The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-02-03
HE HAD NERVE.
The Travelling Printer and an iowa Town
New York SUM-

New York SUM-
! had been devil in The Bugler office, i'll
town in Iowa. about four months, when the
editor was one day called away. The man
who was acting as composition, pressman
Job printer, collector, solicitor, etc. seized
the opportunity to go off on spree. and l
was thus left in sole charge.
Just after dinner, as was washing the
roller and cleaning up generally, in walked
the first old 'sprinter bum" i had ever seen.
The buds on his back weren't worth silver
quarter his hair was long and unkempt his
face covered with dirt ald bristies, and his
breath scented the room. He was ragged
dirty, homeless, and pennies, and had been
let out OF the county jail, eight miles away,
that morning.
t"HOwdy, boy" ne said as he came in, and
without a second glance at me he took a seat
at the desk and attacked 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 walked over
to the rack, slung in two or three lines of
display type, anc then stepped to the small
plea case and set up the body Of a circular
reading:
He Has Arrived
The WOrld-Renowned Prof. Peters
Nentriloquist, Mesmerist? Phrenologist!
Prof. Peters has engaged Snyder's Hall for
the evening OF sept. -, 1865 tomorrow
evening", and viii give the citizens OF GARNER
City an exhibition of his wonderful powers
in YentrilOquism. mesmerism, and phlen-
oogy. Will initiate the notes of all birds;
will speak to you in sixteen languages; will
wager 500 To - that ne can mesmerize any
person in the audience; can read your char
acter 10y feeling your head will forfeit 500
If he fails i'm a single case. Medals from all
the crowned heads of Europe, Flattering
press notices from the leading newspapers OF
the world. Everybody turn out. Admission
only - cents. Children free.
lie placed this matter on galley, pulled
a,proof and corrected it. and then cuta lot of
print paper TO the right size and said TO me:
Get up the roller and roll for me.
/ complied, and he worked oil POO OF the
circulars. He was not only u good compost
tor, but he wrestled that old hand-press
around like man who had never done any
| thing else. When we had finished he said:
Take the tin pail and get me quart of
beer Tell EN- to charge il to the office.
was afraid of the man, and | got the beer
and paid for 1t out OF my own money. He
| drank the whole quart with only one breath.
Now then, take these circulars out and
distribute EN-, he slid as he put away the
| pail. BE good boy and I'll give YOU two
| tickets to this great entertainment"
That an inducement and in two hours
| with the help of another boy, had billed
| the town. When j returned the bum had
|
/ new suit OF clothes. He had gone TO a
! ClOthiers and bought them and had them
| charged 10 the Office, claiming that he had
| been engaged as foreman. Further than
| that, he had been and engaged the hall. l
| had been back only five minutes when the
| booty compositor came in. He had scarcely
| entered the door when the bum rose up,
waved him back, and tragcally exclaimed;
go hence. This is no place for the de-
| PRAYED. How dare you enter my office in
| your present condition.
The comp backed down stairs drunken
than ever, and after the stranger had ques-
| toned me rs 10 when the editor would re-
| turn he went to the hotel and engaged the
best room. had heard that somebody held
! a mortgage on the office, and il struck I've
| that this must DC the mans agent. j was
| young and green, and had never seen dis
play of tramp printers gall.
| Next morning he took possession OF the
| office. When the now sc bered composition
arrived the bum selected copy for him
and bossed him around, and there was no
rebellion. lie wrote and set mp several eel.
itorials himself made up the outside pages
of the paper in neat manner. and worked
of two Jobs for which $3.50 cash was paid
in. During the day two subscribers paid III
81, and all the money went into the stran
| gers pocket.
The editor was TO be gone two days and
the man took such complete possession that
| we DeheYcd IN ms right ana did not Kick
During the day he got hat and new pail
of boots the same way he got the clothes
and he drank three quarts of beer at our eX
pense.
Professor Peters circulars filled Snyder
| Hall that evening 10 overlooking, and ii wa
the old bum who stood AT the door and tool
the money. When the last person had passed
in the door-keeper had slid into the dark
ness. and the people sat there for half al
| hour before they realized that they had beer
| duped. Then a grand man-hunt was organ
| lied. but il was too late The bum la,
stolen skiff and dropped down the river
| inst about $50 ahead Of orr town