Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-02-23
A JOURNALISTS DIARY.
What . Young aIau Accom- iishcd In the
Courso Of Thres WOe:<s.

| A JOURNALISTS DIARY.
What . Young sIau Accomplished In tn.
Course of Three Woe&s.
When l first went into the newspa
per business-immediateiy upon grad
| uating from college, considered il
an event of such Importance that l re-
solved to keep daily record of my do
lngs, in order that the magnitude OF
the enterprises l expected to under
take might be daily impressed upon my
consciousness, and that the recountinc
of them might serve in after years.
possibly. to fire some other arden,
soul with kindred aspirations. l will
remark here that my journal extended
over period of three weeks. The fol-
lowing are some random extracts:
March 27.-Reported this morning
at the editorial rooms of the Morning
ambassador, ready for work. Climbed
two dark flights of stairs, crossed the
composing room. knocking over a can
Of ink and pieing some type, and
found myselfin the sanctum sanctorum
a dingy, dirty. smoky den. with old
deal tables and hard chairs. the floor
covered with scraps of paper and de-
molishcd exchanges. Was introduced
to the managing editor. who stood at
the window smoking. He said that he
ought to have been abed two hours
ago, but thought that he would wait
and see me. Asked me what could
do. told him that my sheepskin had
not been paid for yet and was in the
hands of the college treasurer. but
would endeavor to bring it around
next day. Managing editor said he
didn't care a darn for sheepskin.
Asked me if could read proof. Told
him no, but l could write crack ed
itOrial on the Roman Law. NJ. E. said
Roman Law be hanged. was sur
prised. Wish Prof K could have
heard him! Elitor asked if had ever
reported any thing. Said l had never
reported any thing but "unprepared."
That's the most encouraging indica-
ton of ability yet,' said he. "You
are green, but l like your cheek.
Come around tonight"
March 29.-Submitted my first edit
orial this afternoon. Managing editor
glanced at first page and threw it in
the basket Said that there was new
gravel car at the B. & L. depot. which
l might write up. Gave me line to
the master mechanic. l made six
pages foo!scap of it. Editor made me
cut it down to three lines. The news
paper business is a fraud
April 3.-Reported city court to-
day. Took full notes of all the testi-
monv. Case. stealing of box of
cigars. Wrote out the entire proceed
ings. Took me till midnight. Showed
it to managing editor, and he asked:
(Which way was the case decided?''
told him didn't know; had got all
but that. NJ. E. swore blue streak.
and told me to go and rout up the
clerk OF the court and find out the de-
cision in the case. l did so, and NJ. E.
made four-line item, headed 'City
Court, Yesterday
April 5. -Interviewcd Mr. B to-
lay and wrote up an old family Bible
IF his. with records Of the B family |
written by the father of President
Arthur. Started on another editorial,
out managing editor caught ME at it
md sent me around to get the local |
April Fast day. Reported Rev.
Nr. VS. sermon at Unitarian
church. Pretty wei tired out. Glad
here is no paper tomorrow.
April 9.-Sermon came out this
morning. Printers got "cats' for
Cato"
April lS.-Spoke to managing editor
bout my pay to-day. He cooliy in
ormed me thar my two weeks initial
work would be taken as receipt in full
or what had learned. Said the next
week he would begin paying me s.. so.
April REPRESENTED long and
Elaborate obituary of D. G. Rossetti
o-day. Managing editor said that
obituary which came with the Associ-
ted Press dispatch April II was more
o the point and surpassed mine in
nervousness Assigned me to horse
rot this afternoon and ladies' bazaar
n tie evening.
April 2o.-Wrote up a fruit cyap-
rator at one OF the grocery stores to-
ay. Drew my pay for this week
=. 80. Have decided not to keep u rec
rd OF my newspaper work. Pawned
ny overcoat and got sheepskin from
and had it framed. --Iaul
dStn0r. ia Detroit Free Press.