The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-08-02
IT'S HUMAN.
Interesting Dots From a Re-
porter's Private Diary.
Curious Contradictions in the
Character of People Met by
Press Reporters.

Reporters for the great daily press lead
a life that brings them in contact
with all sorts of queer people.
As a general thing they are profound
judges of human nature. They have to
be; it's one of their studies. No reporter
ever fails to read Alright man II he can
see and talk to him. No willy demagogue
ever fools him; no amount of high society
gush ever misleads him; no quantity OF
elegant veneeriug cOncea!s from his view
the skeleton in the closet. The profes-
slonal and hardened criminal fails 10 pull
the wool over his eyes, and no sad eyed
mendlcant with woful tales of sorrow ever
deceived him. He knows them all and in
his rounds ha often jots down things
which rarely appear in print. Some of
these Jottings are given below, and among
them the average reader will recognize
many absolutely true to life. They are
culled from a private dairy:
July Must watch a certain young
man; also, certain young lady.
July 2-Heard a man say to an admiring
crowd that the short paragrap h column
had nothing in it but paragraphs about
the cutters
July 3-Heard the same man say to the
same crowd that tie gutter on his street
was in fearful fix, and yet the paper had
never called attention to it. IF was
manager of that paper I'd get reporters
who know their business" he said.
July Heard q prominent business
man say that the short paragraph column
was a Nuisance and that he never read it.
Saw him that evening" pay d. uble price at
the managers desk to have q business
notice placed in that column 'oecause 1
know everybody VII rea it."
July 5-Heard man say he wouldn't
all W the morning p per TO come into his
house. An hour after his boy was
seut to his neighbor's to borrow copy.
Was told it was almost dai practice.
July 6-Heard a man Blowing up the
ciculation because his paper is not d.
liverei at O'Clock. Found out that he
and his family are never out of bed until
after Z.
July 7-Hsard a preacher say that it
was an offense to the public for the papers
10 publish outrageou, crimes. Omitted to
publish the account of one the next day
because of its peculiar outrageous charac-
ter, and the same preacher berated the
paper for the omission, AID declared that
it had TO enterprise.
July 9-Had a prominent gentleman TO
say to me that he thought was the best
man ever on the paper. He also informed
me that he was thinking of running for
Office. Failed to mention it the next day
and heard the same gentleman tell a
friend that 1 was incompetent, and passed
! by time loafng about the billiard halls
and beer gardens.
July 11-Can't go home tonight
because my wife caught me treating a
young lady to ice cream. Must arrange
to do the treating after night. P. S. Just
as well 20 home to night, but must not
forget 10 get Jim Knox to shave my
head. n. B. Must be very particular
about this, and must study up some kind
Of pathetic story to tell about the young
lady beiug an orphan and never having
ate ice cream before.
July 12-An able candidate presented
me with villainous cigar this morning
and want d a $l5 deadhead write-up,
which he won't get, and tomorrow he will
be cnrsing the paper.
July IA gentleman told me this
morning that he relished nothing so well
as reading the bright, CHEEKY columns of
the paper of mornings. "How do you fud
so much to publish these dull days." he
asked. II expect pc ople hand you their
personals. wouldn't do it for the world.
My wife has holy horror of seeing her
name in print. We leave to morrow night
for Waukeshs."
July 15-Neglected TO say that he al d
his wife would leave for Waukeshs, and
heard her say at the depot to a friend
that YVES a horrid old woodchuck.
July 17-Heard lady say that her hus-
band never touched drop. Saw him 60
ing home that night very unsteady, and
with his hat full of wet macker-l
July 20-Hgd three prominent citizens
TO say to me, because of the 'leaviug out"
from the police report of s certain name,
that the paper was not doing its duty.
You should publish all the names for it
is a m .tter of court record" they said.
July 22.-Rad the three men to call and
request that the name of a friend of
theirs be kept out of the report.
| July 23.-Had a prominent citizen to
suggest that in writing up parties and
such thing it was not exactly the proper
i thing to speak of the toothsome refresh
ments, luscious fruits, delicious ice cream
and the charming hostess, 1t was too
! fulsome.
July 24.-He gave a party at his house.
I simply said refreshments were served.
Heard him denounciug the report because
/ it failed to mention the luscious grapes
and cooling sherbets his wife had fur
nished.
/ July 25.-Four men declared that the
! publication of the ghost story was all
wrong and that ii they owned the paper
nothing of the kind should ever appear
/ in It.
July 26.-The same four men denounced
/ the paper because it did not contain 81
account of watch for and hunt for the
ghost which had figured in the story.
A Deserved Promotion.
| Mr.. John W. Estil, formerly connected
with the Western Union office IN this city,
= - IS 80