The Iola register., 1885-05-08
DEMOCRAT OFFICE,
J. NJ. GLIDING.

We follow them into the little cramped
room, the s'Sanctum," but, being fre-
quent visitors here, our presence at this
time is of second consideration to that
of the gentleman and lady who have
proceeded us.
4-My name is Worth; this is my
daughter Effie. She is anxious TO see
how you set types We live in St
Louis, and have happened in your little
village for the day. Effie has never been
in a printing Office before now, though
you may think it strange, as ST. Louis
is full of them.
Our editor. reporter, foreman and
chief compositor, all in one, bowed
kindly to the visitors, and, being very
busy with circus agent dismissed
them into the care of Fun, as above
noted.
Fun came forward bravely, and
again rehearsed the formula of "show-
ing visitors" through the Democrat of
flee.
There was not much to show The
old-fashioned press that would. in time,
kill two ordinary men to work. was
shown. The little .grasshopper, nov
city job press, perched on one end of a
shoe box, the one composing stone"
with the paper '.forms,'' then the Two
consumptive type racks" where the
leases" were laid. A picture of Abra-
ham Lincoln and some horse bills orna-
mented the walls, while the office towel
stood in one corner-in mourning.
But perhaps the oldest piece of furni-
ture-(poetic license about the office,
was Fum-himself. And while he is
explaining the mysteries of the .'art
preseryative" to our visitors, we will
know some of his history, for he has a
little one-and yet, q greater one to
come.
The winter of 1856 was bitterly cold.
1t was one of the toughest days of that
winter-early in the morning-that Mr..
j. NJ. Gliding, the new proprietor of the
c. Democrat, walked briskly down
the streets of H. Stopping at a
livery stable he called out to a half
frozen. ragged boy who was feeding
the horses: slump around, FUN; help
me harness Dave" I've got tough
drive Ito c. to-day. ByJoye, Fun,
is that all the clothes you've got? It's
an outrage that Weeks don't treat you
better. You are nearly freezing. boy"
''Well, sir, do my best to please
him; but he's drunk most of his time
and then catch it. / have thought to
run away. Say, Mr.. Olding. won't
You take me into your office? I'll work
so hard, and try to earn my board"
And then the poor, shivering lad
troke into fit of weeping.
Mr.. Olding looked compassionately
upon the boy. He knew the boy was
leading hard, degrading life Left an
orphan, and "bound OUT to John
Weeks, a rough, intempera.e fellow;
Fun was, indeed, traversing thorny
road. But. however much our kind
hearted editor pitied the boy, he him.
self was too poor to add another burden
70 his now heavy load.
He had but recently purchased the
c. Democrat, and, against much OPP
position. was endeavoring to make p
living from it He had not as yet
moved his family to c., but drove
down with his little black horse
Dave" hitched TO the funny old bug
gy, every day, from H.
'.Well, well. Fun; don't cry said
Mr. Gliding. gently, as he stepped into
the buggy and took the Rins, III see
what can be done. BE a good boz, and
may be we can see what we can see"
And he drove briskly away.
"Wal :, what'n thunder You bawlin'
about. now?' And old John Weeks
came lounging up to the stable. 'sHain't
We got them horses fed yit? I'll give
We ten 7vinutes to clean up the stalls
in, and If We amt through agin' / git
baek--haL y. knowr'
Fun watched his tyrant disappear
through the door Of the nearest saloon.
He picked up the lay-fork mechanical