Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-05-28

Col. Wnttcrson Pcaniicss In CINCINNATI
His First Position on a northern
Paper.

His FIRST Position on a Norihcfh
Paper.
The gratifying announcement that
| Horny Wattersou, Editor OF the Louis
Vile C0Ujcy-J0H1Hai, is recovering
| from his illness, recalls the fact that
when he was in New York city he re-
lated the following story about his ex-
periencc i'm Cincinnati:
IL arrived i'm Cincinnati one buster
| inc winter night. ragged, hungry
stranger, just out OF the rebel army. l
| had Just enough money TO pay for Il
nights lodging. How well | remcm-
! Der wandering about the streets of the
city, wondering what the next day
| would bring me. ! believed that | had
ability as journalist, and | was salts
fled that if had an opportunity | could
prove it, | was in the act several times
of entering the different morning news
papers, and applying for work, but |
was so doWnhcarted that did not have
| the courage TO DO so. | took good
sleep that night, but did not get up un-
Ill late the next day. My case was a
desperate one, and | felt that | must
secure employment. | never felt more
determined i'm my life. felt rs if |
could face the sternest editor in the land
| without a culver. I'm this frame OF mind
! started TO make n tour OF the various
Offices. At the first Office the editor, in
a blunt way. told me that his staff was
crowded and then resumed his work.
/ visited all the newspapers with the
samc result. except the Times Office.
that paper had a large job printing
Office attached to it, which did Il great
deal OF theatrical printing. | also
noticed that thc paper had a miserably
written dramatic column. | called on
Col. Starbuck, the editor and proprietor,
and asked if there were any vacancies
on his staff.
There are never any vacancies on a
good paper, but there is always room
for GOOD man, said the colonel.
Il shall never forget that reply, and
it is one / have always made to appli-
cants for positions ON the CoHrta-JOUr-
uH | told Col. Starbuck that /
thought | could improve upon his
dramatic column, and proposed to write
il tor nothing if he would give me -
per cent commission on all the printing
and advertisement, | secured from the
thcaters He declined the proposition.
As ! was about to leave he turned to me
and said he would give ne %l2 q week
10 perform that service. What 4 change
came over me. | Immediately felt my
self rich. told him / would accept it.
He then said that I must not feel offend
ed II al the end of the week he found
did not suit and he dismissed me.
knew would ~ujt, for knew the :ull
extent of my abilities. and | told him
that if i was not competent | should
consider it an ollcnse if he did not dis
charge me-
This was the first Of the week, and l
started i'm that day. never undertook
task with more enthusiasm. | attend
cd the thcaters every night. Before the
end OF the week Col. Starbuch expressed
his approval. On Saturday afternoon
] went TO the thcatcrs to collect the
money for printing and advertising due
the Times. At the National thcateF
after collecting the money. | was hand
cd an envelope addre--odto ne. Sup
posing il contained au item OK news or
"A ticket, / pat il in my pocket unopened.
At Pixies another envelope bearing my
umc was presented me, and the same
thing occurred at Woods thcatcr.
When | returned 10 the Office | opened
the envelope, and found thc ones pre-
scented tome az The National and Pike :
each contained Sl0 The one received
at Wood contained -. | told Col.
otarbuci the circumstances and tender
od him the money. lie said that it did
moi belong TO him and he would not
accept it, said it certainly did not
belong to me, and that would not
accept it. returned the donation to
the theatrical managers. They said the
money had been given in consideration
of the favorable notices had given their
performances.
"Co,, ~,arbuol short time after
ward made ne managing editor.'