The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1886-03-20
WATTEBS0NIS WORK
THE BEGINNING OF His CAREER AS
A Newspaper MAN.

Penniiess Ex-confedefate soldier In
cineinnati-Hfs First Posjtion ON
Newsnaper.-coi. starbuck's Repiy--A
Beginning at sie a Week.
a arrival in Cincinnati one clustering
winter night, a ragged, hungry stranger,
just out of the rebel army, had Just olough
money to pay for nights lodging ] ow
well remember wande. ing about the streots
Of the city, wondering what th1 next day
would bring me believed that bad ubil-
ity as journalist, and ] was satisfied that
II | had an opportunity could prove it
was in the act several times OF ent ring tho
different morning newspapers and applying
for work, bit was 50 down-hearted that
did not have the courage to do 50. t'ox
cool sleep that night, and did not get mp
until late the next day My ease wcs a
desperate one, and felt that 4 must secure
employment never felt more determined
In my life / fe.t a. il could face thu
sternest editor in the lanl without a CULVER
In this frame OF mind l started out to mako
tour of the various Offices. At the first o Ice
the editor, in blunt way, told me tina his
staff was crowded and then resumed his
work. 1 vista III thenewspapois with the
came result, except Tho Times Office That
paper had large JOB printing Office at
tached TO it, which did great deal Of theat-
rical printing l also noticed that the paper
had miserably written dramatic column
called on Col. Starbuck, the editor and
proprietor, and asked IL thers was any
vacancies on his staff.
4 here are never any vacanies on good
paper, but there is always room for good
man., said the colonel
BEGINNING Al sl2 WEEK.
81 shall never forget that reply, and 1t is
one have always made to applicants for
positions on The Courier-Joufnal told
Col Starbuck that l Thought ! could Inn
prove upon his dramatic column, and pro-
posed to write it for nothing il he would give
me p per cent commission on all the print
ing ana advertisements / secured from tho
theatres. He declined the proposition AS
| was about TO leave he turned to me and
said he would give me sl2 week to per-
form that servi1e, What a change came
over me- l Immediately felt myself rich.
told him I would accept IT, He then said
that l must not feel offended If at the end
of the week he found / did not suit and he
dismissed me. knew l would suit, for
knew the full extent Of my abilities and
told him that il l was not competent
should consider it an offenss If he did not
discharge me
"This was the first of the week, and /
started In that day. l never undertook
task with more enthusiasm lattended the
theatres every night Before the end of the
week Col Starbuck expressed his approval
On Saturday afternoon l went to the thea
tres TO collect the money for printing and
advertising in The Times At the National
theatre, after collecting the money, l was
handed an envelope addressed to me- Sup
posing it contained an item of news or a
ticket, put it into my pocket unopened
At Pixies another envelope bearing my
name was presented me, and the same thing
occurred to me at Woods theatre. When
returned to the office / opened the envelopes
and found the ones presented TO me at this
National and Pixies each contained $40
The one received at Woods contained S. l
told Col Starbuek the circumstances and
rendered him the money. He said that it
did not belong to him, and ho would not ac-
cept it / said IL certainly did not be-
long to mo and that / would not accept it.
returned the donations to tho theatrical
managers They sa d the money had been
| given in consideration Of the favorable no
tices had given their performances
| "Col. Starbuck a short time afterward
made me managing editor -Watterson's
Letter.