorder there lies metal
scarf pin, whose head is fashioned in the
image of a roach-a queer, grotesque. pop
eyed whimsical, japanese roach. 1t was
this that caught the insects eve.
whats that?" ne remarked in surprise,
for he fanced in his egotism that he knew
how easy it is even for roach to initiate
its Superi0rS.
The scatr-pln made no reply. After
waiting Il reasonable time for a response
the little sight s2tr again observed, this
time in a louder tone o. 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 steps. and in few
minutes he had mounted to the shelf where
the scarf-pin lay.
We'll" declared the insect with trace
of pompousness becoming his long residence
in the Office, Il never saw you before.
Been here lOng?"
NO" responded the scarf-pin in hard,
mot very long"
We'll" replied the roach, who was at
heart disposed to be gentleman, L am
glad to see you anyway, although you
weren't very cordial at first"
No" answered the scarf-pin, apologetic-
ally, Il can't move my neck very easily.
1t is rather stiff, to tell the truth
NO wonder" continued the roach, hos
pitably, ''you have been exposed to the
draft. Come with ME to my room under
the inkstand. 1t is very cosy there"
''Can t." replied the pin stif1y. 81
can't move without being lifted"
rheumatism"
mo. | don't suffer any pain. l think
1t is an organic trouble"
All" unused the roach knowingly, as ii
it understood what organic meant. He
had learned that silence is often taken for
wisdom, had this initiative little rogue.
''Wel. you needn't be afraid of him." con-
jinued the insect. pointing with one of his
ieelers to the editor. lie doesn't amount
20 anything You ought to know him
once. Why, do you know, he is
.hief He doesn't half earn his money.
heard the proprietor say so to the editor
n-chie Just the other day. He cuts out
strips of paper and then writes comments
IN them, which he thinks are funny. The
proof-reader and | know better. If you
ever want TO know what an editor really
amounts to just ask the proOf-reader. He
knows"
You read his work, do you ?" inquired
the pin. with visible respect.
Not l." returned the roach, with an air
of ennui, mingled with superior wisdom.
mo. sir. We newspaper fellows never
read what is printed i'll the papers. We
leave that for the public. Then again he
uses the shears until they ache and the
paste brush is worn out with overwork.
The only thing about the desk that has an
easy time is the pen. He seldom uses that.
The pen lies down with me under the ink
stand, and we often talk about him. He
agrees with me exactly"
Il have no doubt you are right" replied
the pin, politely.
But where did you come from?"
ga girl bought me and gave me to him"
'Ah," returned the roach, refectively;
''was she pretty?"
No" responded the pin, ''but," he
added with enthusiasm. ''She was more
than that. She was beautiful. So he
thought, and so thought too. You see
had chance to see great deal of her very
closely. He wore me on his scarf, and
when her face was Bonded over his and her
eyes looked into his l can tell you nearly
lost my own heart. Yes" continued the
pin, after a short pause, Il am an expert
on feminine beauty. l have, may say
without egotism, been greatly admired
by the ladies. have often been on ex-
hibition in jewelers. windows and have
seen my share of the world. If l had been
made with two legs and arms instead of
this long, golden pin feel sure l would
how hEno InAa I
know l would"
''No doubt of it, observed the roach.
''How long ago was this?"
''About year"
eyes, 1 recolect it now" replied the in
sect. He used to neglect his work at that
time. and wrote a great deal of what he
called poetry, but it wasn't. My friend,
the pen. said at the time it was such mawk-
iSh stuff it often used to make him sick,
and one day he came nearly being dis
charged for having poem about Phillis-
whoever she was-seJ up instead of joke
about the ice cream man. He also bought
some handsome clothes and tall hat, and
he used to shave every day. and wear
gloves. The paper weight told me one day
when was out he saw him look at himself
IN pocket mirror and smile as though he
was the most contented man-with himself
in the word.'
We'll, how did it end?"
Badly" replied the pin with sigh
badly. One day she returned him his
presents and went to Europe l thought for
time he would go crazy from grief
Is. noticed it, too" answered the roach.
HE used to sit down at the desk and
write while the tears stood in his eyes, and
the editor says he did the best work he ever
did. | have often noticed" continued the
insect wisely. THAT when the editor laughs
as he writes the readers cry, but when he
cries the public laughs. Funny, isn't it?'