The national leader., 1889-03-09
ENDEAvoR ALWAYS 10 DO THE
REST
A Good Newspaper Story.


When was in Chicago last Summer,
says Luke Sharp in the Detroit Free
Press, the city editor of one of the
papers there told me this story, which
will show the advantage of not having
an excuse:
Some years ago green looking fell
low appeared In the city EDITORS room
from no one knew where, and wanted
a job. The city editor told him, as e
had told hundreds of fellows before
him, that there was no vacancy al
present-that is the usual formula
out that If he came across q bit OF
news it would be cheerfully accepted
and paid for.
Well, the young man brought in
what stuff he could. and sometimes an
item or two was used; but more often
nothing was available, and the fellow
lived as best he could and slept in
sheds or In the park and never grum-
bled. The editor began to get tired OF
seeing his want stricken face, and once
or twice advised him to go home, but
the young man said that perhaps a
chance would come along by and by,
and anyhow he was there to stay. One
night the city editor said to him:
"If you want a chance there's q
beautiful one open for you tonight.
The street car men are having meetings
every night and we can't find out what
they are up to. They meet at the COR
ner of-street and-avenue.
''All right" said the young man.
"Have you any objection to my say
ing I'm reporter on this paper ?"
''Not In the least" said the editor
with grin. Il may say, though,
that Ratagan, who tried to get last
nights meeting, is in the hospital
to-day"
Seeing how much in earnest the
young man was the city editor added
1.-The meeting is Slade's regular
assignment tonight, but don't think
he'll get much except broken head
perhaps. Anyhow, if you get any
thing at all it'll help out. Here's {
couple of dollars to meet any expenses
you may have"
Shortly after midnight the young
man appeared in the city EDITORS room
He looked as if he had been principa
| IN prize fight.
"Well," said the city editor.
81 couldn't get in," remarked the
| young man. Has Mr.. Slade brought
anything ?"
Yes, first rate excuse like yours. ,
81 tried to pass the guards, but they
flung me down stairs. That's how
got this" pointing to his cut anC
swollen lip.
That's all right. I didn't expsct
you'd get in.''
Il bribed fellow for 81 to let me Ii
the back way. They found me Out
and dropped me out of the window
That's how got this" pointing to biz
closed right eye.
''Well, you mustn't feel discouraged.
81 felt little cast down when they
dropped me out of the window"
THAT'S not bad. You ought tC
apply for IA position In the paragraph
department"
Il climbed up to the roof on the
rear fire escape, got into the top story
through the trap door, went down tC
! the room above them by the stair, AND
found that the stovepipe came vi
through the floor"
YES" said the city editor with
increasing interest.
They were having such stormy
time below that 1 removed the stove.
pipe without any one hearing and held
the lower pipe from falling with my
left hand"
Yes"
81 could move 1t aside and see all I
wanted to and hear everything"
Yes"
"They have resolved to go on strike
on all the lines at nine to morrow
morning, and every one Is sworn to
secrecy"
Great Scott ! A" cried the city editor,
jumpin- to his feet. write that up
, Give us all you can of it,"
ut is written up. You see the
electric light opposite made the ROOT
light enough TO write by. and l had tC
stay there ana hold the stOvepipe TIL
every one was gone, and then fit it uI
again so they wouldn't suspect. Good
scheme for next meeting. So | wrote
1t up as lay there"
''Great head" said the city editor.
That young man Is now managing
one of the biggest papers In the West.
and all because his RUE was:
Never have a good excuse |"