Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-01-21
HE WORKED THE TOWN.
HOW Tramp Printer Made Thin.
Interesting Out in iowa.

HOW "a Tramp Printer MADE Tb,no.
Interesting out in iowa.
New York Sun.
had ocen devil in The Basler
office, In town IN Iowa, about four
months when the editor was one dav
called away. The man who was act
ing as compositor, pressman, iob
printer, collector, solicitor, and 81
forth, seized the opportunity to 90 off
on spree, and was thus left in sole
charge.
Just after dinner, as was washing
the roller and cleaning up generally
in walked the first old printer bumh
l had ever seen. The buds on his
back weren't worth a silver quarter,
his hair was long and unkempt, his
face covered with dirt and Dristles.
and his breath scented the room. He
was ragged, dirty, homeless, and pen.
less, ana had been let cut of the coun-
ty Jail, eight miles away, that morn
ing.
"Howdy, boy" he said, as he came
in; and without second glance at me
he took a seat at the desk and attack.
ed the remains of my lunch. When
he had eaten the last crumb he picked
his teeth with the editorial pen, peeled
off his old coat, and commanded:
boy, hunt me up job stick"
obeyed, and as he took it he walk
ed over TO the rack, slung in two or
three lines of display type, and then
stepped to the small plea case and set
up the body of a circular reading:
HE HAS ARRIVED
THE woRLD-RENowNrD PROF. PETERS,
vENTRILoQuIsTl MEs1ERIsTl PHREHoLoeIsrl
Prof Peters has engaged Sydneys hall for the
evening Of Sept. %, 1868 tomorrow evening" and
will give the citizens Of GARNER City al exhibit
ton of his wonderful powers in ventriloquisc
mesmerism and phIenology. viii initiate the
notes of all birds. viii speak to you in sixteen
languages VIII wager 500 to s. that he can
mesmerize any person in the audience. Can read
your character by feeling Of your beard VIII
forfeit $500 il he tails in a single case. Medals
from all the crowned heads OF Europe Flatter-
ing press notices from the leading newspapers Of
the world. Everybody turn out Admission %
cents. Children free.
He placed this matter on galley,
pulled a proof and corrected it, and
then cut a lot OF print paper to the
right size and said to me:
''Get the roller and roll for me.
| complied, and he worked off 200
of the circulars. He was not only a
good compositor, but he wrestled that
old hand press around like man who
had never done anything else. When
we had finished he SAID:
Take the tin pail and get me a
quart OF beer. Tell 'em to charge it
TO the Office"
l was afraid of the man, and l got
the beer and paid for it out of my
own money. He drank the whole
quart with only one breath.
Nov, then, take these circulars out
and distribute 'em," he said, as be
put away the pail. ''Be a good boy
and I'll give you two tickets to this
great entertainment"
That Was indueement enough, and
in two hours, with the help of another
hoy, had billed the town. When |
returned, the "bum" had washed up,
combed his hair, and had on a new
suit of clothes. He had gone to
clcthier's and bought them and had
them charged to the office, claiming
that he had been engaged as foreman.
Further than that, he had been and
engaged the hall. | had been back
only five minutes when the booty
compositor came in. He bad scarcely
entered the door when the "bum" rose
up. waved him back, and tragically
exclaimed:
go hencel This is no place for the
depraved How dare you enter my
Office in your present condition.
The comp" backed down stairs
drunker than ever, and after the
stranger had questioned me as to
when the editor would return, he
went to The hotel and engaged the best
room. | had heard that somebody
held a mortgage on the office, and It
struck me that this must he the mans
agent. was young and green, and
had never seen display OF tramp
printers gall.
Next morning he took possession OF
the office When the now sobered
compositos arrived the "bumn select
ed copy for him, and bossed him
around, and there was no rebellion.
He wrote and set up several editorials
himself, made up the outside pages OF
the paper in a neat manner, and
worked off two jobs, for which 1915
cash was paid in. During the day
two subscribers paid in 81, and all the
money went into the strangers peck
ct
The editor was to be gone two days,
and the man took such complete
possession that we believed in his
right, and did not kick. During the
day he got hat and new pair OF
boots tae same way he got the clothes
and he drank three quarts Of beer at
our expense.
Prof. Peters circulars filled Say
der's hall that evening to overfowing
and il was the old bum who stood at
the door and took the money. When
the last person had passed IN, the
doorkeeper slid into darkness, and the
people sat there half an hour before
they realized that they had been dup
ed. Then grand man hunt was or
gained, but it was too late. The bum
had stolen skiff and dropped down
the river, just about $3.50 snead OF
our town.