The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1886-05-01

A Penni1ess Ex-Confsderats Soldier In
Cincinnati-Hls First Position ON .
Nswspaper-CoL starbuck's Rsply-A
beginning ut o12 . Week.
II arrived in Cincinnati sons clustering
winter night, q ragged, hungry stranger,
money to pay for q nights lodging. How
Of the city, wondering what the next day
would bring me- believed that ! had abil-
ity as journalist, and was satisfied that
If had an opportunity Icoud prove Il
was in the act several times Of entering ths
different morning newspapers and applying
for work, but was 90 down-hearted that I
did not have the courage 70 do 80 took .
good sleep that night, and did not get up
until late the next day. My case was .
desperate one, and felt that must secure
employment never felt moro determined
In my life felt as IL could face the
sternest editor in the land without quiver.
In this frame Of mind ] started out to make o
tour of the various officeA At tho first office
the editor, in blunt way, told me that his
staff was crowded and then resumed bis
work. visited ell the newspapers with the
same result, except The Times Office. That
paper had large job printing Office at
tached to it, which did a great deal Of theat-
rical printing also noticed that the paper
had miserably written dramatic column
called on Col Starbuck, the editor and
proprietor, and asked Il there was any
vacancies on his staff.
Il here are never any vacanies on good
paper, but there is always room for good
man. said the colonel
BEGINNING Ar 412 WEEK
Il shall never forget that reply, and it is
one / have always made to applicants for
positions ON The Courier-Jeurnal II told
Col Starbuck that Nhought could i'm
prove upon his dramatic column, and pro-
posed to write it for nothing II be would give
me Is per cent commission on all the print
ing ana advertisements 4 secured from the
theatres He declined thu proposition As
was about to leave he turned to me and
said ..he would give me $40 week to per-
over me- Immediately felt myself rich.
told him would accept it He then said
that must not feel offended il at the end
Of the week he found did not suit and he
dismissed me- knew / would suit, for
knew the full extent Of my abilities and
told him that if I was not competent
should consider it an offense il he did not
discharge me.
"This was the first of the week, and
started in that day. ! never undertook
task with moro enthusiasm. attended the
theatres every night Before the end of the
week Col Starbuck expressed his approval
On Saturday afternoon went to the thea
tres to collect the money for printing and
advertising in The Times At the National
theatre, after collecting the money, ! was
handed an envelope addressed to me. Sup
posing it contained an item Of news or
ticket, put it into my pocket unopened.
At Pixies another envelope bearing my
mama was presented ms, and the SANS thing
occurred to me at Woods theatre When
returned to the Office opened the envelopes
and found the ones presented to me at thu
National and Pixies each contained $40
The one received at Woods contained S5
told Col Starbuck the circumstances and
rendered him the money. He said that it
did not belong to him, and he would not ac-
cept it / said it certainly did not be-
long to me and that would not accept it
l returned the donations to the theatrical
managers They said the money had been
given in consideration OF tho favorable no.
tices had given their performances
"Col. Starbuck short time afterward
made me managing editor. w atterson's
Letter.
An Unpioturesque Highway Robber.
AS for dakoits. thev are exactly like the