Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-02-05
A SCARF-PIN'S STORY,
In Which It Exposes an Editors
Weaknesses.

On the editors desk. Uttered with ex.
tracts. manuscripts. exchanges, notes.
writing paper and tl'ose other tribes
which give newspaper Office some
thing Of It's individuality, there stands q
round and sticky mucllage bottle With
a rakish brush handle protrudlng from
its gum-liued mouth like the mast OF q
pirate craft, which, By the way, II re-
scmbles In more ways than one. Around
the base OF this useful utensil there
crept nimble and inquisitive roach.
p Long acquaintance with newspaper Of
fces-hc had been in but. one, but thoy
are all alike--had made him fearless.
The editor was busy OF his work. and
minded him 10 more than he did the
predatory shears and the other mute
implements OF the craft. Experience
had taught him that when the editor
was busy he paid no attention to reaches,
and right he was. Few newspapers,
indeed. recompouso an itor for the
time expended in killing reaches. He
knew this, did this wise little brown
backed, multi legged roach, mud he
knew n great deal more, for not over n
roach can live In u newspaper office
without learning something. Therefore.
when the fancy to travel and the op-
portunity in tho shape Of the towering
height OF tho mucilage brush were pre-
sented to him he marched in that direc-
ton with bravery thNt only comes
with an immunity from danger long and
certain. Up the g,utnous sides OF the
bottle he slowly crawled, taking care
not to adhere too closely TO the gluoy
surface, and by dlnt OF perseverance,
and industry he was soon rewarded by
reaching the summit Of The timber.
Back Of the bottle, facing the editor.
stands row of shelves, tho depository
Of odds and ends gathered from every
where and nowhere, piled In hapless
confusion. In this mass Of disorder
there lies metal scarf-pin, whose
head is fashioned in the image Of roach
IA queer. grotesque, pop-eyed. whimsi-
cal, Japanese roach. It was this that
caught the insects eye.
"Wha.'s thatp" he remarked In sur.
prise, for he fancied In his egotism that
be knew all there was. so easy is Il
even for roach to initiate his superb
ors.
| The scarf-pin made no reply. After
waiting a reasonable time for response
the little sightseer again observed. this
time in louder tone OF voice;
Hello. you there! Who are your
Becoming impatient and not little
yexed at the evident want Of manners
In his strange contemporary, the roach,
with alacrity, retraced his s'eps, and IN
few minutes he had mounted TO the
shelf where the scarf-pin lay.
"Well," declared the insect, with 8
trace Of pompousness becoming his long
residence in the Office, II lnever saw you
before. Been here longp"
NO." responded the scarf-pin in 1
hard, metallic voice. which was part o
his nature. mot very long"
well" replied the roach. who wa
OF heart disposed to be gentleman
"rm glad TO see you anyway, although
you weren't very cordial at FIRST"
"No." answered the scarf-pin. apollo
getically, II can't move my neck verl
easily. It Is rather stiff, to tell th'
truth"
"No wonder" continued the roach
Hospitality, lyon have been exposed Il
tho draft Como with me to my room
under the inkstand. 1t Is very COS.
there" -.
Cant" replied the pin stiffly. I"
can't move without being lifted"
Rheumatism"
mo. don't suffer any pain.
think It is an organic trouble"
"Ahl' mused the, roach, knowingly
as II it understood, what "organic'
meant. He had learned that silence |
often taken for wisdom, had this imi
tative little rogue. ..'Well. you needn'
be afraid Of him." continued the insect
pointing with one Of his feelers to tn
busy editor. "He doesn't amount t
anything. You ought to know hir
once. Why, do you know, he is thiel
He doesn't half earn his money.
heard the proprietor say so to the ed
tor-in- chief Just the other day. He cut
out strips Of paper and then write
comments on thom, which he think
are funny. The proof-reader aud
know better. II you ever want TO knot
+ what an editor really amounts to jus
ask the proof-reader. He knows"
"You read his work. do. yOup" In