The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-05-06
TWENTY YEARS AGO.
Col. watterson Penniless i'm Cincinnati
His First Position on a Northern
Paper.

The gratifying announcement that
Henry Watterson, Editor of the Louis
vile Courier-Journdl. is recovering
from bis illness, recalls the fact that
when he was in New York city he re-
lated the following story about his ex-
perience in Cincinnati:
Il arrived in Cincinnati one bluster-
ing winter night. a ragged, hungry
stranger. Just out of the rebel army. /
had just enough money to pay for a
nights lodging. How well l remem-
ber wandering about the streets of the
city, wondering what the next day
would bring me. l 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 I
was so downhearted that did not have
| the courage to do so. / took a good
sleep that night, but did not get up un-
til late the next day. My case was a
desperate one, and l felt that l must
secure employment. / never felt more
determined in my life. felt as if l
could face the sternest editor in the land
without quiver. In this frame of mind
started to make i tour of the various
offices. At the first Office the editor, in
blunt way, told me that his staff was
crowded and then resumed his work
visited all the newspapers with the
same result, except the Times office.
that paper had a large job printing
Office attached to it, which did a great
deal of theatrical printing. I also
noticed that the paper had miserably
written dramatic column. l called on
Col. Starbuck, the editor and proprietor,
and asked if there were any vacancies
on his staff.
''There are never any vacancies ON q
good paper, but there is always room
for good man." said the colonel
Il shall never forget that reply, and
it is one l have always made to appli-
cants for positions on the CO,lgier-Toatr-
nal. / told Col Starbuck that
thought 1 could improve upon his
dramatic column, and proposed to write
it for nothing if he would give me 25
per cent commission on all the printing
and advertisements secured from the
theaters. He declined the proposition.
As l was about to leave he turned to me
and said he would give me S12 week
to perform that service. What a change
came over me. Immediately felt my
self rich. l told him would accept it.
He then said that must not feel offend
ed 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 if was not competent / should
consider it an offense if he did not dis
charge me-
This was the first of the week, and
started in that day. never undertook
a task with more enthusiasm. / attend
ed the theaters every night. Before the
end of the week Col Starbuck expressed
his approval. On Saturday afternoon
1 went to the theaters to collect the
money for printing and advertising due
the Times. At the National theater
after collecting the money, was hand
ed an envelope addressedto me. Sup
posing it contained an item of news or
ticket, l put it in my pocket unopened.
At Pixies another envelope bearing my
name was presented me, and the same
thing occurred at Woods theater.
When ! returned to the office / opened
the envelope, and found the ones pre-
sented to me at the National and Pixies
each contained $40, The one received
at Woods contained S5. / told Col.
Starbuck the circumstances and tender
ed him the money. He said that it did
not belong to him and he would not
accept it. said it certainly did not
belong to me, and that l 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.
"Col, Starbuck a short time after
ward made me managing editor"