The Washington critic., 1889-04-23
THEY CONFERRED.
An Interesting Conversation Between
Four Managing Editors.

Four Managing Editors.
There were four managing editors sitting
together They were grizzled and gray
The hard lines which many nights.of labor
draw under ones eyes and upon ones face
were upon all Of them. Not man of the
lot but had been In thousand stews over
thousand forgotten sensations. They had
fought the telegraph company for posses
sion OF the wires; they had sent reporters
helter-skelter on the track OF rumors; they
had struggled against each other In the
desperate conflict for news, which means n
great deal for one day and nothing whatever
Tor the day after. And they were discussing
the work whose record is writ In water
~ got curious letter today said one
of them. 0It is from lady who says she
is my wife. have made inquiries about
her, AID think that, perhaps, she tells the
truth. / have q dim recollection OF having
been married once, but am not positive.
The work of the Office absorbs my time so
much that my memory has no room for these
indefinite details. The lady says that she
was married to me quarter of q century
ago, that have baby who is about to cele-
brate his 2lst birthday, and that she would
like to have me present on the occasion.
dislike 20 visit strangers, but, II the facts
are as she states, / suppose will have to go.
l have written her that II she will prove her
identity will be on hand But" he added,
~ hate to be bothered with these domestic
affairs all the time"
The second managing editor looked up
sympathizingly: ~ can feel for you, my
dear boy,r he said. ~ haven't been mar
ried as long as you have, so | can recollect
the ceremony. | have not entirely lost my
interest In domestic matters. II was only
the other evening that sent reporter to
find out where lived, but the after conse-
duences were discouraging. When got
O.. a..1
as the hour was normal-it being three In
the morpipg--she went on the conventional
idea, took me for a burglar and rang up
patrol wagon. / spent the night In jail,
and have never experimental on going
home since. One can not be too careful.
The third managing editor smiled proud
smile aud called for some beer. Evidently
| he had an important communication to
make. al am about to say something, he
said, ''that will excite your incredullty.
| do not even ask you TO believe 1t, for
| know how astonishing 1t will seem. But l
was home two months ago and my wife
actually recognized me-"
There wasa general look of disgust all
around.
''That's fake" said one of the party.
"No, IL isn't, said the speaker, earnestly.
'lts actually so. She recognized me by
my voice.
"But where did she hear your voice 9''
was asked,
"Why, I've talked with her over the tcle
| phone several times,n replied the aggrleved
| witness.
"Well, thank heaven,n said the fourth
managing editor, "1've never been married
| at alp
"Neyer been married ~ cried the others
IN chorus, "why, yes you have. We got
cards to your wedding"
"Gentlemen," said the fourth managing
editor with dignity, "if you are trying tc
| Jest with me you have chosen poor sub
| Jet. have never been married"
"But you have" said one OF the party,
because scooped you on the account oi
your wedding.
The professional allusion brought the
fourth managing editor back to his senses
"By Jove," he said, 81 do recollcct II now
from the circumstance you mention.
wonder " my wife is still alive"
''Aiter all,n said the second managing
EDITOR, "a newspaper man should mol
marry
"What difference does It make to himY'
| asked the first managing editor.
"N0ne, really" said the three In chorus
And then they ordered another beer.
There was silence for awhile, broken Only
by the vain effort of one of the party to gei
waiter. Tbeu the fourth managing editol
showed signs Of embarrassment.
''What is it?n the other three asked
~ was going to make propo1idon,n he
said, 'that may strike you little oddly
but think there is something in it,"
''ln the newspaper wayS" the other three
eucricd.
''Of course. We've got nothing to do will
airy thing else. News is little dull, aut
I've got a scheme for sensation---some
hing that will paralyze people.n
"What is itY' they demanded IN unitct
query.
"Let's call on our wivesP'-TOmaha Re
publican.