Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-10-04
LAST Sheet OF COPY.
why the OLD nan Failed to Edit the
telegraph.

the eldest printer ON the paper could |
hardly remember the date-he had
diift.d into town and secured position |
on the reportorial staff Of the Morning
Telegraph. In tine he WAS promoted |
~ night city editor, and passed through |
the var ious stages Of promotion on thel
local staff. Then old age came on and
untitled him tor the work which Ia gen.
orally given TO the younger and bri gbter
members OF the local staff Never al
brilliant writer-his chief recommen-
dalton being that he WAS familiar with
the art Of sticking type.-snd eeing I'M
fitted by nature for work on the editorial
staff of the paper, Old Black was qui-
city shelved In the telegraph depart
meDt.
Just how long he filled the position
Of telegra phi editor on the Telegraph 10
not kno WIT may have bee n ten years
It may have been twenty. He was o
middle.aged man when he took the
desh; he had now passed to the nged
and hoary. The sanctum had been
flled and emptied, but the old
| man seemed TO be o permanent
fixture. Boys came into the cffios as
apprentices, graduated NJ printers,
trampei around the world for q mum
Der of years and finally wandered back
to their old love. Then, whsn they
took the frst take of telegraph of the
hook and glanced at the head, they
would exclaim: "wha,! isn't ii at old
schump' dead yet7" When 80" was
In they woaid drop down into the
sanctum, borrow 20 chew Of tobacco"
from their old friend, and leave again
on that never ending tramp of printers.
The salary of the old man was ample
for the wants OF the average human
being, but he always needed money.
His clothes were seedy, his hat shiny
with sge, and 30 netimes his toes could
he seen creeping out Of holes IN his
shoes. He never was known to have q
com plete new outfit. When his shoes
wers new hie hat was old with age;
when his hat had been renodeled his
elbows were ont. just why this was
so no oae knew; only the fact that 1t
WAS go remained. Some said tho old
spent his money for drink. Both thee
ries had their advocates, and the city
editor had tJ quell riot rising from .
discussion OF the relative merits Of
each. Either NAV have been cor
rect, or both wrong; IL was q
matter OF speculation, but never reached
beyond that point. All mem bers Of the
stan advocated one Of the theories. ex-
cept Jones. He claimed that the old
man spent his money In educating q
m thical child In New York.
Night after night the old man came
to the office promptly at o'clock ''Od
Black" WAS always pun ctual, and after
. pleasant word for his Office boy, COM
mer I'd the monotonous task Of etiing,
beadiug and classifying telegraph.
With passive countenaDce, quick brain
and deft fingers, the old man pursue d
his work. Suicides, murders, marriages,
appalling accidents, political items Of
all kinda of news matter passed throuah
his hand; but never com ment or com
plaint passed his lips, unless 1t was
about piece of news over which he
could place q sensational head. The
death of President or pauper was the
same to him; both were news. He de-
ciphercd hieIoglyphios which press
operators use for letters, and untansled
the kinks which Thousands OF miles OF
telegraph wire had put in the news
, with the same Indifference with which
he corrected the name OF q Russian
general which had been sent over the
cahle in sections. Then, when 49,
WAS in, he donned his coat and left the
was not seen again until the next week
1t was early Saturday morning. Toe
local ruen had finished their work, and
"Oid Black" and the night editor werf
: the only members of the night staff In
: the office. The telegraph boy brouahl
In some pross, and informed the oio
man that "30" would be late THREE
: sheets were edited and cent up to tie
priI tiers through the tube. All bat the
last item or the last sheet lad gone W
: to the news room, when the old mar
picked up the piece OF manifold, raI
his eyes over the COPY, dropped his pen
oil and let his head fall on the tab o
I Evidently sod Black" was tired with
the long nights work.
, The boy brought in more "press,
and, seeing that the old man did no
move, informed him that he could sigI
! for it the next time. Once again b.
came, and still the silent form remain
cd motionless. The foreman was gat
ting impatient, and wbistled down th'
pipe without Petting q response. Thei
. he impatiently cut up some "sim
: COPY" and muttered not complim ent
airy opinion of cold 'chumps' who un
!, dertook to edit press," emphasizing l
j with spiteful snipe of his scissors. ODc
| hkhtu no WblbLtSGt hAu thu OAfr'
stepped out Of his room TO see what thu
matter was.
SIS 800 ib?" be asked the old man.
4 There was no response.
Here, old man." he said, as he sioop
. ed over aud shook him not urgently
lyon -" Then he stepped back hor
: riIied, as the head turned to one sid
D and the CLASSY. lifeless eyes Of the oil
| man atared uron him.
Heart disease" was q laconic de
cision of ths physician.
: Very gently they lifted the old mai
up and laid him on he dilapidated sofa
Then the night editor took the vacsn
q chair and picked up the Pr ncil whicl
0 had dropped from the nerve.ess fingers
1t WAS q o'clock, the newspaper reader
9 must have their favorite journal ut tn
It breas fast table. As be picked up tn
, remnant of manifold which the old maj
n had dropped. he read the telegram, hal
l. edited:
:, NEW YoRK-A special from u
a university town, rays; 1.-THE hoardiD
" school Of Mrs Roberts burnt here TIL
morning. All the inmates were save
except Miss Jennie B ack, WHO
All, WE'LL it WAS only the NOR
subordinate dead; 400" In life'e bco
had been written for another telegrap
editor.